davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
Disfranchised
Americans
(Journa1Post, Kansas city, NO.,

(J0nrtGL-PoSt, Kansas CITY, MO-,
Nov. Fl, 1856
A Constitutional amendment
will be introduced in the next con-
greSs to enfranchise residents of
the District Of Columbia, who are
denied a direct voice in the ad-
n1inistration of even their munich
pal affairs. It is argued that
debates in the constitutional con-
gress revealed no intent to dis
franchise them, and that the con-
stitutional trainers mintentionally
failed to grant them representa-
tion in Congress and the electoral
college.
The District has a voting popu-
lation of 433,0O exceeding those
of 10 of the smaller states. In
the last fiscal year it paid nearly
7h million dollars in Federal
taxes. It's municipal affairs are
under the Jurisdiction of congress
sional committees, in the selection
of which it has no voice. It has
grounds for complaint that it is
taxed without representation. The
American Revolution was caused
in part by a similar injustice.
If there is any argument for de-
nying residents of the District the
right to vote, it is that they in
clude many government employees
who may have a personal interest
in the outcome Of elections. But
being on a government payroll
city state or national-has never
been a factor in the principle of
American franchise. If a directly
personal interest in an election
outcome we're to be made a bar
to voting. a large percentage Of
the electorate would be kept from
the polls
Particularly would this have
been true in the recent election.
Nobody in his senses denied the
right of WPA workers, AAA farm
ers, employees under NRA sched-
ules or RFC borrowers to vote as
they saw fit. Neither benefactions
from the government nor employ.
Inent by it are adequate grounds
for the denial of a constitutional
right which is supreme above all
others.
In its appeal, the District relies
entirely on the sympathy Of the
States. It is powerless to do any.
thing for itself. And the States
will owe it sympathetic considera,
ton when it presents its case.
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
Should Right Vote
Plight Of District
tStar-NetOs, Pasadena, Calf"
Nov. rs, 1885,

A proposed amendment to the
United States Constitution will be
reintroduced into Congress next
january proposal which is es-
Sentially right and just. This
amendment will provide for citi-
zenship rights for residents OF the
District of Columbia. Should this
amendment reach the people and
be ratified, residents Of the Capt.
tai district will be granted the
right to vote and right to repre-
sentation in government.
Residing in the District OF Co
lumbia are more than 100000
Americans. They are loyal to the
National Government; they are
highly intelligent and, for the most
part, they are native-born Ameri-
cans, and yet, because of an unin-
territorial omission by the trainers
of the Constitution, all these resi-
dents are denied the most sacred
rights; that is, the right to vote
and the right to be represented in
government. They are taxed by
the National Government. During
the last fiscal year the District
paid in national taxes more than
$1,000, 900. And yet it was upon
this very issue-taxation without
representation the Revolu-
ton was fought.
It is interesting to note that the
population of the District of Co
lumbia exceeds that of each Of
eight States; the voting-age popu-
lation is estimated at $4,000, ex-
ceeding the voting-age population
of 10 States. The amount paid by
the District in national taxes is
more than the sum paid in such
taxes by Is of the States individu-
ally; more than was paid by nine
States combined. And yet the
residents Of the District had no
voice in the levying Of these taxes,
nor in their expenditure. During
the World War the District sent
more men to the colors than any
one of II States.
Surely this unjust and un-Ameri-
can condition should be righted by
granting the full rights Of citizen
ship to the residents Of the District
of Columbia.
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
Entitled to Citizenship
Riqhts
(HeraId-Democrat, Durango,
Colo., Nov. %, 1886

