Evening star., 1938-06-19
d. C. National Representation
Continues Of First Importance.

Any legislative program formu-
lated by any one familiar with the
needs of the District of Columbia
will surely enter District of Colum-
bia National Representation as first
on the list. Voting participation in
the bodies which together legislate
for the Nation and which possess
and exercise exclusive overriding
authority over the National Capital
is absolutely essential to the well
being Of the District. No other way
Of getting square deal in gov
ernment has ever been discovered
save through actual and equal par
ticipation in that government.
1t was really too much to expect
that conclusive action by Congress
would result from the unofficial ref
erendum of April 80 or from the
hearing May 10, 10 and 20. 1898.
These dates were so near the end
Of the session and of the Congress
that there was little opportunity
for the members of the committee
to give thorough study to the ques-
ton and no time for the general
missionary work which is 50 neces-
sary to awaken the interest of the
men and women of Congress.
The frank expression of opinion
by Chairman Hatton w. Summers
of the committee are heartening to
the proponents of the proposals to
Americanize the Washingtonian,
holding that in his opinion the
right to vote is more fundamental
than the Constitution itself. That
is forceful statement from one of
the really big men in Congress.
Washingtonians who have long
sought the granting of these funda-
mental rights have felt all along
that in asking for voting participa-
ton in the Government they we're
asking only for that to which they
are justly entitled. Those who
have appeared as spokesmen at the
several national representation
hearings have always regarded it as
rather an incongruity to be pleading
with American legislators to grant
to fellow Americans fundamental
American rights.
Chairman Summers seems to be
impressed the same way and it may
be that others of the committee
will get the true perspective and be
ready to use their influence to right
this wrong under which District
residents have to exist as subjects of
the Republic and Of Congress. Some
seem to have the idea that 1t is
geographical extent Of territory and
not population which is entitled
to participate in the councils of
the Nation. They would get a diff
ferent idea if they would turn once
more to the preamble of the Con-
stitution and see that 1t was the
people and not the geographical
area which ordained and estab-
lished the Constitution of the
United States.
At most of the hearings on pro-
posals to give the District of CO.
lumbia the fundamental rights now
denied, there has been some scat
tering opposition, but there has
never been offered a valid objection
which deserved consideration by any
true believer in the principles pro-
claimed by the Declaration of In
dependence and laid down in the
Constitution. At a national con-
vention of women q little while
back the Districts plight was ex-
planned by members Of the District
delegation. One important old lady
from New England said: well, If
it is all right that you should have
the vote and the right to partici-
pate in the councils Of the Nation.
why haven't you had 1t long ago?"