Evening star., 1932-11-06
Chamber President Speaks
as National Drive Nears
Close.
REPRESENTATION RIGHT
DECLARED FUNDAMENTAL
Thousands Of Nations Ablest Citi
zens Forced to Sit on Sidelines,
He Declares in WMAL Address.

While candidates for political Office
throughout the land were appealing last
night for the support Of members OF
the vast army Of voters, spokesman
for the thousands Of disfranchised
Washington residents asked in a radio
address here for their fundamental
American right to be represented In
their Government.
Thomas P. Lttlepage, president OF
the Washington Chamber Of Commerce
in an address broadcast over Station
WMAL, called attention to reports that
the largest vote ever cast in a presi-
dental election probably would be re-
corded next Tuesday.
But right here in the Capital of the
Nationa that has taken the lead in the
world for the last 156 years for civic
rights and human liberty, the citizen
Is disfranchised" he continued.
Cites Able Citizenship.
I'VE all know that Washington has
an unusually high type OF citizenship
1t contains many of the Nations
ablest men and women in all political
parties, and yet next Tuesday, when
the whole Nation is marching to the
polls to exercise that fundamental right
of a citizen of republic, all the citi-
zens of Washington can do is sit on
the sidelines, fold their arms with re-
gret and realize that they do not have
the rights that are granted to natural
lied citizens who may have been born
in Russia. Egypt, South Africa. or any
place else, who have come to these
shores
"A citizen in some remote section OF
New Mexico can make up his mind as
to who should be elected President and
vote accordingly, as we'll as determine
who he should send to the House OF
Representatives and the United States
Senate but right here where we live
with Congress and with the Federal
Government we have nothing to say
Mr.. Littlepage emphasized that the
movement for national representation
does not contemplate any change in
the existing form of local government
and that it has nothing whatsoever to
do with the election Of local officers
such as Commissioners, the school board
or judges.
Pleads for Change.
He pointed out that the proposal
which has been pending before Con-
gress. calling for an amendment to the
Federal Constitution, merely would give
to the people Of the District their own
Representatives in both branches OF
Congress and delegates to the electoral
college.
This would in no wise disturb the
Capital as the seat of government OF
take the control away from Congress,
he said.
Continuing presentation Of the plea
for local representation in government
Mr.. Littlepage said, in part:
America is the world exponent oi
representative government We advo-
cate that for every nation, and it is the
privilege Of every State and munich
pality under the Stars and Stripes ex-
cept the District OF Columbia. We have
talked a great deal about the right oi
self-determination for other nations
but we deny that self-determination te
the citizens of the Capital Of our owr
country
We pay more taxes and have a
larger population than several States
that have two Senators and one or more
members Of the House.
Aid Seen for Congress.
ut would be great help to the Con-
greSs itself If 1t. could have the advice
Of local representatives who are here
with us all the time and who obviously
would know more about the needs OF
the District than some member of Con-
gress from California or Maine. :
THE average member of Congress
wants to be fair, but with the great
volume Of business and the work he has
to do, he does not take the time te
study just what it is that the people
here need"