davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1936-12-16
Disfranchised Ameri-
cans
(American, NeW York, N. Y,
November 2S, 1856


November 2S, 1856
The plea of residents of the Dis
trict of Columbia, so long un-
needed, that they be given the
right to vote is beginning to get
the attention Of the nation.
For reasons that are the subject
of considerable dispute, the act Of
Congress creating the Federal Dis
trict withheld the franchise from
residents of the District.
1t is not altogether clear that
this was intended. Authorities are
at odds as to whether Congress
failed to provide voting privileges
for the District as a matter Of in
tent or of oversight.
However that may be, the fact
is generally accepted that what
ever reasons may have influenced
the action, they are neither i'm
portant nor effective now.
If it was the intention to keep
all residents of the District from
voting, that result has not been
achieved.
Many who reside permanently
in Washington are able to main
tain legal residences in other
States, and thus to vote. Many
others establish homes in adjoin-
ing States and commute to their
work in Washington, and they
also vote.
The situation thus prevails
wherein more than half a million
permanent residents of Washing
ton are refused the right to vote,
while working side by side with
people who do vote. Obviously, if
the possibility of harm resulting
from the voting privilege IS real,
it is not eliminated by raising bars
against one citizen and lowering
them for another.
The principle that any Amer
lean citizen, qualified in all other
ways to vote, should be refused
that right because Of his residence
in the National Capital is not &C.
ceptable.
Residents Of the District of Co.
lumbia pay taxes, hey go to war,
they are benefited or harmed by
national legislation exactly as
other Americans are affected.
It is fundamentally unjust that
the wrong inflicted upon them
for reasons that are at best OBJ
Scure lould be perpetuated.
Probably the only reason that
the wrong has endured so long is
that the remedy for it Is so cum
bersome. An amendment to the
Constitution is required to correct
the situation, and it takes a con-
siderable movement of national
opinion to start the amending
process rolling.
The next Congress will debate
the merits of such an amendment,
as many Congresses have done be-
fore it. But this lime the people
at large are givinT evidence Of q
nationwide desire to extend simple
justice to a group Of Americans
who have been too long denied
justice.
The Washington times., 1936-12-16
reat Them As Ameri-
cans
Tribune, Redwood City, CGI.,
Mar, %. 1866


One of the curious facts in Amer
lean civics is that while foreign
born people may acquire full citi-
zenShip rights, including that Of
voting for President, native-born
Americans who are citizens in
every respect are denied that vot-
ing boon If they chance to be resi-.
dents of the District Of Columbia.
The full voting right and the
further right to presentation In
Congress are objectiveS Of q fight
being waged by the residents Of
the Federal Capital who will once
more seek adoption Of a constitu-
tional amendment remedying those
omissions.
All Of the argument lies on the
side of the D. C.. residents. They
are a populous group (619,000
American citizens, literate and
mostly native born, residing there)
They are called upon to shoulder
all responsibilities of citiZens-taX.
paying and military duty-but are
denied the full electoral privileges
and the right to Federal legislative
representation merely because the
Constitution as it stands makes no
provision for granting those privi'
legeS to the District in its non
State status.
The Districts population, as
shown by the 1888 census figures,
is greater than that of eight States,
and the national taxes paid by It's
residents in the last fiscal year
exceeded the sums paid in such
taxes by IS of the States individ'
ually, and was more than those
paid by nine States combined. On
such q showing, certainly Congress
should approve the proposed con.
stitutional amendment that would
right the long-endured wrong to
which District of Columbia resi-
dents have submitted.
The Washington times., 1936-12-16
Step-ChiId Status Irks
YOU City Blizzard, Oil City. Pa,
A1o., ~ f026)

