Evening star., 1937-07-24
SUFFRAGE DRIVE
F0RD.C. LAUNCHED
BY CITIZEN GROUP
Committee of Business and
Civic Leaders to Plan
Procedure.
BALLOT ON OFFICIALS
is IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE
Vigorous Debate on Representa-.
tion Precedes Decision-Next
Meeting Set for Sept. II.

Launching a drive to arouse CITY,
wide support of demand upon Con-
gress to grant the vote to the Capital,
group of citizens meeting in the
board room of the District Building
last night organized the District of
Columbia Suffrage Association, with
mandate for immediate action.
The temporary chairman of the
committee, Wilbur Finch, was in
structed to appoint a committee Of
from II to Is members to draw up
a plan of procedure to be presented
at another meeting scheduled for
September II.
After a vigorous debate, it was de-
cided that the first interest of the
association should be local suffrage
for the District. with the right to
vote for officials now appointed by
the White House, with the ultimate
objective of obtaining the necessary
support for the pending constitutional
amendment giving the District voice
in national affairs.
Finch Outlines Plans.
I'VE are out to Americanize the
national capital said William Maio.
president of the Southeast Citizens
Association, who presented to the
meeting the resolution outlining the
procedure for establishment of the
Finch Committee. Explaining how
he would choose his committee, Finch
said:
Il will appoint committee OF as
representative group of people as is
possible under the limitation of num-
bers, giving each organization in the
city as much representation as the
maximum Of IS or the minimum of
/ will permit. I will choose the men,
bers through consultation with men,
bers OF the organizations of business
men, citizens associations and other
groups"
1t was suggested from the floor. Of
the meeting that the committee should
include representatives of the busi-
ness associations, citizens associations,
the Central Labor Union, the Parent
Teacher Association and colored
groups.
Two Issues Vie.
Vigorous disagreement on the
question of whether the first objec-
tive should be national representa-
ton for District citizens or local suf-
frage threatened continually to dis
rupt the meeting, and was brought
to a head when John Paul Jones.
vice president of the Federation of
Business Mems Associations, moved
to strike out from Mayo's resolution
all reference to local suffrage. Jones
amendment was beaten by 18 to 30.
Opposing Jones proposal, William
NICK. Clayton, one OF the most ac-
tive members of the Federation of
Citizens Associations, told the meet
ing 1t might lead the neW-formed
ASSOCIATION into the semblance of
treadlng on the toes of the Citizens
Joint Committee for National Rep
resentation, headed by Theodore w.
Moves.
L would throw no monkey wrench
into the machinery Of that organiza-
tlon,' Clayton said. The only thing
that could be inferred from our ac-
ton If We devoted ourselves to insur-
ing national representation is that we
are not satisfied with what it is do
ing. We don't want to hurt its plan,
IN any way, We want to embark on
an unexplored trail We want to
get a ballot box here. We want
something now. A hungry man wants
bread now"
Sees Help for Committee.
If We throw our efforts behind
those of the other organization, we
are helping it Jones replied.
This amendment" Jones said in
support OF his proposal, will give us
everything"
Sure, 20 years from now" inter-
jected Louis I. Obergh, an attorney
IT We had had national representa-
tlon,' insisted Jones' would the Sem
ate have passed the revenue bill with
It's income tax for the District today?
No. II we had had local suffrage.
would the Senate pave passed it?
Yes"