Evening star., 1940-02-09
Meeting Spurs New Offensive
For D. C.. Suffrage Rights
Governmental Setup Hit as Outmoded,
InfIexibIe and Undemocrutic

and take this punishment" Mr..
McCathron said.
Housing Laws Attacked.
Mrs. Helen Duey Hoffman. ex-
ecutive director of the Washington
Housing Association, bitterly at
tackled the inadequacy of laws gov
erning housing in the District and
the failure of the District to enforce
existing laws. She said she has
records of 40 dwellings with build
ing law violations which have been
reported to the building department
6, or 10 times and still nothing
has been done.
T. j. Houston, colored attorney
told the rally that the colored popu-
lation of Washington is just as anx-
ious as all other groups to obtain
the right to vote. He said his race
asks for no special consideration
but feels it is entitled to the vote,
adequate school and housing facin-
ties and disease prevention facilities
as much as any other class.
The Rev. Harry v. Porter, pastor
Of the Westminster Church Memoir
ial Church, said good health, like
suffrage, les the right of every COM
munity and every individual, but the
good health Of community depends
on the right of every citizen to de-
mand and create the proper condi-
tions that will produce it.
There is no stronger argument
against taxation without democratic
representation than the health con-
ditions of our city, he said. Nov,
the taxpayer has the privilege of
providing the money, but he hasn't
the right to vote for his representa-
tive who will spend that money"
w. j. Tucker. a member of the
Federation OF Citizens Associations,
said the general attitude of Congress
is either one of indifference or irri-
tation with the necessity of both
ering with District affairs.
Suffrage Is Foundation"
Suffrage is the very foundation
of our form of government and its
institutions" he declared. 1--WE want
nothing less than the right to elect
the members of a legislative body,
and the executives of a municipal
government who are directly re-
sponsible to those who elect them.
Nothing less than this conforms to
the ideals laid down by Thomas
Jefferson"
Mr.. Tucker added: "It is much to
be desired that this last session of
the 10th Congress does not end
without the passing of the necessary
legislation to enfranchise the more
that 100000 potential voters of the
District, so that the picture of vote
less Washington may no longer
appear in the history of the United
States. and that it may truly be said
that nowhere in the land of free
dom and democracy are there any
citizens deprived by law of their in
alienable rights of universal suf-
frage"
Appraising and summing up the
Testimony" of the speakers, Judge
Nathan Cayton of Municipal Court
called for establishment of munich
pal government that would be "re-
sponsive, responsible and represen-
tative."
Referring to DR.. Nolan's remarks,
Judge Cayton said community that
harbors narcotics peddlers and is
characterized as a gunman's para
disc is not representative govern
ment. At best, he said, it is govern
ment by remote control"
He said he had never heard any
favorable comment on the snow
removal parking ban, and suggested
that here was an example of "gov-
ernment by caprice" The failure
to provide proper school facilities,
he said, was government by buck
passing" and the lack of proper
housing law enforcement, he said,
represented government by in
ertia."
Improvements would be bound
to come" he concluded, IF we had
responsive government and lead
ers answerable to the people-lead-
ers who would feel that their func-
tion was to represent the people"
Wilbur s. Finch, president, and
William H. Mondell, vice president
Of the suffrage group, presided at
the meeting.