Evening star., 1939-05-09
Mass Meeting Told
To Back Postcard
Drive for Votes
Finch Emphasizes
Municipal Assembly
Plan for District

Cardboard signs urging members
to postcard your way to suffrage"
furnished the theme for last nights
mass meeting of Northwest resi-
dents, sponsored by the Citizens
Conference on District Suffrage, at
Thomson School.
Rally speakers, headed by Wilbur
S. Finch, president of the District
Suffrage Association, urged in
tensive backing of the postcard CAM
paign now under way as a means
of presenting a united demand for
reorganization of the city Govern
ment, paying particular attention
to provisions for municipal as
sembly," or city council.
Mr.. Finch reviewed the local
suffrage situation, explaining the
Interpretation between national and
local angles and emphasized the
necessity for complete enfranchise-
ment in regard to city affairs and
"home rule" He compared the
provision for city government in
the Griffenhagen plan and the
Kennedy bill, introduced in Con-
gress last week, pointing out that
the former plan does not provide
for election of officials, but requires
instead a seven-man board to be
appointed by the President.
Cites Continuing "Expedient."
1.-THE present form of Govern
Eivonh lnn1or Ur1yoc
meant, in it's founding, only as
temporary expedient,' but it has
been in vogue for 65 years. No one
had given any real reason why we
should have such a system"
The Kennedy bill, he said, does not
interfere with the Griffenhagen re-
organization plan in general, except
in the one respect, and can be fitted
into the Griffenhagen bill without
trouble. If the general reorganiza-
ton plan is adopted, he pointed out
that the Kennedy municipal as
sembly" plan be included as the
section providing for the city coun-
Gil setup. If the Griffenhagen plan
is rejected, Mr.. Finch declared, the
Kennedy plan could stand alone and
be passed "as q. simple act of Con-
gress," thus gaining the desired end.
The municipal assembly" plan
advocated by the Suffrage Associa-
ton provides for city council of
81 members, one each from the city's
Is precincts and members elected
at large. 1t would not disturb to
any great extent Cat this time) the
duties of the Board of Commission
ers except to transfer to council all
matters of municipal legislative
character, such as ordinances and
codes, and other powers not exer-
cised by the Commissioners at the
present time, Mr.. Finch declared.
There would be no diminishing of
Commissioners salaries nor elimina-
ton of administrative duties, he
added.
Sidney Katz, head of C. I. o. coun-
ellis in the District and Maryland,
and Charles M. Thomas, president
Of the Federation of Civic Associa-
tions, gave their views on campaign
hAoSA Soo oAAO AohCO blAdV VIC PJoG
card drive be carried to all regis
tered District voters" They urged
greater expansion of promotional
activities within reach of the group,
claiming that some important fac
tors, political and psychological,
were being ignored.
More Post Cards Ready.
Mrs. Donald E. Montgomery, sec
retary Of the D. s. A. and chairman
OF the Post Card Campaign Com
mittee, outlined the work of her
group and asked for volunteer
workers to assist in further ex-
pansion. She said that more than
5000 postcards had been dis
tributed and that 10000 more were
on hand. They are being forwarded
to Representative Jennings Ran
dolph, chairman of the House Dis
trict Committee, to enable him to
present concrete evidence in his
reorganization activities in Con-
gress.
Last nights meeting was in
charge of William H. Mondell, vice
president of the D. s. A., who
complimented officials on their
inspired work" in campaign activi-
tsea He said The p4t card plau