Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-18
D. G. Suffrage Plank
Fight Finally Won by
District Delegates
NutionoI Representation
Stond Approved After
Three Contests

Three Contests
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,
Star Staff Correspondent.
CHICAGO, July 18.-Winning out
with a strong argument for national
representation for District Of CO.
lumbia residents after three con-
tests, an elated District delegation,
led by Malcolm S. McConihe. last
night heard the District suffrage
plank read for the first time as part
of the approved Democratic party
platform.
That the Nation as a whole favors
giving those who live in the seat
of government" voice and vote in
the Congress which has exclusive
jurisdiction over the District, was
attested by applause when this
plank was read by Chairman Wag-
ner of the Resolutions and Platform
Committee.
The District plank reads: I'VE
favor the extension of the right OF
suffrage to the people Of the Dis
trict of Columbia"
The subject was first brought to
the attention of the Platform Com
mittee at the very opening OF its
hearing. Mr.. McConihe, national
committeeman from the District, in
terrupted Philip Murray, c. I. o. vice
president, to ask: do you favor
granting the right of suffrage to the
residents of the District of Column
bia?"
The answer was, IT certainly do"
Backed by Randolph.
Subsequently, Melvin D. Hildreth,
the Districts delegate on the Plat
form Committee, formally presented
the District suffrage plank, and was
supported by Representative Ran
dolph, chairman of the House Dis
trict Committee.
The subcommittee of IS which
drafted the platform unanimously
rejected the District suffrage plank.
Day and night National Committee
man McConihe and other members
of the District delegation appealed
individually to the members Of the
Resolutions Committee for recon-
sideration of the District plank. 1t
was reopened yesterday morning
and the motion to recommit was
defeated by a single vote. The third
vote came when the appeals OF
Alaska, Puero Rico. Hawaii and the
District of Columbia were considered
in combination.
Plea by Hildreth.
In his argument before the COM
mittee yesterday, Mr. Hildreth said:
1--WE appeal from the subcommit-
tee to the Committee OF the Whole,
and to the Committee Of the Whole
in a divided sense-first, to those
who come from Washington and are
familiar with our local problem;
second, to those who live elsewhere
throughout the States and are not so
we'll informed regarding our local
situation.
THE people of Washington are
fast approaching the 100000
mark" Mr.. Hildreth continued. In
construction, we are the second city
in the country, exceeded only by
New York. Members of the House
and Senate are engaged in problems
of national import and do not like to
serve as a board of aldermen for our
local municipality. This resolution
which we are asking you to put in
our Democratic party platform is
supported by all the newspapers of
Washington and by all of the citi-
zens' associations. We cannot pro-
duce any electoral votes for the
party because we are not allowed to
vote-but we are eager to do so.
We will continue and renew our
efforts in the cause of democracy,
as is shown by the fact that we are
working for the cause of suffrage"
McCarran Backs Plank.
While Mr.. Hildreth was sitting
with the committee score or more
Of kilograms had been delivered to
him. He passed these around to be
read by the committee members as
an evidence of how great is the
interest among the residents of the
District of Columbia and in other
States that the right of suffrage so
long withheld from the people who
live in the Nations Capital should
be granted.
Senator McCarran of Nevada, of
the most active members of the
Platform Committee, also espoused
the Districts cause. Other Senators
were opposed, calling attention that
an amendment to the Constitution
would be required.
Mr.. Hildreth replied: 1--WE are
asking for this expression of ap-
proval in the national platform of
the Democratic party so that Con-
gress, and all the people of the
country may appreciate that this is
a matter of very great concern to
the residents of the National Capt.
tall"
Appeal by Mrs. Condor.
Mrs. Arthur D. Condor also ap-
pealed to the committee as one of
family which for eight generations
has lived in the National Capital
ana mas never Deen privileged 10
vote. On the motion to recommit, !
the District delegates were supported
by the delegates from other terri
torial and insular dependencies
and the District delegates, in turn,
supported the pleas of those other
territories whose right of suffrage is
restricted.
After hearing the District plank
read, Senator King OF Utah. chair
man of the Senate District Commit
tee. said:
Undoubtedly Congress will give
due and proper consideration to the
recommendations in the party plat
form"
Senator Tydings of Maryland
said:
Il am strongly in favor of grant,
NSAn kI~~