Evening star., 1940-07-23


party platform for the right Of
suffrage for the men and women
who live in the District.
Mr.. Randolph-Mr. Speaker, I ask
for five additional minutes.
The Speaker-Has the gentleman
the consent Of the gentleman from
Illinois?
Mr.. Dirksen-The gentleman has
that consent, Mr.. Speaker.
The Speaker-Is there objection to
the request of the gentleman from
West Virginia to proceed for five
additional minutes?
Another Point by Leavy.
Mr.. Leavy-Mr. Speaker, will the
gentleman again yield to me?
Mr.. Randolph yield.
Mr.. Leavy-It has been suggested,
I think, by the gentleman from
Kansas OMr. Rees) that since the
Democrats are in control of the
House and since the platform con-
tains proposal that suffrage be
granted. that it should be granted
forthwith. If the Republican party
at Philadelphia had written a SINH
lar plank in its platform, then
would we not be doubly sure of
enacting such legislation before we
adjourn?
Mr.. Randolph think, of course,
If We could have this plank in both
political platforms. it would help
us on the floor, and just before I
yield again to my friend from Kan
Sas want to say that you have
paid tribute to me for my presenta-
ton at Chicago of the plea for
suffrage for the District OF Columbia.
I have no pride of leadership as
such and l simply joined with other
men and women in working that this
would be brought about and here
publicly pay tribute to Mr.. Hildreth
and Mr.. McConihe and others of
the District of Columbia delegation
who kept plugging away for suffrage
in the face of the discouragement
which sometimes seemed very strong
against their efforts in this direction.
Mr.. Leavy-I am sure that the
gentleman is unduly modest because
we in the House appreciate the bat
tie the gentleman has made for
suffrage in the District of Columbia
Mr.. Randolph thank the gen.
tleman.
Mr.. Rees of Kansas-Mr. Speaker,
will the gentleman yield?
Mr.. Randolph yield again to
the gentleman.
Would Avoid Partisanship.
Mr.. Rees of KansaSIn view OF
the fact that bill is now pending
before the Judiciary Committee OF
the House and has been pending
there during the entire session, and
probably during the entire Congress,
and in view of the fact that the
majority party appears to be SO
strong for this legislation, why in
the world bother about putting it
into your party platform if you
are in earnest about it land I am
| sure the gentleman now before the
House Is in earnest about it, why
not go along and get it up before
the House? You have a majority
on the committee in charge of the
measure, and why not bring it out
here and vote on it and not make
1t a so-called partisan matter?
Probably the Republicans could have
done the same thing, but it just
seems to me 1t is rather useless to
take any other course when the
measure is pending before the Con-
gress and when we are right here
and are going to be in session for
some time. Why not come in here
and vote it out? I am sure the
Republicans in great numbers will
join the gentleman and it will not
be partisan matter. Let us take
the partisanship out of the question
entirely.
Mr.. Randolph-Yes, I want to do
that very much. The gentleman
from Illinois CMr. Dirksen), the
very distinguished ranking member
on the House District Committee,
knows we have always tried to con-
slider Washington matters from an
entirely non-partisan standpoint,
and from the point of view of the
welfare of the District of Columbia
and in relation to the entire Nation.
I now want to make this further
observation. There were hearings
held before the Judiciary Commit
tee of the House on this subject
during the Seventy fifth Congress
and there has been a gradual COM
ing to the viewpoint of certain
hegree of representation for the Dis
trict of Columbia. I am hoping
that the gentleman from Texas, Mr..
Summers will take the leadership.
because he holds a key position, and
see that there is a vote taken In
the Judiciary Committee so that a
bill may be brought before the
House for consideration.
Mr.. Pittenger-Mr. Speaker, will
the gentleman yield?a
Mr.. Randolph yield to the gen.
tleman from Minnesota.
Questioned on Self Rule.
Mr.. Pittenger-Of course, on this
question of suffrage for the District
of Columbia and self-government for
the District we hear discussed at
every session Of the Congress, and
I have heard statements made to
the effect that they once had suf-
frage and the right Of self-govern-
ment in the District and that 1t
did not work out and that Congress
took it away from the District. !
wonder If the gentleman could en-
tighten US on that part Of the
program.
Mr.. Randolph would say that
what was here only applied to local