Evening star., 1938-02-06

great testimonial dinner the other
night Mr.. Noyes said: THE de-
mand Of unity Of action that
comes from civic loyalty applies to
all Of Us who are enlisted in the
civilian army which lights for
Washington. The Obligation i'm
pressed upon us Is to organize and
organize, and then to bring to-
sether in unity Of action our Or
carnations. concentrating the COL
lective strength Of all in the battle
to win the vital objectives Of to-
days campaign"
Briefly stated, these objectives
are five In number and are as
follows:
Il. The right and power of
voting representation in Congress
and the Electoral College.
-. Effective participation in local
government to the full extent that
the Constitution, as 1T present
worded or amended, will permit.
3. Fair play by Congress, with
its exclusive legislative power, In
apportioning equitably between the
taxpayers of the District and the
taxpayers Of the Nation dnclud-
ing the taxpayers of the DBtrict)
the cost Of maintenance and up
building Of the Nations city.
-. Sympathetic understanding
and mutual appreciation between
the Americans OF Washington and
the Americans Of the United States,
As represented in Congress. Too
many Of Washington's legislators
come to view their Capital constit-
uents as unappreciative, ungrateful,
greedy, selfish and censorious, and
too many of these constituents come
to view the legislators, selected for
them by the Constitution, as de-
liberately ignorant of their needs,
as contemptuously Indifferent to
and neglectful Of their welfare or
as actively hostile. The crying
need Of the hour is 4 change OF
thought. . change OF heart, a new
policy under which each of the
capital-building partners shall heed
the injunction. Put yourself in his
place!' with the result Of substitute
ing mutual appreciation for recrim-
ination.
5. The same right to sue and
be sued in the courts Of the Ma
ton As Is possessed by the citizens
OF the States and by aliens"
This brief analysis Of the vital
objectives coming from . leader
recognized as the best informed
person on the Affairs and problems
of the District OF Columbia-one
whose close study and practical
advice has shown the solution of
many Of our problems Of the past
should prove . program Of value
in uniting the forces that fight for
Washington. In the light OF the
present bitter feelings between
some OF our legislators and civic
leaders the objective number 1
may appear especially dificult.
Many have long considered the
creation Of better feeling between
members Of the Congress and Dis
trict residents . vital problem.
The question IS. just how is such
improved understanding and feel
ing to be brought about?
Some years ago. and right after
his retirement from the chairman
ship Of the House District Com
mittee, the late Representative
Focht told this observer, coming
down on the elevator from q Board
Of Trade meeting. that the WASH
ington people had missed Q great
opportunity. He said. If some of
you folks had taken me into your
homes and fed me fried chicken
and waffles I would have gotten
acquainted with you and there is
no telling what I would have been
willing to do for you"
There appears to be the essence
OF real wisdom in Focht's phil
osophy. These men and women
who are our legislators, whether
we like it or not, know intimately
the folks back home" who sent
them here and those folks know
them. They 60 into the homes and
break bread with them and know
Of their problems and viewpoints.
Here 1t Is entirely different. OF
course the Board Of Trade and
some other organizations dine our
legislators on festive occasions and
the practice Is helpful but it can
not begin to touch the benefit and
the understanding which would
come from taking these men and
women into the private homes and
the hearts Of our people. They
need to know us and We need to
kn0W than