Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-15
WASHINGTON VOTE
: PLANK SUBMITTED
Edward F. CoIIaday Makes
Plea for Adoption in
G. O. P. Platform.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,


CONVENTION HALL. June 15.-"We
favor voting representation Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia in the Congress OF
the United States and the electoral
college" This plank was submitted for
inclusion in the Republican party plat
form by Edgar c. Snyder, United
States marshal for the District of Co.
lumbia and a member of the Resolu-
tons Committee.
Edward F. Colladay Republican ma
g. tiona! committeeman for the District,
vigorously urged the adoption of this
plank at a hearing late last night,
which he concluded by saying: I'VE
bear arms, we send our sons to war,
We pay more national taxes than Is
States and more than the aggregate Of
10 States. We have a greater popula-
ton than seven States. We perform
all the duties of citizenship. We ask
you to declare that we should also
be given the privilege of citizenS-a
voice in the making OF the laws under
which we are governed and taxed"
Democrats to Make Plea.
Similar earnest plea is to be made to
the Resolutions Committee of the
Democratic National Convention. soon
to meet here, by Col Arthur OBrien.
treasurer of the Democratic party,
treasurer of the Minute Men of the
Democratic Party and national vice
chairman of the victory fund of the
party. Il feel very confident that We
will get strong plank for national rep
resentation for the diSenfranchised peo-
pie Of the National Capital in the
Democratic platform this year. 1t Is
our main objective here" said Col
OBrien, who has set up his headquar-
tiers here in the same hotel with the
Republican headquarters
In emphasizing the plight OF the more
than half million citizens in the Ma
tional Capital, who are seeking voting
representation in both branches of the
law-making body and in the electoral
college, National Committeeman Cola
day said in part
THE National Capital. with a popula-
ton of more than half million Amer
leans, is the only place within the
confines of the United States where
taxation without representation exists
This condition should be corrected by
enfranchising the voteless people of the
Nations Capital.
Unparalleled in Other Countries.
mo other republic deprives the cNi-
Eens of its capital or federal district
Of the right to vote for its chief
executive and for representatives in its
Congress or corresponding legislative
body.
The failure of the trainers Of the
Constitution to provide for national
representation was due to the fact that
the Federal District mot more than 10
miles square, had not been selected and
the conditions of population did not
confront the trainers of the ConStitu-
ton.
1T was not until the time of the Civil
War that there were approximately
10000 people in the District Of Colum
bia
To-day, more than a century and a
half after the Declaration Of Independ-
ence, taxation without representation
still prevails in the Federal District,
the population of which has grown from
a negligible number when the District
was created to the present population
of more than $4,000. There being
about $4,000 Federal employees, the
population outside of Federal employ
ment Is substantially one-half million.
No Governmental Change.
1T will leave the District of Columbia,
so far as the control by Congress and
the Federal Government IS concerned,
just as it is with the exception that the
District will have representatives in
Congress who will have voice in max
ing the laws that its citizens have to
obey We all know that at the present
time the people Of the District have
nothing to say about taxes, military
service and the hundreds of other laws
tVry f1a etrin 0f al, n
seems somewhat absurd that this great
outstanding Republic. whose funda-
mental principle has been government
of the people by the people and for the
people should refuse to let that prin-
ciple obtain in the Capital of the Ma
ton that stands for those principles.
We have taken the lead in the world in
advocating make the world safe for
democracy and yet refuse that same
privilege to the citizens of the Capital
of the Government that is advocating
that same principle throughout the
world. Is it any surprise that the for
elgn nations do not regard us quite as
sincere as we should like to have them
regard US?
Favored by Congressman.
Many outstanding Representatives
and Senators in Congress realize this
situation and are in favor of national
representation and many of these men
realize that it would be not only an
element of fairness, according to Amer
lean principles, to extend this right to
the citizens of the District. but would
be positive benefit to Congress Mem
bers of Congress are already heavily
overworked They must take care OF
the whole Nations business, as we'll as
their respective districts and States.
The great increasing problems before
this Nation today make it almost i'm
possible for members of Congress to
give the necessary attention to these
problems without breaking down their
own physical constitution. While it is
true that these great problems have in
creased in the Nations affairs, it is
also true that Washington has grown
and developed until 1t is today veri-
table State. 1t is no longer the small
overgroWn country town on the banks
of the placid Potomac, but it has a
population of nearly 600.000-a greater
population than eight or nine States
Of the Union.
Tax Payments Large.
"It pays more national taxes than
any one of Is of the States and more
than 10 of the States combined. 1t
sent more soldiers and sailors to the
WOrld war imam seven OF Ine 0tdteS
No part of this country under the Stars
and Stripes has fulfilled more complete
~ its obligation to the Nation than has
the District of Columbia-and yet with
out any voice whatsoever in the affairs
Of the Government it SO Loyalty supports.
The time has long since come when
there ought to be representatives of the
District of Columbia in Congress whose
principal duty is to study the affairs Of
the District and to present them to
Congress when legislation affecting the
District is under consideration The
vast majority of the members of Con-
gress are ready anxious and willing
to vote the right way on various prob
lens that come up affecting the District
of Columbia and it would be of very
material help to them if from among
their own membership there was some