Long-suffering and patient Dis
trict of Columbia, the step-chlld
Of the union, is weary OF bearing
the burdens of government with
ont having a voice in that gov
ernment. The residents of that
area want the right to vote, which
is denied them. A constitutional
amendment will be presented the
next session of Congress and sup
port is being asked Of the States
for it's passage and ratification
later.
There is no good reason why the
right to vote should be denied the
433, 900 voting age residents, which
exceeds the voting-age population
OF 10 States. During the last
fiscal year the District paid ST.
322,929 in national taxes, more
than the sum paid in such taxes
by 25 States individually; more
than the sum paid by nine States
combined. And every one Of those
States, some of them with smaller
populations than some of our
Pennsylvania counties, have two
Senators in Washington and at
least one Congressman.
While many of the Washington
residents maintain voting resi-
dences in other States. there are
others who do not. 1t seems
strange that this situation hasn't
been rectified before. Up to 1874
the District elected a house of %
delegates and a delegate to the
lower House of Congress. Later
three commissioners were ap-
pointed by the President and then
the present municipal form of
government was adopted.
It seems strange that the resi-
dents of the capital city of a
nation, which was founded chiefly
on the complaint that taxation
without representation is tyran
n.y." should be denied the right to
vote. And certainly those Wash
ingtonians living in the National
Capital should be better able to
vote intelligently on national is
sues and men than many in far
off places.
\ SO the District is objecting to
being the drudge in the national
household. She has a just com
plant. Her wish should be granted
and her voice heard.
The Washington times., 1936-12-16
Denied the Right to
Vote
(TtmeS, KinoSport, Tenn,
NoU. "a, 1856

NoU. "a, 1856
In this country, whose principles
Of Government are based upon
equal rights, and in which we en-
phasize the fact that every man
is a sovereign, it seems passing
strange that the residents of the
District of Columbia are denied
the right of suffrage. Millions Of
Americans on millions of occasions
have expressed surprise that this
is the case, and have marYeled at
it.
BY the Federal Constitution the
residents of the District of Colum-
bia are denied the right to vote,
which is regarded as the inalien-
able right of all other citizens of
this great country. Why is this the
case? We do not know. But we do
not believe it was through the in
tent of the trainers of the Con-
Stitution that the people of the
District of Columbia were denied
the right Of suffrage; we believe,
on the other hand, that the au-
thorS of this great document unin-
tentionally failed to give Congress
the power to grant the right to
vote to the people Of the Federal
District.
We certainly see no good and
valid reason why the residents of
the District of Columbia should
not be given the right Of suffrage.
In intelligence, in lteracy, and in
loyalty, the $4,000 largely native
born people of our great capital
city certainly rank with the best
in the country. The District of
Columbia has a potential voting
strength estimated at 433 ,000-a
figure which exceeds the voting
age population Of 10 States. Last
year the District paid national
taxes amounting to $17,322,929
which was more than was paid by
Is Of the individual States, and
was a sum greater than the total
paid by nine of the States COM
bined. In the World War more men
were listed from Washington City
than from any one Of II States,
although the people Of the District
Of Columbia had had, and could
have, no part in declaring and
prosecuting the war.
The people of the District of
Columbia are citizens of the
United States. They are under
the laws of the country, they are
subject to taxation imposed by the
country, and in case of war they
are required to fight in defense
of their country, just as any other
citizens. Viewed from any angle
whatsoever. their interests in the
Government are just as great as
the interests of any other group.
Yet by some weird quirk in the
Federal Constitution they are de-
MED any voice whatsoever in the
Government!
At the last session of Congress
an amendment to the Constitution
was proposed which would have
righted this quite obvious wrong.
The same amendment will be pro-
posed again at the next session of
Congress which conveneS in Janu.
ary. While we are for the most part
extremely slow in advocating any
constitutional anne d m n t, We
could not but favor an amendment
in this particular case. 1t is con,
trary to our conception of the
Democratic principles upon which
this country was founded to deny
the right of voice in the Govern
ment to any citizens, and we are
of the opinion that the very great
majority Of the citizens of every
State would view the matter in the
same light.
The Washington times., 1936-12-16
The Ballot for the
District
(TimeS, Ell Dorado, Kansas,
Mop. II. 1856

