Evening star., 1934-03-02
BURROUGHS HEARS
SUFFRAGE APPEAL
Districts Right to Vote Ex-
planned in Talks
to Citizens.

Numerous advocates Of suffrage for
the District of Columbia appeared at
a meeting of the Burroughs Citizens
Association last night stressing the
right" of the citizens of the District
to have representation in Congress
and the privilege of voting.
James G. Yaden, president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
pledged his support in the fight for
the right to vote in the District.
The time is coming, he asserted,
and not far distant, when the people
here will have this privilege. Urging
that the fight for representation be
carried on with more vigor than ever,
he asserted his hope that the present
membership drive of the federation
would result in such a large cross
section of the people this right would
necessarily have to be granted.
Delays Deplored.
Yaden also advocated improvement
in the municipal architects office here,
asserting there were too many un-
necessary delays on projects. He re-
ferred particularly to the conditions
prior to the appointment recently Of
the new architect.
In conclusion. he praised the work
of L. A. Carruthers of the federation
for his efforts in appearing before
congressional hearings on the gasoline
tax matter.
The Burroughs Citizens Associa-
tons Suffrage Committee, headed by
Wilbur S. Finch since its formation,
has drawn up a plan favoring the
establishment by Congress of Fed
eral area" over which the Federal
Government shall maintain exclusive
Jurisdiction and shall assume full
financial responsibility. Under the
plan, the remainder of the District OF
Columbia would be under local gov
ernment.
Favors City Council
The association favors the city
council form of government for that
part remaining under District gov
eminent control, the council to be
elected by the people. Included in
this form would be a city manager,
to be appointed by the President and
subject to confirmation by the House
and Senate. The city manager, un-
der the Burroughs plan, would ap-
point the local government depart
ment heads, such appointments to be
subject to confirmation by the city
council
Jesse c. Suter, representing the
Citizens Joint Committee on National
Representation for the District, point
ed out numerous reasons why the
District should have the voting privi-
lege. He also spoke en- behalf of the
Society of Natives, of which he is
president, relating their approval of
national representation and the right
to vote here.
James F.. Duhamel, secretary of the
Association of Oldest Inhabitants,
described the early political situation
in the District relative to Self-govern-
ment and expressed his favor of the
efforts to secure representation and
the right to vote in the District.
Association Praised.
NJ A. Robbins and E. H. Young of
the Logan-Thomas Circle Citizens
Association lauded the Burroughs
Citizens Association for its work to-
ward securing suffrage here. Robbins
suggested the possible formation of
another body to work in conjunction
with the present Federation of Citi-
Zens' Associations, thereby creating
similarity to the House and Senate.
Both favored national representation
and the right of the District to vote.
George A. Corbin, resident of the
Park View section, appeared at the
meeting and expressed his personal
desire to see the fight for suffrage
here continued with more fervor than
ever.
j. G. Lane, Walter W. Barnes and
c. G. Degman of the Southeast Wash
ington Citizens Association, also ad-
vocated representation in Congress
and the right to vote. Degman pro-
posed a mass meeting of a limited
amount of representatives from each
citizens association be held in the
near future.
R. L. Gilbert, president of the Bur-
roughs Citizens Association, who pre-
sided at the meeting in the Taft
School, announced the membership
drive would be carried on. Sixteen
new members were taken in at the
meeting. A. j. Driscoll, head of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
membership drive, outlined the prog
resS of the drive.
Harry S. Baker, principal of the
Taft Junior High School, told of
the progress toward formation of
parent-teacher association or home
and school association for the school.