Evening star., 1932-11-08
V0TELESS CAPITAL
WATCHES ELECTION
Injustice Done to Residents
Here Remains Despite
Sentiment of Nation.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

After travelling across the continent
and back in search Of political senti-
ment I returned to Washington unable
to cast vote. This Is not due to failure
to register or because of change Of resi-
dence. 1t Is due to the injustice done
residents of the National Capital by the
Constitution Of the United States itself.
We are disfranchised. In the sense that
to be citizens of the United States we
must have voice in our own Govern
ment, we are not citizens. Though we
have been born in the District OF Co.
lumbia and have spent all our lives in
this country we have no more voice In
our Government than the foreigner who
has newly come to our shores. We have
far less than the millions Of foreign
born now in this country who have be-
come naturafized Americans.
The injustice to the hundreds Of
thousands of Americans who live IN the
mitted If the people Of the United
States were given an opportunity to
pass upon the question. OF that I am
convinced. Many voters in other States
express the greatest surprise when they
are told that the people in the District
of Columbia are utterly disfranchised.
None Of them take the position that the
people here should be denied the vote.
All Of them express sympathy with the
plight of the residents of Washington.
Must Look to Congress.
1t is not to the people of the United
States that the residents Of Washing
ton must look in the first instance.
1t is to the Congress Of the United
States. In Congress is the stumbling
block. Too many members Of the Sen
ate and House look upon Washington
as a private park in which they are
supreme. Their attitude toward the
residents of the District IS expressed
in a sentence: IF the people here do
not like what they have, let them go
somewhere else" 1t has all the flavor
of that remark OF the French Queen,
who, when the people said they had no
bread, said that they should eat cake
1t has still more the flavor Of that re-
mark Of old Commodore Vanderbilt in
the earlier days Of the Republic and
head at the time of great transporta
ton system: The public be damned"
There are many exceptions in both
the Senate and House to this attitude
toward the people Of Washington when
they request enfranchisement. But
these exceptions prove the general rule
The proof Of the pudding is in the
eating. For many years the Congress
has been urged by the residents of the
District to submit to the States for ac-
ton proposal amending the Consti-
tuition so that the people in the District
of Columbia may, with the approval of
Congress, vote for their President
M ND ha, ,ol
representation in the Congress, which
passes all the laws for them and levies
on them the taxes they pay, both local
and national A favorable report from
the Senate District Committee has been
obtained. but nothing further has been
won. However. the justice of the case
has been more and more brought home
to the Congress and there are signs
that at last the plea of the residents
of Washington will have its day in
court.
Public Here Capable.
During the trip just concluded found
in none Of the % States that visited
citiZenry more fitted for a voice in
the Government-their own Govern
ment. In fact, the people of Washing
ton compare very favorably indeed with
the people in States when 1t comes to
intelligence and ability to participate
in government.
Sooner or later the fact that there
is no good reason, but rather every
reason, why the people OF the District
should be given a vote will prevail.
1t took American women generations
to attain national suffrage In the end
it was granted them by a change in
the Constitution. Washington today
has more population than eight of the
States. Yet these people, except those
who have kept their residences in the
States, have no vote today. when the
decision is just as vital to them as it
is to the people in the 48 States.