NOD. 81, IS50I
Residents of the District of
Columbia are seeking the right to
vote. 1t seems clear that, in all
interests of fairness, they should
have it. A constitutional amend
ment covering the subject was in
troduced into the last Congress. 1t
will be reintroduced into the COM
ing session. This newspaper be-
lieves it should have popular sup
port.
The residents of the District are
highly iterate and largely native
born Americans. They have suf-
fered, and are suffering, an un-
fair discrimination. Here are a
few facts in behalf of the Dis
trict's case which should have a
moving appeal for the country.
The Districts population Gig
ures Of the 1880 census) exceeds
that of eight States, and the vot-
ing-age population is estimated at
433,00O, exceeding the voting-age
population of 10 States;
During the past 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; more
than was paid by nine States
combined. In the levying Of these
taxes, and in their expenditure,
the citizens of the District 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.
There are other figures bear
Tag on the Districts contributions
to the nation, but they pale into
insignificance beside the basic
principle of democracy that all
people shall be represented in
their government.
A reading of the debates of the
Constitutional Congress indicates
that there was no intent by the
trainers of our Government to
deny the application Of this prin-
ctple to those who CHANGED to live
in the National Capital.
So, by chance, the District has
been denied the right to vote. It
is an omission that should be
remedied. The District, by virtue
of containing the, National Capital
attracts many of the country's S
best citizens. It is repugnant to
Anericanism that they should be
denied the vote.
If there is any cogent reason
against giving the District the bal
lot this newspaper would like
10 hear of it.
The Washington times., 1936-12-16
Should Have Repre-
sentation
(Dai1y Gate City Keokuk. Iowd,
Nou. 20, 1886

SSIIIdltOII
(Ddi1y Gate City KeokuE. IoWG,
NoU. 20, 1856
A constitutional amendent will
be introduced in the new Con-
gress, which convenes January 5,
that would right a wrong that
has long been existent. This
amendment would give to the
District of Columbia representa-
tion in our Government.
The makers of our ConStitu-
ton failed, unintentionally, to
give Congress the power of grant
ing representation in Congress,
and in the electoral college, tc
the population of the District,
in which is situated our National
Capital. The right was given
Congress to admit territories to
statehood, but no provision was
given for similar recognition to
the District Of Columbia. Hence,
the need of the constitutional
amendment mentioned above.
There certainly is no justice in
keeping a district, boasting a
population of $4,000 people, and
$4,000 Of them of voting age,
from having representation in
government and its citizens from
enjoying the franchise Of suf.
frage.
The number of citizens of the
District of voting age is greater
than the number of citizens o1
voting age in 10 States. During
the last fiscal year, the District
of Columbia paid in national
taxes $17,322.929, which tota
was more than that paid in
taxes by 25 of the States indi.
vidually, and more than that
paid by nine States combined
Yet in the 1evying Of those
taxes, and in their expenditure
the citizens of the District had
no voice. Does that seem rights
It is also brought out that
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. Certainly the District
must be praised for it's loyalty in
time of war. as well as in time
of peace. Wouldn't the granting
of representation in our Govern
ment be a merited reward fol
this loyalty?
Our histories tell us that the
American Revolution was fought
because King George III sought
to impose on the colonists a ta1
without their consent, in Other
words taxation without repre-
sentation. In our own Nationa
Capital in the District Of Colum
bia, there is taxation without
representation today. The people
of Iowa and the other States o+
the Union should desire to SET
justice done to the people of thu
District of Columbia. Give then
the vote and representation il
our Government, is our urge
Iowa's representatives in our ma
tional assembly should vote fol
the constitutional a m e n d m e n
asked by the people Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia!
The Washington times., 1936-12-16
Published through courtesy Journal of Akro Ohio
Appeal to Justice
DAILY NeWs.Inder, EvanSton, Ill.,,
Nou. "a, 1856

/ (DGtLy Ne1DS-InGeC, Evanston, Ill.,,
NoU. "a, 1856
Some case might be made for
the contention that officeholders,
elected or appointed. should be
denied the privilege Of voting in
order to reduce the influence OF
political patronage. It seems fair,
however, that if such a rule were
followed it should apply generally
and not to discriminate against
q particular class.
At present there is discrimina-
ton against the $4,000 citizens OF
| the District of Columbia not all
/ of whom by any means are Fed
eral job holders. Long an object
of rather Subdued sympathy.
these loyal, highly literate and
largely native-born Americans"
have been inspired by the recent
election Tin which it was difficult
to be allowed no part except a
vocal one) to press their demands
that they not be continued to be
claSsed with felonS as unqualified
for the franchise.
Among the leaders in the move
ment to obtain Justice for the
Would-be voters Of washington. D.
c., as A. G. Newmyer published
of The Washington Times who
cites the following material facts:
The Districts population Gig
ures of the 1890 cenSus) exceeds
! that of eight States, and the vot-
ing-age population is estimated at
433 3,000 exceeding the votlng-age
population of ten 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 25 Of the States individually;
more than was paid by nine States
combined. In the levying OF these
taxes, and in their expenditure,
our 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.
According to Mr.. Newmyer, a
reading of the debates Of the con
Stitutional congress indicate that
there was no intent by the trainers
of the Constitution to deny appl1-
cation of the democratic principle
that all citizens be represented IN
their government to those who
chanced to live in the National
Capital.
"The Constitution-makerS unln-
tentionally failed to give Congress
the power analogous to that
which is possessed with regard to
the admission of territories to
statehooO of granting repreSen'
tation in Congress-, and IN the
electoral college, to the population
of the District when it becomes
fit" Mr.. Newmyer writes.
During the last Congress there
was introduced a constitutional
amendment which would right the
wrong. It will be re-introduced
in the Congress which conveneS
in January. EvanStonianS should
lend what moral support they can
to bring about it's passage. Our
congressman, Ralph E. Church
should be told that his constituents
would favor his affirmative vote
on the matter.
The Washington times., 1936-12-16
ountrv Rallies to Plan for District Representation
Widespread Sentiment Favors
Granting of Franchise
To Washington

