Evening star., 1940-07-29
Representation
Continued From First Page J

be in session during the coming
year. Leaders in Congress already
are planning to make drives in their
home States to have the Legisla-
lures give early and favorable con-
sideration to the Summers resolution
which is expected to be reported
favorably by the House Judiciary
Committee. Leaders of both parties
In Senate and House have pledged
prompt consideration and prospects
are the resolution will be passed this
session of Congress.
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee-who was largely
responsible for the suffrage plank
In the Democratic platform-already
Is campaigning to have his home
State of West Virginia be the first
to ratify the constitutional amend
ment.
Warning to ID. c. Residents.
He also warns the people of the
District that now that they have
chance at last to get approval by
Congress of their desires for suffrage
there should be no divided front
and that they "shoulC work as a
unit for passage of the Summers ma
tional representation resolution"
If Congress passes the Summers
national representation resolution,
more than three -fourths of the
States will promptly ratify the pro-
posed constitutional amendment. "
Representative Randolph predicted
today.
He was addressing the first dele
cation from any State to come to
Congress urging suffrage for the
District.
This was a delegation of coal
miners from his home State, men,
bers OF the United Mine Workers
of America, led by Sidney Katz of
the District of Columbia C. I. o.
They urged immediate action to
force a vote in Congress for an
elected local municipal government.
MAKE Haste Slowly
Representative Randolph eau
toned them that they should make
haste slowly" He said that to
make the issue for local suffrage at
this time would jeopardize the
chances of national representation
when there is mounting ground
swell In favor of the Summers resolu-
ton"
Emphasizing that he has worked
and will continue to work for both
local and national suffrage, he
cautioned against the proposed
"precipitous action" saying I'VE
must not get the situation muddled
right now" He spromised that in
continuing his efforts for local suf-
frage Il will be using my head in
an intelligent manner"
Assurance also has been given by
Chairman Summers of the House
judiciary Committee that his reso-
luton will safeguard all Federal in
terests. Senate Majority Leader
Barkley and Senator Norris, Inde-
pendent, of Nebraska, ranking
minority member of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, have warned
that such Federal safeguards must
be included.
Representative Summers empha-
sizes that the resolution is strictly
permissive and does not relinquish
any control by Congress over the
seat of government. When ratified
by the States it would authorize
Congress, when it sees fit, to give
the District such form of govern
ment and voting privilege as it
may determine. This grant of
suffrage would be subject to revo-
cation at any time in the discretion
of Congress.
Interviews with leading Senate
and House members show that they
are favorable to granting national
representation, but are averse to
relinouishing their control over
local municipal administration. They
say they are willing to allow Dis
trict residents to vote for President,
Vice President and national officers
and to elect their own representa-
tives in Congress.
At the same time many OF them
protest that they are unwilling to
have Congress surrender its exclu-
sive Jurisdiction over the Federal
area, which was set up as unique
entity to protect the Congress and
the Government from any at
tempted interference and coercion
by local-interest government
whether municipal or State.
In other words, they insist on
maintaining here Federal control
without political pickering or log
rolling" as Senator Barkley ex-
pressed it-while at the same time
they are willing to satisfy a yearn-
Ing on the part of the people for
national suffrage. Several members
OF the Judiciary Committee insist
that through granting such suffrage
the Federal Government would be
strengthened by affording the more
than 100000 persons here an op.
portunity to express their allegiance
to the Government.
Randolph Plans.
Representative Randolph ex.
planned his plans for campaigning
in West Virginia on behalf of thu
proposed amendment, adding tha
he was urging his colleagues il
both House and Senate to pursu,
q similar course.
AS soon as the Summers resolu.
ton is passed, and am very hopefu