Evening star., 1940-07-27
Suffrage Association
Gives Green Light 10
D. {. Representation
Agrees on Resolution to
Support Summers Plan
Along With Vote

Along With Vote
A special six-man committee of
the District of Columbia Suffrage
Association met today in the
Harrington Hotel to draft reso-
luton intended to demonstrate
to Congress that, although the
association favors giving local
suffrage for Washington priority
over national representation, this
view will not for a. moment qualify
the associations wholehearted sup
port Of the Summers resolution.
The committee is composed OF
Wilbur S. Finch, association presi-
dent: Seton Darr, former president
Of the District Bar Association:
Harry s. Wender, acting president
OF the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations; Sidney Katz secretary
treasurer of the District
Industrial Union Council C. I. o.;
William A. Roberts, former peoples
counsel, and James Mcnamara, in
ternational vice president of the
Hotel and Restaurant Employers AL
lance a. F. of L.. All are members
of the associations executive COM
mittee.
Mr.. Darr's motion to appoint the
committee and to draft such a reso-
luton was adopted last night by
the Executive Committee at a meet
ing at the Y. w. c. A. The Sum-
ners resolution would put up to the
States for ratification a constitu-
tional amendment authorizing Con-
gress to provide for national repre-
sentation for the District and to
delegate such of its power over the
District as Congress sees fit.
Original Wording Changed.
The wording of last nights mo-
ton, when first made by Mr.. Darr,
was that the association was op-
posed to passage of the Summers
resolution without accompanying
passage of the Kennedy bill, which
would provide a 21-man general
assembly for the District, to be
elected by its citizens.
When it was pointed out by Mr.
Wender and others that such word
Ing might be construed as meaning
the association was trying to put
a damper on passage of the
Summers resolution, the motion was
reworded to provide that the reso-
luton being drafted today should
demonstrate clearly the strong
sentiment of the association for ma
tional representation while pointing
out that local suffrage is needed
first, in the opinion of the associa-
ton. to create enough political
pressure to get a constitutional
amendment through the State
Legislatures,
The motion, in its revised form,
was approved unanimously.
The resolution being drafted to-
day is to be presented to members
of Congress and in particular to
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee by still another
special committee at pm. Monday
In his office. ~s,,q- D4aa,~
To Seek Kennedy Bill Action.
At that time the associations
representative will attempt to per-
suade Mr.. Randolph that the Ken
nedy bill Immediately should be
brought to the fore and passed
simultaneously or as nearly simul-
taneously as possible with the
Summers Resolution.
Mr.. Katz and Mr.. Darr agreed
that passage of the Summers reso-
luton alone might give the kiss
OF death" to all suffrage prospects.
MIR. Wender asserted that "just be-
cause Chairman Summers is push
Ing through constitutional amend
ment, there is no reason why Chair
man Randolph should halt his job
OF getting the Kennedy bill passed
to give the District local suffrage
a matter of no concern to the
House Judiciary Committee"
Each member of the association s
Executive Committee who took the
floor. however, took pains to say
that, although local suffrage should
be provided preferably ahead of
and certainly simultaneously with
national representation amendment,
the associations efforts to this end
should in no way effect adversely
the course of the Summers resolution.
Among those serving on the special
committee which is to present the
resolution being drafted today to
Chairman Randolph on Monday are
Mr.. Finch, Mr. Darr, Mr.. Wender,
Mr.. Katz. Mr.. Mcnamara, Melvin D.
Hildreth, a delegate to the National
Democratic National Convention:
Mrs. Arthur D. Condor, another
delegate to the Democratic National
Convention; Mrs. Clara Wright
Smith, treasurer of the suffrage
association; Mr.. Roberts, former
peoples counsel; T. j. Houston,
colored attorney; Henry l.. Cole
man, president of the Northwest
Council of Citizens Associations,
and Adelbert w. Lee, Southeast
civic leader.