Evening star., 1933-07-04
The Flag and the Unrepresented.

washington, the Capital OF the OnlUeo
States, is decked with flags today, hags
representing the Union OF the States,
the Nation. They are displayed IN
honor of the birthday Of the Republic,
which came into being one hundred
and fifty-seven years ago with the adop-
tion of the Declaration OF Independence
from the rule of England. They bear
thirteen stripes, representing the col
onies which by that action broke away
from the shackles of overseas dominion
and became units of the Government
that later Lincoln defined as OF the
people, for the people and by the people
They also bear field Of forty-eight
stars, representing the aggregation OF
States comprising the Union OF today.
. It is a beautiful flag, inspiring IN its
sienificance and its symbolism. But 1t
is incomplete The field Of stars does
not tell the full story Of the organiza-
ton. One star Is lacking, not the sign
OF a State, but the sign of an American
community, integral part OF the great
commonwealth, whose members are
Americans for all the purposes of gov
ernment as affects their duties and their
obligations and their responsibilities.
But they are not Americans In respect
to the fundamental right of representa-
ton in the body Of the Nations law
makers. They are denied the vital
privilege of participation in the choice
OF their administrators and in the
process of taxation for the maintenance
Of their Government.
The missing star on the Nations en-
blem cannot be placed in the field, for
the District of Columbia is not a poten-
tial State Nevertheless, the right OF
representation in the law-making and
tax-voting body and in the electoral
college which chooses the national
executive can be granted. 1t should
have been granted many years ago, in
deed, when this segregated area was
created for the purposes Of Federal ad-
ministration. It should have been
kIdlISO ny Vic SACdI AAioOA aAASAAS VA
American organization, the Constitution.
Now, one hundred and fifty-seven
years after the Declaration Of indie
pendence was signed and one hundred
and forty-four years after the Consti-
tuition was ratified and adopted by the
States, the omission stands as re-
proach to the Union. It is not too late
for this justice to be rendered to the
nearly half a million Americans who
comprise the Capital community. It
Is never too late to render justice. The
way to this redemption Of the citizen
ship Of the disfranchised District Of
Columbia lies through the amendment
Of the Constitution, to give to Congress
the power to enact law which will
grant the District right Of representa-
ton in. the law-making and taxing
body, and give it a voice In the choice
of the President.
It will take the votes of two-thirds
of the Congress and of three-fourths
of the States to effect this act Of justice.
Such votes have been given for less
important and worthy causes. They have
been given in emotional stress, in pass
ing conditions, in some cases for doubt
full purposes. OF the need, the justice
and the fundamental American honesty
of this cause of the disfranchised, un-
represented District-Americans there is
no question.
When the proposed amendment to the
Constitution is adopted by Congress
and ratified by the States-as it must
be some day. and as it should be soon
there will be no visible change on this
score in the flag that will be flung to
the breeze on occasions such as that of
today but it will be truer emblem of
American liberty and Government Of
and by and for the people. 1t will not
be token of taxation without repre-
sentation, which is tyranny