Evening star., 1939-01-28
Fight for Vote
AtCapito| Urged
On Citizens
Randolph, Summers
And Others Address
Suffrage RoIIy

More than 600 citizens and dele
gates of civic organizations went
home from the suffrage rally in
the National Press Club Auditori-
um last night with the words of
Chairman Jennings Randolph of
the House District Committee ring
ing in their ears: "You have been
fighting your battle downtown.
Take it to Capitol Hill, carry your
desires to Congress!"
The West Virginian, co-sponsor
of bill that would give the Dis
trict national representation and
local suffrage, said he hoped the
attendance at the meeting repre-
sented crystallization Of the forces
to continue the battle for right
eous cause"
Go back to your organizations"
he advised, land between now and
February 22-the birthday ami
versary of George Washington,
father of the District-marshal
your forces for a march on the
Capitol seeking what is not only
right but responsibility.
Advises Call on New Members.
There are 100 new men and
women members of Congress" he
declared with emphasis. They
should all be seen on the matter.
And I'll say that IS per cent of
them will receive you, if not with
sympathy, with courtesy.
II have basic feeling on this sub
ject that there shouldn't be a sim
gle section of the country where
the men and women are denied the
right to participate in the Gov
ernment."
At the same time Representative
Hatton Summers of Texas, chair
man of the House Judiciary Com
ittee, told the audience he saw no
reason why the States would not
approve national representation and
the right to vote for the President
as their own citizens do. He warned
however, that no constitutional
amendment which would make the
District a State would have a
chance
Representative Charles McLaugh-
lin of Nebraska, also member of
the House Judiciary Committee, de-
clared briefly that the large turn
out was a barometer of the civic
interest in the cause.
The delegates were called to Or
der by Wilbur Finch, president of
the District Suffrage Association.
Mr.. Finch traced briefly the history
of the District leading up to the
founding of the association in Sep
tember of 1887.
Darr Cites Capability.
Seton Darr, president of the
District Bar Association, expressed
firm belief in national representa-
ton but added Il want more"
Citizens of the District are capable
and desirous of directing their own
affairs, he asserted, and lit is un-
American to deny them the right"
The time for extension of suf-
frage is present. William A. Rob-
erts, former peoples counsel, told
the delegates. He urged unanimity
of action.
William H. Mondell, vice presi-
| dent of the association, said he
believed more firmly than ever in
national representation, but thought
a constitutional amendment process
too SLOW He urged consideration
of bill drafted by the association
calling for establishment of a city
council of 81 members with strictly
limited powers.
Donald Sheehan, chairman of
publicity for the association, told
the audience to contact every or
ganization and spread the cause of
suffrage
Both Edward F. Colladay, Repub-
lican National Committeeman for
the District, and Malcolm McConihe,
Democratic National Cogmmittee-
man for the District, urged united
front.
A collection to finance the cam
paign of the association was taken
up.