The Washington times., 1937-11-18
Fight to Gain Vote for D. G.
Given Impetus at Meeting
"WGr Cry" Sounds
IS WOm en-
Meet Here
By MARY PADGETT


lumbia who, alone among all OF
the citizens of the United States
are denied the privilege Of ex.
pressing their views at the polls,
received fresh impetus last night
at dinner and symposium under
the auspices Of the Department
of Government and It's Operations
of the Voteless District Of Colum-
bia League of Women Voters, held
in Barker Hall of the Y. w. C. A.
Civic, social, ana business lead
ers of the city, as well as represen-
tativeS of all local daily news
papers, presented a united front
in favor of giving District citizens
an equal share in the Nations Gov
ernment with the residents of other
communities. Each of the numer-
Gus speakers gave his or her views
on the subject, but all were firm in
the conviction that the people of
Washington should be permitted
the right of the ballot.
CALLED INJUSTICE
That this privilege, which is
granted to all qualified citizens un-
der the Constitution Of the United
States, is denied local citizens was
declared by the speakers to be an
injustice and to deprive local resi-
dents of their proper share in the
affairs of the nation, and even in
their own local government.
Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, president
OF the District League, presided at
the meeting. Before turning the
program over to Mrs. Charles
Weston, local chairman of the
Department of Government and
its Operation, remarked:
"It is becoming an increas-
ingly difficult thing to carry on
even the work of our local
league as outlined by the Ma
ticnal League Of Women Voters,
without the weapon of the
States (the BALLOT"
Mrs. Gutenberg with renewed
vigor last night evoked the battle
cry of the local unit for many
years:
National representation for
the District"
SPEECHES SHORT
Speakers were limited to three
minutes each. There was real
traffic signal, borrowed from the
Police Department, which warned
the speakers, first with a caution
light and then with the red light,
when the time was up.
The plight in which the District
finos itself, without a voice, even
in the conduct OF its own affairs,
was vividly portrayed by Mrs.
Henry Grattan Doyle, president OF
the Board of Education, who
pointed to the Red Rider" as an
example of the type of legislation
which Congress can foist upon
the District under present condi-
tons, when local citizens are
powerless to act. Mrs. Doyle de-
clared:
Can you think of ny district
in the United States putting
up with such legislation? And
yet for two long years my col
leagues on the board fought to
have the infamous Red Rider
repealed"
Another speaker was Theodore
NoyeS, editor of the Evening
Star, who declared that the gath
ering inspired united war for ma
tional representation in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
when women in the United
States were enfranchised," Mr..
Noyes said. "all women had
labored side by side, but those
In the District of Columbia had
found themselves forgotten"
URGES BATTLE
A direct challenge to the women
OF Washington was voiced by Mrs.
Eleanor Medill Patterson, pub
Usher Of The Washington Times
and Herald, who declared that if
the women Of the District stand
firm behind their purnose tn