CoIo., Nov. %, 1886
ProWling around among other
peoples troubles, for something
to bellyache about, is not among
the writer's many faults. We lack
several notches of being a profes-
sional reformer, yet, when we hear
people kicking, we recognize, here
and there, a legitimate cause for
complaint. One such is the COM
plant of the people living in
Washington, D. c., as to the fact
of their disfranchisement.
There are nearly half a million
voters in Washington, D. C. The
average intelligence is high, yet
as WaShingtonianS, they have no
vote. OF course many people liv-
ing temporarily in Washington,
vote at home, in various parts of
the United States, but we refer to
the native Washingtonian, the
fellow who knows no other home.
There are plenty such people now
whose parents were born in Wash
ington. Why should they be dis
franchised?
The old original concept, when
the constitutional inhibition was
adopted, giving WaShingtonians
no vote, was that Washington
should merely be the~seat of Gov
ernment, and in those days Gov
ernment didn't amount to much
and only used seat now and
then, but Washington has become
a great city. Generations of peo-
pie have been born, raised to ma
turity, reached old age and died
there. There are plenty of peo-
pie living in Washington who have
no more to do with the Govern
ment in it's detail of operation,
than has the humbleSt citizen of
Durango, Colorado, yet each of
whom has every duty of citizen
ship, every interest in good Gov
eminent, every tie to his country
and to his country's flag than any
other citizen has, wherever he may
live.
A Constitutional amendment is
to be proposed in the coming ses-
sion of Congress, bestowing the
right of franchise upon the citi-
zens of the District of Columbia.
The amendment should by all
means pass, and be Immediately
ratified by all the States.
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
Just a Dirty Trick
(EUening Democrat, Waterbury,
Conn.,, Nov. 27, 1885,


Conn.,, NoU. 27, 1856
If Congress doesn't do something
about it next January or in the
succeeding months of the oncom-
ing session, then the rest of the
nation will. For at last the Ameri,
can public is being aroused to the
fact that there is one little stretch
of territory-quite an important
bit, too, in which voting privileges
are not quite the same as those
enjoyed by the rank and file Of
the electorate. You guessed it, if
you're one of those well-informed
persons who realize that in the
District of Columbia residents are
votelesS.
When our forefathers set aside
a certain tract of land many years
ago, we don't think they intended
to also set aside increasing num-
bers of citizens. Yet that's just
about what was done. Today there
are over 100000 residents of the
District of Columbia who do not
exercise their right to the fran
chise. The mere fact that they
are residents of the Capital of the
United States Las evidently placed
them on so high plane that there
is no need to. descend to such a
mundane habit as casting a vote
on November 3 when all good men
and true rally to the support Of
their favoriteS.
At any rate, thanks to the very
intelligent and energetic efforts
now being put forth by The Wash
ington Times, the cause of the
voteless residents Of the District
of Columbia is being brought to
a head. We don't think that the
Seventy-fifth Congress will pass
into history without being forced
to take action on the issue. Other
Congresses have met and dis
banded after discussing very lei
surely the problem of allowing
Columbians the right to vote, then
dismissed the whole idea as pre-
posterous. This is a different day
and age. AS we enter our new
prosperity, let us include in it a
boon to the District of Columbia.
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
Congress Is Asked
To Give Capital
Franchise
Washington Wants to
Vote
(Epening Recorder, Amsterdam,
N. Y, NoU. 27, 1886

tEDeHIHg heCOTuST, AHIotC' V""''
N. Y, NoU. 27, 1886
It may read like something out
of Believe It or Not" but did you
know that some 433, 900 citizens Of
the United States are denied the
right which Americans hold most
dear-the right to vote?
These persons who are denied
representation in Government are
not felons confined in our prisons.
They are for the most part men
and women of more than average
intelligence, many of them work
ers of high specialization. They are
residents of the District Of Colum-
bia.
The population of the District
Of Columbia is $4,000, and of this
number it is estimated the voting
age population is 433 900, exceed
ing the voting-age population Of
any one of ten States.
The District of Columbia paid in
national taxes in the last fiscal
year the sum of $17,322 ,929-more
than did Is of the States individu-
ally and more than was paid by
nine States combined. The citizens
of the District had no voice in the
1evying of these taxes and no voice
in their expenditure.
During the World War the Dis
trict sent more men to the colors
than any one Of II States, although
unrepresented in the body which
declared war and prosecuted it" de-
clareS a washington newspaper
man.
A reading of the debates of the
Constitutional Congress indicates
that there was no intent by the
trainers of our Government to deny
application of the principle of
democracy to those who chanced
to live in the National Capital.
The Constitution-makers uninten-
tionalIy failed to give Congress
the power analogous to that
which is possessed with re-
gard to the admission of ter
ritorieS to statehood0 of grant
ing representation in Congress, and
in the Electoral College, to the
population of the District when it
becomes fit.
There was introduced in the
last Congress a Constitutional
amendment which would right
that wrong. It will be re-intro-
duced in the Congress which con-
veneS in January.
The amendment should be
placed before the people at the
earliest possible time. We feel
sure they will grant the rights of
democracy to their fellow citizens.
To be sure, many of the resi-
dents of the District of Columbia
are Government employees. They
very probably will ratify only the
administrations under which they
hold office. washington would
vote Democratic today, as it would
have voted Republican in 1928.
But that does not lessen the
right to enfranchisement deserved
by residents of the District. They
should have representation in Con-
gress, which governs them even
more directly than it does the
citizens of the States.
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
axation Without
Representation
(Daily Journal of Commerce,
Seattle, Wash, NoD. Is, 1936)

