Evening star., 1940-07-26
Rayburn Sees
House Passinq
D. {. Vote Plan
Predicts Summers
Proposal Will Go to
States for Action

House Majority Leader Rayburn
today predicted the House would
pass, without any considerable vote
in opposition, the Summers resolu-
ton which proposes an amendment
to the Constitution empowering
Congress to give national represent
alton to residents of the District of
Columbia. Mr. Rayburn also said
he believed the amendment subse-
quently would be put before the
State Legislatures for ratification.
Mr.. Rayburn made his statement
after comforting with Chairman
Summers of the House Judiciary
Committee, who told him he believed
the resolution would be favorably
reported to the committee, which
meets in special session Tuesday to
consider the resolution.
His statement followed one made
by Minority Leader Martin. who
pledged that the Republican mem
bership of the House would vote with
the Democratic majority in passing
the Summers resolution
Mr.. Rayburn explained the Sum-
ners resolution provides for a con-
stltutional amendment to be ratified
by 80 States and that the Federal
interest is protected because after
the States have acted. the degree or
method Of suffrage to be permitted
residents Of the District is left to
CongresS-Which retains the control
over the District of Columbia.
Civic Leaders Favor Resolution.
Whatever differences there are in
their views as to the form of suf-
frage the District should have. civic
leaders are agreed that the Sum-
ners resolution should be backed as
the first step toward enfranchise-
ment of the District
Speaking as president of the Vote
less District of Columbia League of
Women Voters, which has long sup
ported suffrage for the District, Mrs
M. o. Lorenz was enthusiastic about
recent developments in the long
battle for the vote. She told The
Star:
I am gratified to see the interest
now being displayed in the move for
national representation for the Dis
trict 1t has been the most hopeful
thing we've seen in many years.
personally hope it will not be a
partisan issue.
Hope Voiced for Approval.
Both Democrats and Republicans
on the judiciary Committee. how
ever, have voiced expressions in
favor of the Summers resolution.
Apparently. then, neither party is
opposed to it and I trust the reso-
luton will be .favorably reported to
the House.
1T seems to us that the Summers
resolution is more likely to receive
favorable action than some of the
other proposed plans for national
representation"
Mrs Louis Gutenberg, former
president of the Voteless D. c.
League of Women Voters, who for 25
years has led her organization in
battling for the franchise, said steps
would be taken without delay to have
100000 women, though their re-
spective organizations, appeal to the
House judiciary Committee to act
favorably Tuesday on the resolution
of Chairman Summers providing for
national representation for the Dis
trict.
Mrs. Gutenberg explained that the
100000 women who will aid the
people of the District to get the
privilege of voting are connected
with national organizations which
already have gone on record in fa-
vor of the franchise for the people
here They include the National
League of Women Voters, the
National Women's Trade Union
League. the American Federation of
| Teachers. the National Council OF
Jewish Women and the National
Service Star Legion.
I'VE have fought for vote for
the District for 25 years but never
gave up hope" said Mrs. Often
berg, We were waiting for
green light, and it seems to me we
have got it now We are going to
move-and in high gear"
Meanwhile, prominent members OF
Congress who had not heretofore
given particular attention to the
voteless plight of the residents of
the District indicated they are pre-
pared now to give serious thought
to the subject. These include Sen
ator McNary of Oregon, Senate
(See FRANCHISE, Page A-3)