Evening star., 1940-02-14
LocuI Suffrage Urged
For Nations Capitol
Contentious Of McLeun Letter
Held at Vuriunce With
Established Focts

To the Editor of The star:
Replying to the statement Of views Of
Marvin M. Mclean in The Star Of
February 8. permit me, as one advocating
local suffrage for the people Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, to present few
matters that seem to me pertinent:
In the recent referendum held on the
subject, in which very large majority
Of those participating Numbering nearly
100000 indicated approval Of local
suffrage, equal opportunity was afforded
for assent or dissent. and at the polling
place In which I was in charge, per-
sons, male and female, representing ap-
parently every walk of life, voted, with
the exception Of what we sometimes
term down and outers," for none
seemed to be Of this class. AS is the
case in nearly all referenda where the
question to be passed upon Is public
one a minority only of those entitled
to vote did so, but as cross section
the result was quite impressive, for the
verdict" so to speak, was the same in
all sections, the only difference being
in the matter of numbers. Probably
the most representative citizens body
in the District of Columbia is the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations, made
up Of delegates from every section of
the District. The very large majority
of these delegates have placed them
selves on record as favoring local SELF
government.
That Congress, under the Constitution,
possesses exclusive legislative control
over the District is not denied. 1t so
happens. however. that in the exercise
of that control 1t from time to time
has granted the people of the District
varying measure of local legislative
control, sometimes with one legislative
body, sometimes with two. It seems,
therefore, to have been the conclusion
Of Congress that 1t had as full authority
to grant local suffrage as to withhold
1t, and accordingly, in harmony with
American ideals. during half the life
time Of the District Congress preferred
to grant such authority It was the
more ready to do this since Jefferson.
Madison. Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Will
liam Henry Harrison, Andrew johnson
and possibly other Presidents recon-
mended or approved at least q measure
Of local self-government, holding this
in nowise Incompatible with section 8
of Article of the Constitution. In
this connection see also the comment of
Justice Story of the Supreme Court in
his Commentaries on the Constitution, "
section 1928.
Recent surveys and the testimony of
disinterested witnesses peculiarly quail
fed to know have rudely shattered the
tradition that the District is efficiently
governed. or even could be eniciently
governed with the present hodgepodge
Of administrative agencies and boards,
the lack of coordination with q bud
getary body and finally the indifference
Of Congress to municipal needs and the
absence Of knowledge on the part OF
its members as to such needs.
Finally, some of us hold dear the
American tradition that governments
derive their just powers from the con-
sent Of the governed and that taxation
without representation is tyranny. We
are not unaware that efiicient admin
istration is entirely practicable under
Fascism or Sovietism-indeed, that such
a form of government might possibly
run more smoothly than a democratic
form: but efficiency can be bought at
too high price,. and accordingly we
ask that there be established in the
Capital Of the worlds greatest republic
republican form Of governments
government conforming to American
ideals. GEORGE A, WARREN.
Council Member, District Of Columbia
Suffrage Association.
uAI,ss,or., q