Evening star., 1940-07-19
D. G.. Vote
Continued From First Page.)

D. G. Vote
Continued From First Page.)
dents of the National Capital. will
support legislation that will, I am
confident, eventually bring to the
District of Columbia people an OPP
portunity to participate in our self
government, which they have long
desired and been denied
Senator Maloney, Connecticut:
"I favor suffrage for the District OF
Columbia"
Present System Wrong.
Representative Dempsey of New
Mexico: I'm for it. The Capital
City is too big to have such large
body as the Congress Of the United
States sit as a board of aldermen
in addition to their other multi
tudinous duties. I know that many
members of Congress don't want
that job and would like to be re-
lieved. The present system is wrong
and should be corrected"
Representative Arnold Of Illinois,
formerly a member Of the House
District Committee: Il am in favor
of suffrage for the District of CO.
lumbia. The people who live at the
seat of Government should have
been given the right to vote long
ago"
Senator Clark of Missouri: II
have always favored, in principle,
suffrage for the District of Colum-
bia. Ever since I have been in the
Senate I nave sponsored legislation
to give the District q territorial
form of government. but not state
hood. 1 believe that Congress should
consider the District suffrage pro-
posal on its merits"
Representative Ford of Missis-
sippi: Putting that District SUI
frage plank in the party platform
is one Of the greatest things the
United States Government has ever
done for a lost people. 1t is an
anachronism for the people in the
National Capital to be the only
people under the American flag who
have no voice and vote In making
the laws under which they are gov
erned."
Causes Neglect in District.
Representative Rabaut of Michi-
gan: "Of course, Congress should re-
lieve the plight of the people of the
District of Columbia, who are ear
nestly desirous of exercising the
greatest privilege of free men
helping to make their own self gov
erning laws. There has been q
terrible neglect of some of the pri-
mary needs of the District Of Co.
lumbia, directly attributable to the
fact that they have not had ma
tional representation under q two
party system. The Investigations ]
have made as member Of the Dis
trict Appropriations Subcommittee.
for example, at Blue Plains, has
convinced me that such conditions
which have been allowed to con-
tinue year after year, could not
happen If rival parties were making
a campaign in which such conditions
would surely be exposed. Such
campaigns afford an open forum in
which complaints of existing condi-
tions can be threshed out, and the
party in power must safeguard
against opportunities for criticism. u
Representative Mccormack of
Massachusetts,: II have always
thought that the District of Colum-
bia should have suffrage"
Former Representative Vincent L.
Palmisano, Maryland, formerly
chairman of the House District
Committee: Il have always felt
that If the people Of the District of
Columbia want the voting privilege,
they should have It, 1t would re-
lieve members Of Congress of an
unwelcome task in acting as their
board of aldermen and common
council. l have found the people
OF Washington quite intelligent
enough to manage their own affairs
if given a chance. I believe they
could be very helpful also in the
common councils of Congress on the
great national questions for the
whole country, Of which they are
a part"
McCarran Pledges Cooperation.
Senator McCarran of Nevada,
who supported the plea of the Dis
trict delegates before the Platform
Committee: Something should be
done to give the District of Colum-
bia q substantial form OF govern
ment. will cooperate in Congress
to carry out this plank In our party
platform"
Representative Casey of Massa.
chusetts, member of the District
Appropriations Subcommittee: II
have always been amazed at 1.-THE
'unspeakable' situation in the Dis
trict. 1t is un-American. can't
see any rhyme or reason in the
present arrangement. It just grew
up like Topsy. I'll be glad to help
correct such a condition"
Former Representative Byron B
Harlan, Ohio, former member OF
the House District Committee:
Residents of the National Capital
should have national representation
In spite of the past feeling against
1t, I think that conditions have
changed enough in the past decade
to make 1t q worthy experiment to