Evening star., 1941-02-01


sembly was voiced by several dele
gates, some of whom explained that
they had been instructed by their
respective associations to attend
the meeting, but not to vote for
immediate action. Harry S. Wender,
president of the Southwest Citizens
Association and chief foe of the
plan, explained that he opposed it
mainly because the District already
had an organization with identical
purpose in the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations.
In opening the convention, Mr..
Darr said the object was to crystal
lize public opinion behind an organ
ization that would bring about unity
of thought and action. He explained
that the proposed assembly would
not conflict with existing citizens
associations, but that it would be a
permanent means of bringing to-
gether under one roof all shades Of
thought and opinion on the major
problems confronting the people
of Washington
Senator Burton of Ohio, ;. intro
duced as the principal speaker said
that the key to the situation in
Washington lis not so much the
form of the local government as it
is the degree to which the people
themselves voluntarily and infor-
mally contribute to the daily success
of q program of mutual helpfulness. "
Of Daily Importance.
He declared municipal matters
are of as much personal Importance
in the daily lives of city dwellers as
are the daily chores in the lives
Of isolated farmers or ranchers.
THE frontiers of democracy are
In the metropolitan centers of
America" he explained.
The Senator pointed out that,
swith increasing congestion in cities,
kt becomes more and more necessary
TO make use of some governmental
aid, but the initiative, fexibility and
tff suitoElt Of the governmental
service Increases in proportion to
the extent to which the community
needs are correctly interpreted to
the Government by the people.
Senator Burton concluded with
the thought that municipal as
sembly would contribute not only to
the handling of the daily living
problems of the metropolitan popu-
lation of the District of Columbia,
but also ito the Soundness of the
Governments. politics in locating
and operating its many govern
mental headquarters"
Mr.. Wender expressed the opinion
O municipal assembly would not
mean that the various civic asso-
Citations would be united, that there
still would be a majority and a
minority group, and that the minor
ity group still would hound the
legislators on Capitol Hill.
Sees Reluctance to Act.
"Our past success with the legis-
iators on Capitol Hill" he said, has
not been because they don't under
stand what we want, but because
they don't want to act on what we
want"
What can this assembly do that
we are not now doing?" he asked.
at would be all right if we did not
now have the implements for such
a purpose. Let's sharpen these in
struments we have. The Federation
of Citizens Associations was formed
In 1910 in answer to the same de-
mand you now are making. 1t can
do the same thing as the assembly
you ask for il you give it the same
support you promise this new as
sembly."
Other leaders who appeared on
the platform and who spoke briefly
in support of the assembly were
Mrs. Harold A. Stone, representative
of the Voteless District of Columbia
League of Women Voters and CO.
author of several books on local
government; DR.. Ernest S. Griffith,
director of legislative reference Serv-
ice at the Library of Congress and
delegate from the Council of Social
Agencies; Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, vice
president and representative OF the
Monday Evening Club; Prof. Doxy
Wilkerson, assistant professor OF
education at Howard University and
representative of the Washington
Council of National Negro Congress;
Mrs. c. D. Lowe, representative OF
the District of Columbia Federation
of Parent Teacher Associations, and
Sidney Katz, secretary of the Mary
land and District of Columbia
branch of the Committee of Indus
trial Organizations.
Groups Represented.
The following organizations were
represented:
American Association of Social
Workers, American Association of
University Women, Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, American Order OF
the White Cross, American Red
Cross. American University League
of Women Voters, American War
Mothers, Banneker Parent Teacher
Association, Baptist Church, Blow
Webb Parent Teacher Association
Bradbury Heights Citizens Associa'
ton, Brunch Arts Club, Buchanan
Parent Teacher Association, Bureau
of Rehabilitation, Burville Parent
Teacher Association.
Cathedral Heights-Cleveland Park
Parent Teacher Association, Chevy
Chase Citizens Association, Citizens
Conference on District of Columbis
suffrage. Citizens Forum of Colonia.
Heights, Colonial Heights Citizens
Association, Coleman Council, Com,
rnunist Party, Congress Heights
progressive Citizens Association
Connecticut Avenue Citizens Asso'
eaation, Consumers Conference, Con-