NATIONAL representation Congress and the right to vote for
~ President be secured for Washington only through the
the people the States and their rep
resenaves Following few of the editorials printed by news
papers throughout the country pedgng support to the movement
for adoption constitutional amendment granting the DISTRICT
Columbia representation in Congress and in the Electoral Col
lege They printed in response to letter from The WASH
ington Times outlining the Districts voteless status.
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-03-27
MAKING IT A POLITICAL PROBLEM

Members Of Congress attempting farm re
lief bill to do By ndrcon what the Suprs Court has decide
is Illegal Tor Ao Federal Governments to d. The bright young
men with scholastic els aho dominate Roosevelt at this mome
will attempt Constitution AMI later ON The wis
Judges on the Supreme Court will catch them at it.
Agricultural relief net political problem Admins
traton in feels that this election az
and the farmers vote be captured We may therefore, look
for temporary law to BE- enacted without regard it's
tionay 1t cant be Gdudicaed in the until the
has been held Law that viii maintain rentle
checks where the farm resides will be politically expdcn
regardless of its constutionality.
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-03-27

nat you are Tor the sake of Mike be just that and
acknowledgement If man be that and ;,on amino
- you are oog let 1t DC lon y barking YOU Christian
gentle man wilfu pottig knitting and
Your aelghoCr Its shouldnt b.r
20 let your friends know Who and what you are If DEMOCRAT in
ocs be that and stop lying the people for vcr owr action
WI" tell the tale If Republican in pol tn IT'S alrgh
oher ce that and stop 2ler around the corner, eino
~ o'u' IT, ana 1i!a - II you up look The
world IN the face and live mao. nc H.,
10 DE 1ound on OF ne red hills Virginia and North Cara
ma It's no harm to keep head stop locking down
ough you had killed body we have said before An,
as said by Statesmen tie world pc, ery no crime an
never has been since jesus the @ Saviour born in stable
to III manPer and Afterwards perambu!ated the globe with
where to lay his head Certainly lconencnt to ba moor I'm
no crime Even In be enough not 70 steal
and do all kinds of the f , 70
day
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-03-27

VINO ever heard Of Nglo wanting to for Presiden
Roosevelt could register Republican i'm the pv as Re
publican and vote his choice for county offices in No
NenlCtr what has that to do with
voters desires III the general election? President RI
welt fell you to an must but for Heavens sa -
good sense and be men enough TO vote county tick
cts 10 suit yourself Roosevelt candidate in this primary
You are rot voting for President in VIDE primary hen
tr the love CT Mike Gentlemen register your nborn sense of
PRIDE and favor Ihe for the kndest Of feeling the
VINO may want to become Jealous evidence more
'izan zeal than BRAIN you leave this BlC
alone, stop trying to hi iae him He ELL
K Tbs is the Negro VINO has of day. Tn,
primary means freedom and slavery
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-03-27
LOCAL AND PERSONAL
DAILY HAPPENINGS

