Evening star., 1938-03-19
INTENSIVE DRIVE
FOR VOTE OPENS
271 Groups Represented at
Suffrage Meeting Hear
Call for Mi|itancy.

GAu cSoulS tIlc Uclltl IIldI ClolCcIlo
Of the District have "an inherent
right to a voice in the making Of
the laws to which they are subject
and in choosing the officers to admin
lister those laws 698 delegates from 27l
local organizations in mass meeting
last night at the United States Cham
Der Of Commerce undertook steps to-
ward a permanent campaign for local
enfranchisement.
Encouraged by promises of the sup
port of members of Congress present
at the meeting. called by the District
Of Columbia Suffrage Association, the
delegates authorized creation of a
resolutions committee of 25 members
and a campaign council to set up
machinery for the campaign. A sec
ond mass meeting was called for
April %.
Characterizing last nights mass
meeting as "one of the most sig
nificant gatherings which has been
held in the history of the United States
Government" Representative RAN
dolph, Democrat, of West Virginia,
author of pending resolution call
ing for constitutional amendment
to grant District suffrage and national
representation, called upon all District
citizens to rise 'as militant, march,
ing population"
Capper Encouraged.
Senator Capper, Republican, of Kan
sas. also the author of a pending local
suffrage resolution, called the meet
ing lone of the most encouraging"
he has seen in his 19 years of active
interest in the local suffrage question,
and predicted that if District citizens
would really unite in the proposed
campaign you may see results sooner
than you anticipate
Calling the meeting to order, Arthur
Clarendon Smith, former president of
the Federation of Business Associa-
tions and chairman of the Conference
Arrangements Committee, promised
that I'VE will have a series of these
mass meetings until we accomplish
our mission-suffrage for the citizens
OF the District
I'VE want the vote and we should
have it," he said. We want you to
so express yourselves that Congress
will know We stand united in the at
tempt to reach our objective"
Wilbur S. Finch. president of the
District of Columbia Suffrage Asso-
clation. presiding. pointed out in an
opening statement that the associa-
ton had called the meeting because
1t is convinced that recent develop
nents in the movement for suffrage
in the District of Columbia make it
imperatively necessary that District
citizens interested in securing their
own enfranchisement combine their
efforts in campaign for this purpose
If they sincerely wish to attain this
goal within the reasonably near fu-
ture"
William NICK Clayton, chairman of
the Legislative Committee of the asso-
citation and past president of the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations, in
the keynote speech of the evening.
announced as his text the phrase:
Set up ballot box at the Capital
Of the United States"
Congress is not entirely to blame for
the voteless plight of the District, MIR.
Clayton said, explaining that the
people of the District need a good,
sound awakening: they need the clar-
ion call on duty"
1T isn't that Congress is indiffer-
ent," Mr.. Clayton said Congress
needs to be shown that the people of
the District are earnest in their desire
for the right to determine their own
affairs
The time has come "to talk out" in
the District. Mr.. Clayton said.
Representative Teigan of Minnesota.
characterizing the meeting as "a
worthy cause" said he often has
wondered what the citizen of Europe
thinks when he comes to the District
and finds in this great democracy that
the citizens at the heart of its Gov
ernment do not have the right to vote
and do not know democracy them
selves"
Benevolent DespOtism."
Both Congress and the people of the
District are to blame for the existing
conditions, Mr.. Teigan said, pointing
out that the Government of the Dis
trict lis that of benevolent despot."
TO the extent that I am able to
help you, will be glad to do So" he
said. You are just as much entitled
to representation in Congress as the
people of any other State or city and
also are entitled to have self Govern
ment."
MIR. Randolph addressed his hearers
as "citizens-to-be of the District of
Columbia" and said that he feels If
Congress Is to get orders which it will
heed in the matter of local suffrage
"they will not be from the people of
the 48 States, but from the people of
the District"
Granting of local suffrage, Mr.. Ran
dolph said, lis in the hearts of dozens
upon dozens Of members of Congress-"
He said he has talked to many men,
bers who promised their support for
local enfranchisement when they are
given the opportunity to act.
Il weigh my words when I say that
I feel tonight's conference on suffrage
for the District is one of the most
significant gatherings which has been
held in the history of the United States
Government" Mr.. Randolph said. II
doubt if ever before in the long span
OF years in which this matter has been
agitated there has ever been so much
concerted evidence of purpose"
Sees City Of 1000, 900.
The District population lis far in
excess OF that of many self governing
units in our land" Mr.. Randolph said,
predicting that within Is years the
District population will be in excess
Of 100000 persons
Pointing to the growth of dictator
ships abroad, Mr.. Randolph said that
the best evidence America can give
Of its belief in democracy is to grant
suffrage to the voiceless citizens Of its
Capital City.
Suffrage for the District can 20
hand in hand with national repre-
sentation for its citizens" he said.