Evening star., 1942-11-07

Necessity for Franchise
Never Greater, He Tells
Businessmen Here
Pointing to the increased Difficult
ties faced by business and the popu-
lation generally here because of the
war, Renah F. Camalier, former
counsel to the Senate District Com
mittee, last night declared there
never was greater necessity" for
this city to have representation in
Congress.
Mr.. Camalier stressed the serious
ness of the situation in a speech to
the Central Business Association
banquet at the American Legion
Clubhouse, broadcast by Station
WINK. Later he expanded on the
subject informally in another talk
before the business session of the
same group.
Estes Brand. president of the Gen.
trail Business Association, explained
today that the franchise issue stirred
so much interest last night that he
was determined to take up the mat
ter for definite action soon not only
with his own organization, but also
with the Federation of Business
mems Associations. Among the
business leaders who heard Mr.
Camalier was William j. Mileham,
president OF the federation and
chief AFRAID warden for the city.
Mr.. Camalier outlined many prob
lens facing business here today, in
cluding competition, economic dis
ruption, shortage of labor, scarcity
Of materials or goods. His principal
recommendation to help solve Wash
ington's economic problems, he said,
was representation in Congress.
Paints Gloomy Picture.
Painting somewhat gloomy local
picture, he warned: THE outlook is
not altogether encouraging. We have
too many doubts. We are tailspin-
ming into an abyss of uncertainty.
There is lack of confidence in the
future. 80.
But take courage" he admon-
ished, "the future offers opportu-
mites heretofore not even suscepti-
BILE of comprehension. The District
Of Columbia continues to march on
to greater days, despite the present"
THE people Of the District of Co.
lumbia," he said, IF banded to-
gether would present an irresistible
force. Instead we are broken into
small, even though component parts
parts which are distinct bodies of
thought and of action, torn asunder
by imaginary differences OF opin-
ion. -.
But just so long as they remain,
Just so long will the people of the
District of Columbia continue to
witness the appointment of their.
governing officials by Presidents, by
members of the Congress, and by
agencies and groups. each of whom
in many cases received their COM
missions directly or indirectly as
the result of the ballot exercised by
those who live in the various States
of the Union and not in the District
of Columbia.
ION Tuesday Of this week, we
again witnessed the election of our
City Council-the Congress of the
United States-elected by millions
of non-residents, most of whom
never have even seen our fair city.
Calls for Action.
" call upon the people of the
District of Columbia to band to-
Gether now.cthat we might have in
the halls of the Congress repre-
sentative. a delegate at least, who
could enlighten the Congress as to
the needs of the Capital City. The
necessity has never been greater,
nnd will continue to grow as our
problems your problems - mount
from year to year"
Declaring that the city needed
more unity" of action as well as
representation in Congress, the
speaker declared: This is my
answer to what is necessary to meet
the changed and changing condi-
tons in our local business field. To-
night I call upon you to band to-
Cether to combat problems of COM
retition, economic disruption, short
age of labor or scarcity of materials
or goods and to combat or oppose
legislation which for some reason
may be ill-advised or founded upon
3 wrongful premise"
Later before the business session
in another part of the Legion club
house, Mr.. Camalier responded in
formally to request to expand his
remarks on votes for the District.
He admitted that until recently he
had not been in favor of the fran
chise for Washington. But because
Of the increased complexities of the
situation here now, he felt that now
rs never before there was general
willingness to consider Washington's
rights to the franchise. He empha-
sized he was in favor of pressing the
issue now on Capitol Hill.
Many Senators and members OF
Congress, he reported. have become
embarrassed when re-
ports 60 back to their constituencies
about how much time and attention
they have to give to operating the
city Of Washington.
Francis Heigle, chairman OF a
newly formed War bond committee
of the central association, talked on
bonds and sold $325 worth at the
A committee was appointed to CO.
operate in the move to collect scrap
IS follows: Frank Gordon, Walter
Maloney and Frederick Levy. The
association proposed more air-raid
shelters should be erected in the
downtown area where present build
ings are not sufficient to protect the
A resolution was adopted favoring
passage of a law to permit business
men to employ persons as young as
16 years for the duration.