A constitutional amendment
that will right a wrong to voters
residing in the District of Colum-
bia and who are denied the priv
ilege Of voting-denied represen'
tation In government-iS to be
reintroduced in Congress.
There was no intention on the
part Of the trainers Of the consti-
tuition to make the citizens OF
the District of Columbia un-
Americanized Americans. Those
statesmen, faced with the draft
ing of the American constitution,
unintentionally failed to give Con-
gress the power of granting repre-
Sentation in Congress, and in the
electoral college, to the population
of the District of Columbia when
it became of sufficient numbers.
The District was unintentionally
deprived of the privilege enjoyed
by territories when eligible to
statehood.
The following facts are Of III
terest in view of the wrong long
done the people of the District
of Columbia.
The Districts population Gig
ures of the 1880 cenSus) exceeds
that of eight States, and the vot-
ing-age population is estimated at
433, 900, 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 of the States individually;
more than was paid by nine
States combined. In the levying
of these taxes, and in their ex.
penditure, District citizens had no
voice.
During the World War the Dis.
trict sent more men to the cOlorS
than any one Of II States, al
though unrepreSented in the body
which declared war and prose,
cuted it.
The basic principle of democ.
racy is that all people shall be
represented in their government
That principle has too long been
denied the citizens of the Dis.
trict Of Columbia.
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
That Slogan Still
Holds Good!
journal, Lubbock, TeTy NoU.
80, 1886


Although probably not one
American in ten has ever con.
sidered the matter, there is in
this country of ours city of 619,-
900 persons-that most beautiful
and the most talked-of city with.
in our boundaries-whose resi-.
dents do not have the right of
suffrage.
We refer, of course, to Washing.
ton, D. c., mecca of millions, and
now, in practice as we'll as in
theory, the Capital of the United
States.
The Washington Times has
adopted as one of its objectives
a strong editorial support of the
Federal Districts efforts to secure
the vote for bona fide Washing
tonians. Pointing out that there
was introduced in the last Con-
greSs constitutional amendment
which would right the very def
mite wrong inadvertently done the
capital city and that the amend.
ment will be reintroduCed in the
next session, the Times is basing
its campaign on logic as well as
on fair play to the District.
Among other things, the paper
calls attention to the fact that
the Districts population and it's
voting-age population e:.1,vd, re-
spectively, similar populations of
eight and ten States; that during
the past fiscal year the District
of Columbia paid in national taxes
$17,322 ,929-or more than the sum
paid by Is of the States and
more than the combined total of
nine States; that during the
World War the District sent more
men to the colors than any one Of
II States, although it was unrep-
resented in Congress, the official
body which declared the state of
war!
Lubbock and South Plains peo-
pie who have visited Washington
must realize the high type of
citizenship there; st know that
the Capitals percentage Of native
born and literate citizens is high,
and will agree that certainly
those people have the American
right to representation in Con-
gress, just as we have that right
in the 10th district of Texas.
The Journal in full accord with
The Washington Times, believes
it high time for Congress to heed
the pleas of the good people of
the Federal District and give to
them the right Americans hold
most. dear-a right won with
blood and iron-the right to the
ballot.
It occurs to us that q great
American slogan-one which still
rings where patriots gather and
one which still means something
to free mems still true in this
land:
Taxation without representa-
tion is UNJUST"
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
Simple Justice
Californian, Bakersfield, CGl.,
NoU. 81, 1856

