Evening star., 1938-04-23
PLATF0RM0ND.C.
POLL IS ADOPTED
Suffrage Referendum Plans
Further Perfected at
Conference Meeting.

Planning the suffrage referendum
April 80, the Citizens Conference on
District Suffrage last night at Central
High School formally adopted three
point platform Of wide scope.
First. 1t indorsed national repre-
sentation and rendered its support to
the Citizens Joint Committee on Ma
tional Representation for the District
Of Columbia;
It approved the Lews-Randolph
joint resolution for a republican form
Of government here and.
1t moved to take immediate steps to
reorganize the District government un-
der present congressional power with
provision for suffrage possible under
that power.
A crowd estimated between 600 and
TOO participated In the conference ses-
sion, which proved high spirited. full
OF interest IN votes for the District
but somewhat contentious over soma
OF the i8sues involved. There va
much lively debate from the hoor.
Vote of 1eo, 900 Asked.
Stirring pleas to turn out q big vote
on April 80 were delivered, one speaker
demanding . vote Of 100000 In the
suffrage plebiscite.
Many civic and business organiza-
tons were represented at the meeting
and plans were laid afterward 70,
further details of handling the suffrage
referendum. when Washingtonians are
to be given the opportunity to cast
their ballots for District suffrage.
The referendum is stirring interest
IN the hearings scheduled May 4
and 5. by the House judiciary Com
mittee on two joint resolutions fol
constitutional amendments, the Cap
per Norton and Lewis Randolph
measures to grant D. c. suffrage.
Meantime in statement support
ing both local and national suffrage
for Washington, Representative Celler
Democrat, Of New York expressed
the view yesterday that the ref
erendum will be an impressive
answer" to those who contend the
people Of the District no longer desire
the fundamental right Of suffrage
He insisted his bill for municipal
suffrage did not conflict with the
Lewis-Randolph joint resolution.
Representative Mary T. Norton,
Democrat. Of New Jersey, co-author
Of the Capper-Norton Joint resolu-
ton for national representation, sent
a message to the conference last night
urging Washington to turn out for
the referendum. She had planned to
Speak at the meeting but sent her
regrets.
Finch Makes Stirring Plea.
Wilbur S. Finch, president of the
District Suffrage Association and
chairman of the conference. delivered
brief, stirring plea for the battle
OF ballots, to carry out the modern
declaration Of independence The
resolutions were presented by Harry
N. Stull, vice president Of the asso.
citation, and chairman Of the Resolu-
tions Committee.
The resolution Of three pages re-
cited wrongs in the District Of Co.
lumbia, which were characterized
later by . woman speaker from the
floor as virtual District Declara-
ton of Independence.
The resolutions three principal
points were:
The conference hereby indorses the
general principle of national repre-
sentation, or the right and power Of
voting representation in Congress
and the electoral college for residents
at the seat Of government, and ten
ders its full cooperation and support
to the Citizens Joint Committee on