Evening star., 1940-07-23
DC. VoteA Action
Chances Gain,
bankhead Says
Randolph Plans
Move to Get Issue
Before House
BULLETIN.

Chairman Summers announced
this afternoon that he would
call the House Judiciary Com
mittee into session Thursday in
an attempt to get approval Of
resolution authorizing a consti-
tutional amendment granting
national representation to the
District of Columbia. The meet
ing, he said, would depend on
whether he could locate enough
committee members in the city.
Speaker Bankhead said today the
Likelihood" that the present ses-
sion Of Congress will consider suf-
frage for the District has increased,
as Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee planned an ap.
peal for action.
Speaker Bankhead pointed out
that the House cannot. act until the
House Judiciary Committee reports
out one of three pending resolu-
tions providing for national repre-
sentation. However, Mr.. Randolph
planned to take his appeal to this
committee and expressed the belief
the resolution will be given sympa-
thetic consideration if reported ia
vorably.
The renewed agitation for enfran-
chising District residents followed
demonstration given Representa-
tive Randolph in the House yester-
day at the conclusion of 15-min-
ute plea for congressional action.
Better Chance for Suffrage Seen.
Mr.. Bankhead said he is not ia
miliar with the various plans for
granting voting privileges to the
District since he has not had time
to study them. He expressed the
opinion, however, that local suffrage
might have a better chance for early
approval than national representa-
ton, which would require q con.
stitutional amendment.
Mr.. Randolph was highly pleased
with the applause given him yes.
terday.
The demonstration marked the
best feeling for local suffrage ever
exhibited in the House." he de-
clared. II was particularly pleased
that no antipathy was shown
Republicans Also Applaud.
Mr.. Randolph also was elated be-
cause the applause came from the
Republican side of the House cham
Der as well as the Democratic side.
He said he anticipated Democratic
support In view of the action Of the
Democratic convention last week in
writing into the party platform q
plank favoring suffrage for the Dis
trict.
It has been Mr.. Randolph's desire
to keep partisan politics out of the
fight for voting privileges for the
District. The issue, he contends, is
important to both political parties,
even though the Republican con-
vention failed to include a local
suffrage plank in its 1910 platform.
A remark by Representative Rees.
Republican, of Kansas, that House
Republicans in great numbers"
would support a suffrage plan for
the District was particularly pleas
ing to Mr.. Randolph. He likewise
was elated over suggestion by Mr..
Rees that the Judiciary Committee
without further delay, act favorably
on the national representation res
olution so the House can vote on it
at the present session of Congress.
Since the national representation
resolution was sponsored in the
House by Representative Summers,
Democrat, of Texas. chairman of
the Judiciary Committee, Mr.. RAN
dolph is hopeful he will take the
leadership in urging early action on
1t by his own committee.
Mr.. Summers introduced the reso-
luton April 4, 1899. 1t reads:
Resolved by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Con-
gress assembled (two thirds of each
house concurring therein), that the
following amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States be
(See RANDOI .pE page A.2l