Evening star., 1938-04-29
With big torchlight parade and

With big torchlight parade and
rally tonight, the revitalized campaign
for District suffrage points toward a
climax tomorrow in the city-wide ref
erendum, when voters go to So polling
places to cast their ballots
The parade is scheduled for 8:15
tonight, to begin at John, Marshall
place and c street. march up Penn
Sylvania avenue to Fourteenth street,
where big rally of music and speeches
will be staged by the Junior Board Of
Commerce. The program will be
broadcast.
Plans for the suffrage referendum
tomorrow were rushed to completion
today William H. Mondell, chairman
of the Elections Committee, planned
to Issue final instructions to all work.
ers throughout the SO precincts. At
these polling places Washingtonians
may vote yes" or no" on two ques-
tions - national representation and
local suffrage.
Fair weather for the referendum to-
morrow was forecast early today by
the Weather Bureau This was ex-
pected to have favorable effect on
the total vote The official report
predicted Saturday fair, with mod
crate. temperature: moderate westerly
winds"
Petition Filed in Congress-
On Capitol Hill legislators in both
branches of Congress today had be-
fore them the petition filed yesterday
by the Citizens Joint Committee on
National Representation. The petit
ton approved both the pending Cap
per-Norton and the Lewis-Randolpf,
joint resolutions for amendments to
the Constitution providing suffrage for
the District of Columbia.
The petition was introduced simul-
taneously by Senator Capper. Repub-
lican, of Kansas and Representative
Mary T. Norton, Democrat. OF New
Jersey, co-authors of one of the reso-
lutions and former chairmen. respec-
lively. of the Senate and House Dis
trict Committees.
Mrs. Norton in a radio address last
night over VOL pleaded with every
person in the District to register your
vote on Saturday for or against
suffrage so that We in Congress may
know how to proceed in serving you"
Assures Judicial Rights.
Referring to the Capper-Norton
joint resolution, Mrs. Norton pointed
out that their resolution in addition
to suffrage provided other things.
1t planned Ito amend the Constitution
to insure for you the juridicial rights
of your legal personality"
Perhaps many of you do not know
it," she explained. but in civil courts
outside of your own city, you have
a difficult time and an expensive OBJ
legation to prove legal residence.
1t seems silly state of affairs, but
regardless of how sure you are your
selves of the place you call home, it
will cost you money to prove that to
civil court. Senator Capper and
have opened the way to correct this
abuse of your unheeded constitutional
rights. as well as to provide you with
authority TO run your own city,"
solution 10 that problem, however"
she said. remains in the hands of
the House and Senate and the States,
and the decision will be guided in large
measure by the determination for self.
rule you display next Saturday."
In regard to the Lewis Randolph
resolution she said she agreed with
Senator Capper, that she would not
stand in the way if you proved
by your ballots that you really want
suffrage"
qualifying my stand on the Lewis
Randolph plan," she said, Il would
support it or any similar legislation
for District suffrage only when as
sured that local government Is
guaranteed"
Advantages Are Stressed.
Sne pointed to the advantages both
of local government and of rep
reSentation In Congress.
If national representation becomes
fact, Mrs. Norton predicted she
would use her influence to see that
permanent provisions be made to
place members from the District at
the head of House and Senate COM
mittees on District affairs"
This extra precaution," she said,
will combine in reality to insure COM
plete and practical misrepresentation
in all phases Of District administra-
ton. If know my colleagues, and I
think I do, they will welcome this
change. The election Of your own
(See STTFFR poo. A-a1-