Evening star., 1939-04-29
Lawrence E. Williams Named
Board of Trade President
Lesh Report Halls
Representation Plan
Of Summers

OfSumners
Lawrence E. Williams, vice presi-
dent of the Fries. Beall & Sharp Co.,
was elected president of the WASH
ington Board of Trade today by the
boards newly chosen directors. Mr..
Williams just concluded his one
year term as first vice president of
the trade organization and will serve
. like period in the higher Office.
The directors chose James E. Col
liflower as first vice president, Fred
H. Smith, second vice president, and
Granville Guide, executive secretary.
Other incumbent officers were re-
elected. They are j. Harry Cum
ningham, treasurer; George Pitt,
ST.. assistant treasurer; Edward F..
Colladay, general counsel, and Har-
rison Brand, jr., executive secretary.
Promptness in making known to
Congress that Washington's citizens
are united behind the Summers pro-
posal to give them voice in gov
Cl lAl1Cllt 10 llCICCSdly IL Vic
Capital is to realize upon its great
est opportunity to gain national rep
resentation. Paul E. Lesh. local at
torney, declared last night at the
annual meeting of the board, held in
the Mayflower Hotel.
Making a report of progress" at
the request of Theodore w. Moves,
chairman of the boards Committee
on National Representation for the
District of Columbia. Mr.. Lesh
urged board members to herald this
unanimity of sentiment.
Every Congressman you can in
dividually reach should be told
that this form Of amendment (of-
fered by Representative Summers Of
Texas meets every doubt he has
ever entertained, that it increases
the powers of Congress and does
not coerce him nor his successors
in Office as to how these powers
shall be exercised" Mr. Lesh said
I'VE cannot expect Judge Summers
nor any other Of our friends on the
Hill to do our job for US"
Board Elects 10 Directors.
The report was offered during a
session which also saw 10 Board OF
Trade members elected directors for
three-year terms They are Charles
H. Tompkins, Claude w. Owen,
H. L. Rust, jr.:: william Mcclellan,
Edward F. Colladay, Frederick P. H.
Siddons, w. Crosdale Wits, George
Pitt, ST.: E. Barrett Prettyman and
Joseph H. Milans.
In counseling immediate, ener-
getic activity in behalf of the Sum-
ners resolution, Mr.. Lesh stated,
the chairman of the House Judici-
ary Committee has developed a
form of amendment to the Consti-
tuition which preserves and protects
fully the national interest, which,
after all, is no more than national
control of the seat of government,
and yet makes it possible for Con-
gress to end the denial of Amer
lean rights to the people of the
Capital City," preserving Congress
control of the District "in language
that should satisfy the most timid.'
He referred to Representative
Summers, as liable, respected and of
known understanding of our Ma
tional Constitution and devotion to
it, and in q position Of strategic
importance to us"
The speaker emphasized that his
committee was authorized only to
advocate national representation
but that the amendment also made
possible partial or complete local
self-government for Washington, if
Congress in the future should de-
eide that delegation Of some or all
Of its control over the city is desir-
able.
Seen Covering All Needs.
"The great practical advantage
Of the form In which 1t Is put is
that 1t contains all that in any
event needs to 60 into the Consti-
tuition. and therefore commands the
united support of our own citi-
zens," he said.
I'VE Of the District are apprecia-
tive of the blessings of civil liberty
which the Constitution preserves fol-
all of us. We lack political rights
but We do have all civil rights and
civil rights In America today are
more valued than ever BEFORE" Mr.
Lesh declared. IF it were necessary
for the purposes Of the National
Government, I for one would will
ingly lay my official rights on the
national altar, and so would the full
half million of us If that sacrifice
were necessary or even desirable.
But there are certain principles
which our political ancestors de-
clared to be self-evident truths, even
before the Constitution was adopted
Among them were Taxation without
representation is tyranny and that
governments derive their just pow
ers from the consent of the gov
erned.' -"
"Inasmuch as this national inter-
est is the sole reason for excepting
the District Of Columbia from the
otherwise universal rule Of self
government, it follows that the peo-
pie Of the District should have such
participation in government as does
not conflict with the national inter-
est"
In introducing the report, which
ne described as - report Of infor-
nation only. no action BY the board
b reoomnnendsd.Ia M. Lash said