NOD. III IS5oI
The demand of the 100000 resi-
dents of the District of Columbia
for representation in Congress and
in the electoral college will doubt
less make strong appeal to the
American public, which is unable
to find a reason for discrimination
against those who happen to live
in the National Capital. The Dis
trict has 433, 900 people Of voting
age, most of them native-born
Americans, has paid $17.000,00 in
national taxes during the past
fiscal year, and during the World
War it sent more men to the colorS
than any one of II other States.
We have the right to believe that
the trainers of our Constitution
had no intention of disfranchising
those who reside within the Dis
trict of Columbia, and if an amend
ment to cure the injustice is sub
mitted to the States, which un-
queStionably it will be, it will surely
have their ready endorsement.
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
Give Them the Right
To Vote
(Morning Herald, PottStown, Pa,
Non. u, 1886

tMOTUtng HeTuLu, FOCCSLOUH, FUD
NoU. 27, 1856
Among the first things high
school students learn about the
District of Columbia Is that it's
residents are not permitted to
vote-that they have no represen-
tation in government. The con-
clusion is that this denial of suf-
frage is not only un-American but
that it is unjust to the population
of the District. It is an example
of taxation without representa-
tion" of the kind that provoked
the Boston tea party. Fortunately,
the residents of the nations cap
ital have not taken similar means
of protest to acquire their rights.
Unquestionably here is a case
Of discrimination that should be
righted. At the last session Of
Congress bill was introduced to
right the wrong that is being done
$4,000 people, a population equal
to that of eight States and with
433,000 eligible to vote. But it
failed passage. Now The Wash
ington Times has taken up the
fight anew and another effort will
be made to have the Constitution
amended to permit these citizens
to vote. The bill should be speed
lily passed. There is no valid rea-
son why Congress should hesitate.
The tax bill of the District
makes interesting reading. Dur
ing the past fiscal year the Dis
trict of Columbia made a contri-
button to Uncle Sam of $17,322,-
929 more than the sum paid in
national taxes by "a States indi-
vidually and more than was paid
by nine States combined. Both
in the levying of these taxes and
in their expenditure the citizens
had no choice. Imagine the peo-
pie of Pottstown paying taxes to
the borough and school district
and having no voice in local gov
ernment. Putting ourselves in the
place Of these District of Colum-
bit citizens, we can readily under
stand how they feel. They are as
aliens in a strange land.
It is to be hoped that Congress
will recognize their appeal for the
enjoyment Of all the privileges of
citizenship to which they are en-
titled as loyal American citizens.
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
Editors See Unjust
7 reatment Given
Washingtonians
Obligations But No
Votes
(Saratogian, Saratoga Springs,
y, NoV. 27, 1885,

(Sdr1togiGn, Saratoga Springs,
N. Y, NoU. 27, 1885,
One more effort is to be made
at the next session of Congress to
correct that absurdity in our ma
tional system which deprives resi-.
dents of the District of Columbia
of the right to vote or to be repre-
sented in the National Govern
ment. A Constitutional Amend
ment which would right that an
cient grievance was introduced in
the last Congress without result.
It will be re-introduced at the next
session.
The anachronism by which al.
most half a million persons of vot.
ing age living under the shadow of
the National Capitol are denied
any voice in the Government, has
been long standing puzzle to stu
dents of our political system. Be-
cause the District of Columbia has
neither the status of State or a
Territory and because the ConSti-
tuition is silent on the question of
voting rights within its boundaries,
the assumption has grown up
that its residents cannot legally
vote.
This in spite of the fact that a
study of the early history of the
Republic and specifically of the
debates that attended the drafting
of the Constitution, yields no rea-
son for supposing that the makers
of the Constitution Intentionally
tried to disfranchise residents OF
the District. The omission of a
specific provision granting the
same rights to this part of the
country that are possessed by
other parts was clearly uninten'
tional.
Residents of the District, num-
bering approximately $4,000, Of
whom 433,O00 are of voting age,
have all the obligations of other
citizens, including the obligation
to pay taxes. It's population ex-
ceeds that of eight States and its
voting age population that of ten
States. AS a matter of simple JUS
tice, full rights of citizenship
should be extended to its people.
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing amendment the Constitution Of the United States
providing for national representation for the people Of the
District Of Columbia.
ResolDed By the Senate and House Of Representatives
of the United States of america in Congress assembled
(tUo-thirds of each House Occurring hersn That the fol-
lowing amendment to the Constitution Of the United States
be proposed for ratification by the Legislatures Of the several
States which, when ratified by the legislatures Of three
ourth Of the States shall be valid part said COnsu
on namely insert the end Of section article ", the
8 following words!
The Washington times., 1936-12-23

