The Washington times., 1936-12-10
The American Right to
Vote
DAILY Times, BeGUer and RocheS
ter. Pa. NoU. 21, 1886

(Daly Times, BeGUer and RocI1eS-
ter, Pa, NoU. II, 1886
Despite, the record vote cast
in Beaver county at the general
election on November 3, a total
of 1872 persons who were eligible
to cast their ballots failed to visit
the polls.
Total registration of voters in
the county was 1913. OF that
number 59,821 expressed their
preference at the polls.
The number who failed to vote
is unusually small as compared
with the number of voters who
did not cast their ballots at
previous elections. However, the
fact remains that the stay-at-
homes failed to exercise a privi,
lege enjoyed by all Americans
privilege which is almost unknown
in other nations of the world,
where the vote is closely controlled
by a dictator or an iron-fiSted
group representing the govern,
ment.
Sometimes we wonder what
would happen if the citizens of
the United States suddenly were
denied the right to vote. No
doubt the protests and indignant
recriminations would echo round
the world.
Yet that right is denied the
$4,000 residents of the District
of Columbia, wherein is located
our National Capital. Although
they have all the duties and obli-
cations of citizens, residents of
the District of Columbia are de-
MED the right which true Amer
leans hold most dear-the right
to vote; representation in govern
ment.
According to the census of 1880,
the Districts population exceeds
that of eight States~ while the
voting-age population is estimated
at $4,000, exceeding the voting
age population of 10 States.
During the last fiscal year the
District of Columbia paid in ma,
tional taxes $17,322,929, more
than the sum paid in such taxes
by Is States individually and
more than was paid by nine
States combined. But in the levy
ing of these taxes and their eX
penditures residents of the District
have no voice.
During the World War the Dis
trict sent more men to the colorE
than any one of II States, al
| though unrepresented in the body
which declared war and prose
cuted it.
For years residents of the Dis
trict have protested against wha
they believe is unfair discrimina
ton. In support of their conten
ton that they should be permitted
to vote, they claim that clos
reading of the debates of the Con
stitutional Congress indicates tina
there was no intent by tn
founders of our present form o
government to deny application
of the basic principle of demoC
racy-that all people shall be rer
resented in their Government-t
those who chanced to live in tn
National Capital.
They contend that the men VIII
drafted the Constitution uninter
TALLY failed to give Congress tn
power (analagouS to that Whicl
is possessed with regard to tn
admission of territories to state
hood of granting representation
in Congress and the electoral CO
lege to the District.
In the last Congress there wa
n t uced a constitutions
amendment which would exten,
the right to vote to the resident
of Washington, D. c. The pre-
posed amendment is scheduled t.
be introduced in the next Cor
greSS, which conveneS in January
It is strange commentary OF
the perversity of human natur
that so many of us who have tn
opportunity to vote fail to take &C
vantage of that privilege, Will
those to whom the right is de
MED bitterly resent such discrim
ination.