Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-08
LACK OFVOTE DOESN'T RELIEVE
D. C.. CITIZENS RESPONSIBILITY
Residents Readily Accept
Problems of Welfare,
Ellis Declares.
BrookIand Leader Speaks
in Series of Radio
Breakfasts.

from civic responsibilities which they
may place on the shoulders OF Con-
gress, DR.. George r. Ellis Of the
Brookland Citizens Association be-
lieves.
This view was expressed by DR..
Ellis in last weeks civic talk over
| WMAL, one of a series of addresses
sponsored each week by the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations.
OF the welfare of the city nd the
responsibility Of its citizens Ellis de-
clared: 1.-The citizens Of Washington
have never failed in this regard. but
for reasons which are unique to the
City of Washington and because OF
the unusual character of its govern
ment we may sometimes be inclined
to feel that this responsibility has
been shifted entirely from our shoul-
ders."
Expression Of Wish for Peace.
Babylon, Athens, Rome and other
cities which were the center OF past
great historic empires, sent out their
citizens to conquer remote lands.
However, he said, Washington is the
result of the formation Of our country
first.
Our Capital Is the expression OF
the desires for peace between the
original Is States and the States
which have subsequently been admit
ted into the Union. Most foreign CAPT.
tails gained their pre-eminence by
force of arms and the fortunes OF war.
This fact" he stated, docs not
mean that the native Washingtonian
is deprived of the sense OF local pride
or of responsibility for the welfare
and progress of his city. Washing
ton is a goodly city in its own right;
while not in as great proportion as
in many other American cities, there
are a good many persons who were
born in Washington and who look
upon this as their own by right Of
birth. 1t is true that they are de-
prived of a part of the responsibility
borne by the citizenry of the several
States; they have no vote on national
or local affairs. But it must be re-
membered that the absence of the
franchise does not mean that as good
citizens they can consider themselves
relieved of all responsibility for the
welfare and progress of their city.
The vote, he said, is an instrument
for human welfare and wholesome
civic life. The citizen retaining his
vote in other States but living here
should assume his share of the re-
sponsibility for the security of our
city and its economic, social and cul-
tural advancement. The fact that
he retains the vote elsewhere and
claims a residence in one Of the States
does not free him from proper share
in looking after the interests Of the
Capital City, which Is at least for the
time, and sometimes it is a long time,
his real dwelling and his home. He
enjoys all the benefits which the city
affords; he must have an interest in
all that pertains to life and activity
here"
Responsibility Equal.
The welfare of the city rests equally
on the shoulders of the born and
adopted resident; only by the gener-
GUS help of all can the resident make
Washington the most beautiful and
best place in which to live, he de-
clared.
by bringing together these mutual
interests and unifying their appeal,
the Federation Of Citizens Associa-
tons has done much in the past. On
many occasions In the past 1t made
their wants known to the District
Commissioners and the Congressional
District Committees. On the strength
Of the arguments presented, these
bodies have pointed the way to prope,
legislation and obtained for the people
the benefits which they desired"
The strength Of the federation lie.
in the large number Of member bodies;
1.-The larger the representation of citi-
zens' associations the more truly viii
its voice be the voice of the whole
city and the more readily can it i'm.
press upon Congress the actual needs
and improvements for which 1t pleads
No Congress would defy the united
voice of a whole city although that
city be without the vote"
1t is the duty Of each citizen tf
participate in citizen association work
he said.
mo one can cut himself OF from
the social group" Ellis continued. "hs