Evening star., 1936-11-12
D. c. VOTE FIGHT
SEENPR0GRESS|NG
Prospects of Results Never
Brighter, Citizens Joint
Body Told.

Prospects OF results from the long
struggle for national representation
Of the citizens of the District are
brighter today than ever before, the
Executive Committee OF the Citizens
Joint Committee for National Rep
resentation for the District Of Co
lumbia was told yesterday.
Representatives Of seven Of the or
carnations present, all but one of
them with Nationwide ramifications,
expressed their optimism for future
success during the session in the
library OF the Washington Board Of
Trade in The Star Building.
I'VE believe this Is golden oppor-
tunity." Arthur Clarendon Smith.
president of the Democratic League
OF Washington, said. I'VE believe We
are going to 60 places this year. For
one thing, the local Democratic clubs
are In line 100 per cent"
Sees New Reason for Hope.
I'VE have some reason now for
hope we have not had before" Paul
E. Lesh. vice chairman of the joint
committee, said.
The present political trend is to
move. A new thing is more welcome
today than 1t was few years ago.
We have something here that seems
almost revolutionary, and with
Government ready to listen to new
things, We have much brighter
chances"
Both Malcolm s. McConihe. Demo-
cratic national committeeman for the
District. and Edward F. Colladay. Re
their support Of the campaign. Cola
day, who was forced by business to be
absent from the meeting. wrote let
ter making known his position.
Urges New Enthusiasm.
Theodore w. Noyes. chairman Of
the joint committee. who presided,
and whose long fight in behalf OF
representation drew much comment
from the speakers. urged the COM
mittee members on to new enthusi-
asm.
We all recognize that this Is. the
time for us to push and to push Wig
orously. That the women's organiZa-
tions have enlisted SO thoroughly and
SO heartily in the cause is an in
Spiration to us all"
Among the women's organizations
which reported active backing Of the
proposed representation amendment
not only on the part of the local
~ he hut hu the
national bodies, were the Voteless
D. C. League OF Women Voters. the
District Federation OF Women's Clubs
and the Women's City Club.
Mrs. Patten Reports.
Mrs. Alva A. Patten reported that
the Young Democratic Clubs Of Amer
lea were behind the move. and Miss
Eta L. Taggart. chairman Of its Com
mittee on National Representation,
recorded the support Of the Fedora
tion of Citizens Associations. Added
to these bodies were the Democratic
League of Washington and the Junior
Board of Commerce.
The women of America who speak
through the General Federation Of
Womens Clubs are making a study of
the question of an enfranchised Dis
trict. Mrs. Harvey Wiley. former
president of the District federation,
said:
THE Federation Is getting out a
booklet on the matter, giving both the
pro and con. to educate its members
concerning the problem" she said.
Mrs. Wiley added that the Women's
City Club, Of which she is president,
Is putting its full strength behind the
campaign for representation.
Most Of the speakers emphasized
the need for support from the voting
citizens in the 48 States.
Next week We are going to have
q joint meeting with our Maryland
and Virginia members to plan with
us how to prod the Congress" Mrs.
william Kittle, president OF the Vote
less District League for Women Voters,
said.
Operates In 50 States.
'The Voteless League operates in
36 States, and in every one national
representation for the District is q
major plank" Mrs. Charles H. Wes-
ton, chairman of the department Of
government and its operation of the
Voteless d. c. League of Women
Voters, said.
I'VE have recently been giving lec-
lures on civics to the students of
Mount Vernon Seminary, and to these
girls from % States around the coun-
try we have explained the voteless
situation of the District"
Mrs. Patten, representing the League
Of Young Democrats, said: I'VE have
done all we can In Washington to
spread our idea to our members, and
we are especially pleased to have much
support from the Southern States"
Mrs. Anna E. Hendley, honorary vice
president Of the Society Of Natives,
reported that In . tour Of the country
this Summer she obtained the sigma
lures of citizens Of ~ States, all but
New Mexico, 10 petition urging
adoption of the national representa-.
ton amendment.
Commerce Boards Aid.
I'VE laid this proposition last June