Evening star., 1940-07-23
Text of Suffrage Speech
Randolph Points to D. c. Franchise
Plank in Democratic Purty's Platform

Randolph Points t
Plank in Democro
The complete and official tert
OF the speech in the House yes
terday by Representative Ran
dolph, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia advocating suffrage for the
District OF Columbia tollo,Ds:
MI. Speaker, I trust that even
though members may have other
matters which should consume at
tention at the opening of today's
session that as many colleagues as
can possibly do so will permit me
not to speak so much to them as to
counsel with them about a certain
action which has recently been
taken by, one of the great major
political parties Of this country.
For the first time in the history
of the United States we have seen
a political party declare, in its plat
form adopted in convention. for a
clear-cut decision on subject which
has been of considerable interest to
a large number of persons over a
long period of time.
I refer to the action in Chicago by
the Platform and Resolutions Com
mittee of the Democratic party, and
later by the convention delegates
themselves, in adopting plank in
our 1910 platform which calls for
the extension to District of Columbia
residents of the privileges of the
franchise. At that convention the
Democratic party went on record in
affirmative language with an ex-
preston that suffrage should be ex-
tended to those persons who reside
in the District of Columbia.
Halls Platform Declaration.
know there are many of you who
are conscientiously against the ex-
tension of the privilege and the re-
sponsibility of voting rights to the
men and women who reside at our
National Capital. I know full we'll
there is a difference of opinion on
this subject, but l do hail with en-
thusiasm, as one individual, the ac-
ton of the Democratic party of 1910
in declaring to the Nation that for
those men and women who live in
the District of Columbia and who
cannot establish voting privileges
in any State in this Union that a
plan shall be evolved through legis-
lative means which will give to them
the rights and responsibilities Of
true voting citizens of this Nation
of yours and mine.
Mr.. Rees of Kansas-Mr. Speaker,
will the gentleman yield?
Mr.. Randolph yield to the gen.
tleman from Kansas.
Mr.. Rees of Kansas-In view Of
the fact that the Democratic party
is in charge in the House and the
Senate and that we haves Presi-
dent who is the head of that party.
is there any reason why you should
not 60 right along and pass such
legislation at the present session,
since we are going to be here for
some time? Why wait until next
year? Why not 60 along with this
program now, if you have declared
yourself in favor of it? Personally,
I shall join with you.
Cites Efforts by Capper.
Mr.. Randolph am very happy
to have the assurance of the gen.
tleman from Kansas of his support
Of legislation to bring about this
desired end. I want also to pay
tribute to the support which has
been given through long period
Of years by your distinguished Sena-
tor from the State of Kansas, Mr..
Capper, who has had a resolution
pending and who has done every
thing in his individual power and in
cooperation with others to get ac-
ton by Congress.
1t will be my purpose as speedily
as possible to have those individuals
in the House of Representatives who
are interested in this subject come to-
gether and counsel and discuss ways
and means of bringing a suffrage
measure to our body, to say that I
believe it is highly significant that
the chairman of the House Com
mittee on the Judiciary, the gentle
man from Texas CMr. Sumners)
after long service in this body has
found himself in agreement with the
extension of voting privileges to
the men and women who live here,
and he has introduced a resolu-
ton to bring that about. In talking
with him personally, he told me that
he arrived at this conclusion. after
a considerable amount of consid-
Grafton and careful thought on the
subject.
To continue with the decision
made by the Democratic party in
its platform, I only wish that the
Republican party in its platform,
meeting in convention at Philadel-
phia, had done as the Democratic
party did in Chicago. I say this
not from any partisan standpoint
whatever, because I believe this is
matter which is important to both
parties. There should not be and I
am certain there will not be any
consideration of any such legislation
that comes before US in a partisan
manner, because the subject matter
goes to the basic fundamentals Of
this country of yours and mine.
Points to Young Voters.
I cannot see for a single moment
why the large population that has
grown up in the District of Columbia
over q period of years should not
have the responsibility OF the vote.
The proceaebs Of democracy should