Su = Il IImicbir. of N,rthfork
Justice, nf IN. p.oc. far The, North
fork Di.tri,t wo. in th, civ on bis.
ines. Nuu.lov of thi. week A. i like
~ we understand - l.. , candidate. +,
succeed hm,,lf And ,S his nuhIico.
,ion tuou. u,iI,iu.. ,n h. I'm ,ho ,,.,,,
b.c,us. 80 ,,, ,i,,,,iou .f IN. L,w.
or lack of h,p.rnbla administration
of the duIr. of Justice ". are sutis.
fled I'm. Same pr,pL. with rc.cndor
,nr;r forp,,, .,,,i,r,
HON. WALTER DAY FOR con. -
In uno,h.r column If I'm. uubIc,.
al, ~. his ism. viii ha u,tic.J
.tutcmcu. r.lo,iy,. ,o and advanced
,rcs.utm.u, ,,r r,rtoiu nrin.iu,e. and
dcus m,n..m,., IN in. mind ,f our
mutual friend th,. Hon WoIt.r D,v
f Rr,dshaw oi,r Su.,y,.tinu j. th,,
orr vo,r ,wn information w, su.
.r., I'm, ,nu ,..,l uh,, tho t,Icuted
p:.tl man has T., say
~. D,v w,. yisi,iu" ,aIkiny am,
hck.u. bouds with - uumber ,f III
ld ,cu,,aiutcu.c. muud,v of thi,
yccl, He ulor. RIM f,, tonyr,.
,hi. -, rif,h D;.,rc, -, Wac, ~,
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-03-27
THE DIFFERENCE IN PUNISHMENT

Look how long has been the case was Closed and r
ct handed down in the celebrated Bruno kidnann
and killing CT Lindbergh Observation-Disclosures stubborn bono
ing OH 1he various doors Tor life instead electric chair SUI
lose this crime had been by Negro or suppoe m
cred man had been South where Nsud tho life
'at poor devil BEEN We further suppose had been
u ""'e man 80 charged and declared guilty where
e been and how many people oud reading the
wanting to know and wondering will be tho noyt stem
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-03-27
sALLY AT PRESBYTERIAN,
CHURCH sun. MARCH 18TH.
very Member And Friend Requested
Turn Out and Con rihutc; Fly
Dollars Must BE Raised

The care and maintenance of Il
hurch. however lightly some my
link on il is one Of the most impor
ant anil imperative IL duty aS oouli
. levolvc upon any self respectful, SELF
Importing" people in any community
II fact the care and beauty with
'hirh II church is kept very largely
peaks for the high-rlGsS christian
ceiling and respect for the IIoIiS of
;od. Travellers through one commun-
y measure considerably the general
haracer of he people of that com
unity by the appearance AMI r.
Ioval &c lis obligations
Therefore, the Keystone PrcSbytr"-
an church being the only one of it,
ind in the city feel like going on.
nj telling tic. public tx well rs IT,,
aCm3"rS And friends. that Til, FirSi
;ati"nal Bank of keystone from
whom certain amount of money
vas borrowed several years ago. hold
claim AGAINST thi~ chIrch in the
I'm of fifteen Hundred dcllarS. AMI
c'}u." o. their lcIi .Ic'. un"omplI i1
~ Wien W cl" Ill ai lcas; Il bit n
ach maturity. needs their M me-;
nd The church itself. it's members
nd f?icnd~. realizing th.y are ali
-. When tG.' KIND e co.di Jon pre-
ems Itself, arc called upon 10 max
ocmSclvcS I'm indi,iGu committee. o.
'cr~nual responsibility 30 help this
hurch 10 raise the amom: specified.
NcXi Sunday nm cf Cor; * TO be mad .
o rai>" a. much - possible ana from
inc 10 time. our friends will bear IN
mind We hope f. have lllr right AMI
pleasure to both call cn them aud 10
Expect of them io Voluntarily help
put this pre- 2rau over The top Ou~
innk h"s always been nice tu IL bat
they could and would feel better We.
these little financial obligations lift
ed from our ncbtcd side Of The I'D
ger. Any amount desired 10 be CIV
iributrd may be sent unless turned iH
personally. may be- addressed 10 Oh
Keystone Presbyterian Church Trl>
tees, in Care Of Attorney S. A. ca.
houn or NJ. r. whittico, Trustees.
This obligation must H.. met ami
our good people we know will hell
uS 10 meet it, This means whi.c
black. rich or poor
Mr. Pryton Ticker o. this city who
has been sick for several month. j.,
thought To be- slightly improving
Continued on page Four
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-03-27
PRIMARY MEANS ANY BODY ELIGIBLE

The primary election nearing when all eager and anxious
seekers of office may satisfy themselves the pcop
think CT them. The la OF tn primary gives every man an CD
pcrtunty to test his metal The door open times to all