Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-14
OPTIMISM MARKS
SPEECHES ON D. c.
VOTE PROBLEM
+. w. Vile and Former Rep
resentative Small Address
Chamber of Commerce.
E.OTED WRITER CERTAIN
.lF EVENTUAL SUCCESS
Theodore w. Noyes Is Praised for
Prominent Share in
Movement.

Taxation without representation, q
system which led to the birth of the
United States, but which still exists as
a strange anomaly in the District OF
Columbia as a definite discrimination
against its half million residents, was
vigorously denounced at the monthly
meeting of the Washington Chamber
of Commerce last night.
With a militant and continued fight
against this system by which local
residents are disfranchised and denied
a direct voice in the Government which
taxes them, the cause fer national
representation in Congress will be won,
speakers declared.
This is provided in a joint resolution
pending before Congress paving the
way for an amendment to the United
States Constitution by which Congress
would be given power to grant repre-
sentation in the House and Senate to
local residents and permit them to
participate in presidential elections.
The talks were made by Frederic
William vile, political writer and radio
broadcaster. and by former Representa-
tive John H Small of North Carolina
Mr.. Vile was the guest Of honor at the
meeting. The addresses of both speak
erS were made extemporaneously.
Vile DepIOres Condition.
Deploring the unfortunate situation
of District citizens who are taxed and
yet have no voice in the affairs Of their
Government and no vote in the selec-
ton of their President, Mr.. Vile called
attention to the apparent lack OF knowl-
edge of this condition in the States
and in cities outside the District.
"Only by the evidence OF occasional
meandering outside of the District and
into the States can one become aware
of the amazing ignorance Of the politi-
cal disabilities of the disfranch1sed
district" the speaker said. THE plight
of the taxpayers of this voteless city
would enlist hearty response of the
people of more fortunate communities
were they aware Of the existence OF a
people who without voice in their
Government must pay the taxes 1t leyies
and fight the wars it declares.
Sees Long Fight.
ST deplore the lack of militant en-
ttusiaSrn," Mr.. Vile continued. that
seems to attend this cause. When we
realize the fight that was put up and
the months of effort it required 10
bring about the eighteenth and nine
teenth amendments TO the Constitution
prohibition and wonaen's sut1rage-We
have only a glimmering OF how mucn
endeavor will be necessary 70 pring
about a change in the Constltutlon
needed to give the District OF ColumDn
national representation.
But It will come. The DiStr1ct OF
Columbia will eventually have It's quota
of Senators and Representatives IN bne
Congress of the United States. But we
must fight for it., and in the fight the
combined forces of the people OF Wash
ington must be enlisted and work To-
Cether toward that definite objective.
Small Praises NOyes.
Former Representative Small palc
high tribute to the work being done pS
Theodore w. Noyes in the cause Iol
national representation. -,
sMr. Moves has done more to bring
this disgraceful condition to the atten.
ton of the people than any other man,
Mr.. Small said, land If live 70 see IN
day when the District OF ColumDls
shall be granted representation IN t ~
Congress and the occasion presents ~
self / shall unhesitatingly advocate tnt
nomination Of Mr.. Noyes for Senator
from the District"
Mr.. Small denounced the absurdity
IN its face, for instance, "of repre-
sentative of a civic welfare organ1za'
ton going before a committee OF Con
gress with a proposition or proDlen
concerning the District, wnen tn'
members Of that committee mlgnI y
representatives from some neck OF TN
woods in Iowa or from some far-awa!
district in a distant State-men Wn'
are at the least little versed in WASH
ington affairs and have little interes
in the subject they are asked TO pas
upon
REPRESENTATIVE Fish Praised.
A variety of political problems wer
dealt with by Mr.. Vile in his talk. HI
paid tribute to the House Commute
headed by Representative Hamilton
Fish. which is charged with the duty o
investigating the source of Communist
in the United States. While Com
nunisn is not so rampant in thi
country that we are in peril of seriou
immediate developments" Mr.. VII
said. still the forces of Sovietism ar
: at work They are nibbling, SO to spea
playing tor the bigger haul. the
know that the discomfort and the idle
ness due to the unemployment and de
preston offer ideal opportunities 10
them. But the country is far from be
ing in the throes Of Communism. .
other speakers at the meeting IN
cluded D. j. Kaufman. who made a
appeal in behalf of the Communit
Chest. and Col. Edward Goring Bis
who gave the members an outline {
the work being done by the chamber
committees having in charge the mat
tiers of fiscal relations and taxation
Col Bliss recently appeared for IN
chamber before the House Mapes Con
llnittee, investigating fiscal relations Il
the District.
Bureau Reports.
With the slogan, Forward Washing
ton in 1881" as the theme of II
meeting. brief reports from each OF u
six new bureaus Of the chamber o.
gained under the five-year expansio
program, outlining proposed commits
activities for the ensuing year, wei
submitted.
The bureaus making these repor
were Ciyic-Federal Affairs Burea
Charles W. Darr, acting director; Con
munity Advertising and Publicit
Nicholas j. Whelan, director; Industri
Development, George A @. Wood, q
rector; Trafic and Transportatio
Harold A. Brooks. director; Trade Pr
motion, Martin A. Leese, director, al
Membership Forum, Harry T. Peter
director.
plans for the chambers twent
fourth annual anniversary banquet we
announced by Charles H. Frame, chat
man OF the special committee hayil
this program in charge. The banqu'
which win be followed by q dance, W
be held at the Mayhower Hotel Jan
AIRY 20.
Greater washington Magazine.
william H. Hobbs, associate seer
49, - e.aiaor outlined tn Il