Evening star., 1938-05-17

really forgotten men and women in
our American system OF government?
They were first politically forgotten
when the forefathers. carving a seat
of government not exceeding 10 miles
square out of farms and swamps ana
placing it under the exclusive, non
assignable control Of Congress, forgot
to Ak a future political status for
those who would live within the
borders of this district; overlooked
entirely the matter OF assuring them
their right of representation in the
National Government when, II ever,
the number and quality Of their popu-
lation should meet the standards fixed
for national representation.
There are reasonable explanations
for such forgetfulness and neglect on
the part Of the Constitution makers.
Under the terms of the Constitution
the Federal District of Columbia might
have been only mile or a few miles
square, serving only to furnish sites
of the national public buildings and
the areas needed for national pur-
poses and wholly unable ever to sus-
tain population sufficient to entitle
the community to representation in
the National Government.
Struggle to Create Union.
We must remember also that the
Constitution makers were engaged in
a desperate struggle to create a union
and that they were uncertain from
day to day whether their efforts would
succeed or end in failure. They were
not even sure that there would ever
be republic and 1t Is not surprising
that they did not concern themselves
with all Of the details governing
voting rights Of a possible future popu-
lation occupying possible future seat
of government Of a possible future
republic.
So this first case of forgetfulness
was not deliberate nor was it ever
intended to be permanent. Regrets
were frequently expressed in and out
Of the early Congresses that this in
justice to residents Of the District was
necessary under the conditions then
existing, but hope and belief were also
expressed that this injustice could and
would be remedied in the future when
the population Of the Capital City
community reached the size and
quality which would justify repre-
sentation.
The next case OF forgetfulness was
when Virginia and Maryland ceded
jurisdiction over the 10 miles square
selected for the seat Of government to
the United States without specifically
providing for the national voting rights
of those who lived within the ceded
territory. They thus failed to do what
Napoleon in substance and effect did
in ceding the Louisiana Territory.
Omission Understandable.
But this oversight or omission by
Maryland and Virginia is perhaps
pardonable, or at least understandable,
on the assumption that the forefathers
must have viewed it as inconceivable
that basic representative rights OF
their citizens would not be protected.
They undoubtedly assumed that rep
resentative rights which Napoleon, q
military dictator, was thoughtful
enough to secure for residents OF
French territory were implied without
formal statement in cession by
American States of territory inhabited
by Americans, to the American Ma
tional Government. It probably never
occurred to them that American States
or the American Nation or American
in Congress would be
less thoughtful and inconsiderate in
protecting the representative rights Of
American citizens than Dictator Ma
poleon.
A third case Of fragrant forgetfulness
of the rights of the people of the
District to be represented in their
Government occurred when the women
of the United States were given the
right to vote-except those women who
lived in the District of Columbia.
The women in the District battled
side by side with the women Of the
States in securing enfranchisement.
But they were left on the side lines,
forgotten and excluded when enfran-
chisement was won by the women OF
the country. There resulted that sar-
donic mockery which exists in the
name chosen by the District OF Co
lumbia League of Women Voters. They
call themselves the "Voteless D. G.
League Of Women Voters" Our women
are thus placed in much the same
plight as that Of our soldiers who
fought overseas ITO make the world
safe for democracy" and then found
themselves, after the war, still denied
the basic rights of democracy.
Few Know of Condition.
Citizens Of Washington are con-
stantly impressed by the fact that
thousands of Americans express
astonishment when told that Washing
tonians cannot vote for President or
members Of Congress. This might
suggest that our history books and
books on civics used in the schools
throughout the country have also
forgotten the condition of the Wash
ingtonian. The fact remains that rela-
lively few Americans living outside of
the District know that their fellow
Americans who live In Washington
have no vote and that taxation without
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