Evening star., 1932-07-28
MARK ROWE URGES
FIGHT FOR BALLOT
District Representation De-
mand Made by New PreSi-
dent of Democrat Group.

Determination to Eight for the right
Of franchise in the Capital City of the
Nation" was the keynote Of an address
by Mark D. Rowe, installed last night as
the new president Of the Progressive
Democratic Club at the headquarters,
925 N street. He suggested that the
organization "can be of great service to
voteleSs citizens of the District of
Columbia and can establish through CO.
operation with the voting organizations
in the various States, a congressional
contact committee for colored Demo-
Gratis all over the country"
Regarding national representation for
the District, Mr.. Rowe said:
For many years the Citizens Joint
Committee on National Representation
for the District, consisting of more than
a score of District and outside CO.
operating organizations, headed by
Theodore w. Noyes, editor of The
Washington Evening Star, has been
carrying on the fight for national
representation for the District.
Must Get Amendment.
Before the citizens of the District
will be able to exercise their right of
franchise, an amendment to the Con-
stitution must be adopted by two-thirds
vote Of both Houses of Congress and
ratified by three -fourths of the Legisla-
lures of the States.
THE provision in the Constitution
gives Congress the power of exclusive
legislation In the seat Of Government;
thus Congress is deprived of the power
OF admitting the seat of Government
through the gate Of statehood. To give
the District the full status of a State,
Congress would have to abdicate its
right OF exclusive power of legislation
in the District bestowed upon Congress
by the Constitution. Not only have the
courts held that Congress cannot sur
render the exclusive power of legisla-
tlon IN the District, but cannot even
delegate this constitutional power.
1t Is our duty as lovers of justice
and political rights to join hands with
those organizations which, from year to
year, Jointly present feasible resolu-
tions and practicable amendment on
national representation for the District.
1t IS our business as American citizens
to study this question and let the world
know that We are willing to fight for
the right of franchise as well as any
other people. Our participation in the
hight for the right of franchise in the
Capital City of the Nation will stand
out as challenge to the Negroes in
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi Alabama, Georgia, South
Carolina. North Carolina and Virginia,
where they are restricted and denied
the right to vote.
Urges Proportional Work.
Mr.. Rowe also declared that the or
zanization should work for adequate
proportion of employment in the Dis
trict Government" for colored people
He said:
Heretofore we have been forming
political organizations in the District
with the big idea of heading-up voting
organizations all over the country. In
trying to do this, we have overlooked
the fact that Our biggest business is
here at home and before we can ex-
pect to lead others, we must first set
our own house in order.
Among the many matters we should
direct our attention is to study and
map out plan by which Negro citizens
in the District can obtain their due
adequate proportion of employment in
the District Government. We comprise
little over one-Quarter of the city's
population, paying high taxes and a
large amount of the total taxes. yet,
very few of our people receive
employment"