Evening star., 1940-07-24
|Guyer Pledges
Vote for D. {.
Franchise Bill
Summers Resolution
Held Best Solution; !;
Movement Grows
(Tert OF Resolution, Page A-2.)

sVuVVSbbbSuk SbOWS
(Tert of Resolution, Page Az
BY JAMES E. CH1NN.
The Summers resolution provid-
ing national representation for the
District-a measure that would give
the disfranchised people here the
right to vote for President and Vice
President and have their own repre-.
sentatives in Congress-was de-
scribed today by Representative
Guyer. Republican. of Kansas, as the
best solution" of the local suffrage
problem.
Mr.. Guyer is the ranking minor
ity member of the House Judiciary
Committee which next Tuesday will
meet in special session to consider
the Summers measure. At that
meeting, he said, he will vote to
send it to the House floor for con.
sideration.
Il have been for suffrage for the
District for years." he declared. Il
will vote for the Summers resolution
Tuesday since it appears to be the
best solution Of the problem"
Movement Gaining.
A number of other members Of the
Judiciary Committee have indicated
their intention of supporting the
resolution.
Mr.. Guyer's promise Of his vote
came on the heels of rising tide
Of sentiment in both the Senate and
House for action at the present ses-
sion of Congress on legislation to
give the voteless people here the
privilege Of going to the polls on
election day like other American cit
izens and casting ballot.
Definite action will be taken on the
resolution, Chairman Summers said,
unless it appears majority Of the
26-man committee -16 Democrats
and 10 Republicans-is opposed to
it. Approval of the resolution auto
matically will place it on the House
calendar and in a position to be
considered before adjournment Of
the present session of Congress.
Bipartisan Support Noted.
The special meeting was called by
Mr.. Summers following a demon
stration on the House floor Monday
after Chairman Randolph of the
District Committee made a plea for
early consideration Of the suffrage
question "a demonstration which
indicated that both Republicans and
Democrats are ready at last to
concentrate on the voteless plight
Of the people here.
Action of the Democratic National
Convention in including local suf-
frage plank in the party's 1910 plat
form. actually furnished the spark
for active renewal Of the long fight
to give the people of the District
voting privileges. Republicans, how.
ever, have joined in the movement,
not, as has been intimated, to test
the sincerity of the Democratic plat
form, but because they believe the
residents of Washington should have
the same privileges of those in the
States in voting for President and
Vice President and having their own
representatives in Congress.
Even before Mr.. Summers called
the special meeting Of his committee,
members of both the Senate and
House expressed a hope that the
suffrage question would be acted on
without further delay.
Bankhead Sees Cause Aided.
Speaker Bankhead admitted the
action Of the Democratic National
Convention in writing a local suf-
frage plank in the party platform
increased the Likelihood" of con-
gressional consideration of the SUBJ
ject before adjournment of Con-
gress. He believes. however. local
suffrage would have better chance
of congressional approval at this
time than national representation.
Among other House members who
indicated they would support suf-
frage are four member of the Judi
ciary Committee - Representatives
Murdock of Utah, Tolan of. Cali.
fornia and Massingale of Oklahoma,
Democrats, and Robson of Ken
lucky, Republican. A number Of
members of the District Committee
already have openly advocated suf-
frage for the District, and the latest
additions are Representatives Shafer
of Michigan and Bates of Massachu-
sets, both Republicans.
Sees Irony in Situation.
"It's ironical that the people Of
Washington, who should have the
same privileges as the people in any
State, are denied the VOTE" declared
Mr.. Bates.
Mr.. Shafer said: 1T looks like
the District got break on the suf-
frage question in connection with
the action of the Democratic Ma
tional Convention in placing q local
suffrage plank in the party platform
while Congress is in session. Now
the people here can expect some
action before adjournment.
"One thing the people here do
need is the vote"
Some representation In govern.
mental affairs must be given the
more than 10000 persons who live
here" said Mr.. Murdock.
Il have always been in favor Of
suffrage for the District" declared
Mr.. Tolan. II would certainly vote
to report out bill granting it to
the people here"
Long Favored by Robsion.
Mr.. Massingale said he, too, had
always been in favor Of local suf.
frage. Mr.. Robsion explained when
he came to Congress in 1919 he
thought the people Of the District
should have voting privileges and
he had not changed his views.
On the Senate side, Senator Cap
per, Republican, Of Kansas. one Of
the veteran leaders In the movement
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