Evening star., 1940-07-28
H.. Americonize the Capital
as Wise Measure of War Preparedness

as q Wise Measure
Address BY Theodore w. acting chairman of
Board of Trade April e. 1917 This address, deuered 21 days
today because of the peculiar tmeness of its argument
Washingtonians urging
ment which shall give them the status of citizens of State
for the only of representation in Congress and the
electoral college They only amendment which,
rreducible minimum of justice, shall empower
gress in its discretion to give them this status
War upon World issues and vital national questions
absorb attention.
redress the Capitals political grievances?
Yes, says Washington. To Americanize the political
aliens of the District of Columbia to do justice
eve the Nation of which,
like the motion to adjourn always in order And only
in general but in special this Amercanzns
peculiarly opporune that reflects the very thought
and spirit of the times and integral part legs
laton which springs naturally from the patriotic impulse
toward true preparedness,
TO AMERICANIzE CAPITAL PECULIARLY OPPORTUNE.
The dominating thought vitaized Ameri-
canism patriotic self sacrifice in preparedness quick
enng and ntensifyng everywhere of the ne strong spirit
of American nationality In these days of exalted
ism Washngonans in the front rank of devoted Ameri
They have been foremost when Amercansm
meant loss instead of benefit when to be Americans
place both sacrifice of and blood sacrifice
the Nationals altar.
do emphasize the unique patriotic
Wasngonans rendered. surprising in this respect
all other Americans the creation and up
building of the National Capital compare them
Americans solely the basis of the degree in which they
and others have respectively met the general patriotic obga
ton that is common to all
WASHINGTONS NATIONAL TAXES.
Washingtonans have paid their proportion every ma
tional direct indirect from the birth of the
The only national taxes that fall directly and ascertanabe
amounts upon Americans the internal taxes
including the and income In total contribution
in 1914 these Washington exceeds twenty-five of
the States 93S-twentyfour States, though
population only of them 1880 exceeds eight
contribution greater than those of of the
States combined The Washngtonians per capita contri-
buttons national than that of the
citizens of of the States Current capita figures
unavalableD
wAsHINGToNs BLOOD SACRIFICED.
Washngonans have rsked life and shed their blood in
national In the Civil War the first volunteers
the Capital Washngtonians supplied greater per-
centage troops of their than nearly
State the Union The District also heavy contributor
the power of the Confederate Army In the with
Spain they sent to Cuba fine regiment exceeding their
quota in numbers The response made when the
summons to the Mexican border At that time the
centage of of military enrolled in the Organized
Militia greater in the District than in State OF the
Union. Washington sent soldiers to the border than
twenty two of the States.
In the World War other American community
responded more enthusiastically and effectively to the
call to and universal service. They eager
volunteers money through the Red Cross and
other agencies, and of personal service through enlist
in Army, Navy, National Guard. Home Defense
League. They showed patriotic readiness to bear the
burden of conscrption whether in the shape of
imposed on lines which caused the District of Columbia
1918-19 to contribute than any of Is of the
States, and than of the States combined; in
the shape of universal service and the selecve
draft
In the World War the District of Columbia has
made record of which the Nation should be proud.
The total voluntary enlsments in the Army, Navy and
Marine Corps for the District 1914 a number
than that States Nevada Delaware,
Arizona, Wyoming, Vermont, New Mexico and New
Hampshire, and only trihe less than three other
States. The number of men inducted into the Army
under the first and second registrations was 1881 max
ing total of voluntary enistments and inductions into
the service of the Government of 945 In other words
the percentage of voluntary enlistments 4633
cent of the total inductons into the service.
(The proportion which which the voluntary enlist
mentS bear to the total number Of eniStments and
nductions by way of registration greater for the
District of Columbia than for every State of the Union
except Rhode Island, Oregon, Washington, California
and Maine and more than onethird greater than the
percentage for the country whole.)
To every demand of devotion and elf-sacrifce made
Americans Washington has rendered. rendering and
will always render FULL hearty and unstinted
NATIONAL BURDENS IMPOSED; RIGHTS DENIED.
In genuine representative rights and priv
leges inseparably welded obligations and responsible
ties How do the Washingtonians thus burdened with
national obligations fare in respect American rights and
privileges?
Before the judicial branch the National Government
they the United States Supreme Court less than
aliens in the right to be sued.
In relation to representation in the legislative branch
and by the executive branch National Government they
the footing aliens.
They good enough Americans to taxes and 90 to