Evening star., 1938-09-14

undemocratic. However, when we
staged a miniature tea party with real
Indians, at the Democratic Conven-
ton in Philadelphia, to dramatic the
plight OF the disfranchized citizens OF
the worlds greatest democracy, many
people thought at first that We were
trying to get vote for the Indians!
Indians have been voting for years,
but the citizens Of the District OF
Columbia have never been permitted
to vote for their White Father.
That this absurd situation has been
allowed to continue is one OF the
greatest political paradoxes in history.
In no other civilized capital in the
world, where people are permitted to
vote. has the franchise been denied
to 6OO,0 wen-qualifled citizens. This
for no apparent reason other than
that the Founding Fathers in their
infinite wisdom failed to include the
citizens of the District of Columbia
among those granted the franchise.
Our political ancestors probably
never imagined much more than gov
ernment buildings and body servants
to legislators in the ten miles square
which they created But surely that
does not excuse statesmen of today
from their responsibility to advance
with the times! How long are we to be
ruled by the hands of the dead, while
the living remain Indifferent to OBJ
vious political injustices?
Unfair Advantage Taken.
Americans pride themselves on their
strong sense of fair play. Millions
of our sportsmen would rather lose
the game than take an unfair ad-
vantage of an opponent. Yet, for
we'll over q century, Americans have
taken an unfair political advantage
Of fellow citizens in the District OF
Columbia.
1t is entirely superfluous to point
out to Washingtonians that we have
a larger population in the District OF
Columbia than any one of 10 States.
that we pay more in personal in
come taxes than do citizens in %
OldJCS, llldG Jul lllilNl aSy 10 Ao"S
and our educational opportunity high
er than in most of the States of the
Union. Still the fact remains that
we are deprived OF the ballot.
There is a far greater obstacle in
the way of the franchise for the Dis
trict of Columbia than the dead hand
OF the past. 1t is inertia in the pres
ent.
WaShingtonians cannot expect ac-
ton from others, merely by stating
their case After all 1t is primarily
our problem, and if We want our vote
then we must work for it continuous
ly. We must organize, and make
ourselves felt, not merely in this vote
less community, but in each Of the
48 States.
ertia, the District of Columbia must
overcome surprising amount of ig-
norance The average individual in
each State simply does not know that
Washingtonians are being deprived
Of their vote. Therefore. before We
CdA ChPCCG w lidSC lllill lOl Jul ally
in this political crusade, We must
show him the light.
Two Aspects Considered.
Relatively few people realize that
there are two distinct aspects to be
considered in connection with the
franchise for the District of Columbia
One is that, of national representa-
ton, which is the most important, and
at the same time the most difficult
to obtain; the other is local govern
ment. which the District enjoyed until
the corrupt period following the War
Between The States
According to my view national rep
resentation should be the goa,
sought by Washingtonishs, for with
out that they will never be able tc
vote for a President or have repre-
sentatives of their own selection tc
protect their interests in the halls
of Congress Today only citizens OF
States have this privilege. Ot
course, it will require constitutional
amendment to correct this situation
Therefore, it becomes especially i'm