and the right to for President
IN only the
their Following few OF the
pdgng
for adoption constitutional amendment granting the District of Co.
the Electoral College, They printed
outlining the Districts status
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
Flood of Endorsements for District Vote Continues
Districts Charter of Liberty

The Congress shall have power to admit to the status
Of citizens Of State the residents Of the District constituting
the Of Government Of the United States created by
article section for the purpose of representation in the
Congress and among the electors of President and Vice
President and for the purpose Of suing and being sued in
the Of the United States under the provisions Of
article ILL., section g.
when the Congress shall exercise this power the resi-
10 dents Of such District shall be entitled elect one or two
II Senators determined by the Congress such other repre-
IL sentative in the Senate Congress may provide for Repre-
1S senaves the House according their numbers deter
mined by the decena enumeration and presidential electors
Is equal in number their aggregate representation the
l6 House and Senate Congress may provide.
II The Congress shall provide by law the qualifications
ls Of and the time and manner of choosing the Senator
10 Senator'S the Representative Representatives and the
20 electors herein authorized.
81 "Ths Congress shall have power to make all law.
% which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execu
% ton the foregoing power"
The Washington times., 1936-12-23
"7 Is 'ss:s''' ''':'s ST.. RES. IL

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JANUARY (caendar day, JANuAnr y, 1895
Mr. CAPPER introduced the following resolution; which
and referred to the Committee the Judiciary
The Washington times., 1936-12-05
7 O
Aid Singers

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. S GN.SO
In memory Of her own early strug-
giles for success, Gladys Swarthout,
opera and scroon star, is planning
to buy a villa in Florence, Italy,
and to convert one wing of it into
home for American students.
The singer and her husband,
Frank Chapman, leave to make the
purchase as soon as she completes
the recording for her Paramount
picture, champagne Waltz"
According to Miss Swarthout,
the villa was once a Thirteenth
Century monastery, but is now
privately owned except for the
chapel. There are several wings
to the main building, she said, and,
in one Of these, she plans to fur
niSh living quarters for seven or
eight students.
Each group will be invited to
remain two years or so while they
are pursuing their studies.
The singer recalls that her own
musical education was financed
by a Kansas City family, whom
she paid back in cash after her
debut.
The Washington times., 1936-12-05
By Jimmy Starr
"CharIie Chan At the Opera

lovers into settling down to a
nice evening of chills and spine
creepers.
Charlie Chan at the Opera"
is the best of the Chinese detec-
tive series long rated high with
devotees of the "who-done-it"
type of yarn.
Starting with the idea that
Karloff has escaped from a home
for the mentally unbalanced-he's
a mad musician-things are pop
ping off in splendid mystery
fashion, as a series Of fatal stab
bings take place during the pro-
duction Of an opera. Everything
happens in an out of the darkened
receSses Of a theater, trap doors,
spooky attics and Easements,
during the time it takes to play
an opera.
Adroitly handled by Director
Thunderstorm, the piece moves
along in grand fashion. With a
better than average story, GLAND
and Karloff perform their respec-
tive duties in a most capable
manner. William Demarest is in
charge Of the comedy department,
and a lucky choice was he.
Others who turn in excellent per-
formances are Margaret Irving,
Keye Luke, Neddo Narrigan,
Frank Conroy and Gregory Gaye.
You'll scare into a swell evening
Of mystery with this.