Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-03
Day of Humiliation

On page three of today's Star ap-
pears an expression of that "hu-
initiation and mourning" which cleo
ton day synbolizes for the voteless
residents of the District of Columbia.
This particular election day places
added emphasis on the discrimina-
ton against these patriotic, intelli-
gent citizens of Washington.
For this election day comes when
the Nation is at war. Thousands of
Washington's sons are serving with
the Nations armed forces, at home
and on every fighting front around
the world. Congress, by special
statute, has given new recognition to
the fundamental American tradition
which couples arms-bearing with
citizenship and has given to men in
uniform, wherever election day finds
them, the right to cast their votes by
mail. Only those soldiers who are
residents of the Capital of the
United States are barred. Theirs is
the only "home town" In the Nation
that has no vote.
This being war year, with so
many dislocations of population and
a characteristic apathy over politics,
our leaders in public life have been
united in appealing to citizens to vote
and to discharge this solemn obliga-
ton of citizenship. How these appeals
mock us here in the District! Hear
some of them:
The about war to keep democracy
alive includes using not only bullets
but ballots.-The President.
1t is requisite that our people should
express themselves adequately and
decisively in the choice of their Gov
eminent Observation-Disclosures Joseph
w. Martin, jr., and Edward j. Flynn
in a joint statement for the Re-
publican and Democratic National
Committees.
I can conjure up no excuse or de-
tense that any eligible voter can give
for failing to perform this duty
(voting) to his country in its hour Of
greatest peril.-Major Leader Of
the Senate Barley.
The best represented districts are
those wise enough to select man OF
energy, intelligence and integrity and
re-elect him year after year.-Speak-
er of the House Rayburn.
What substance is there to these
appeals by spokesman of a Govern
ment which by continued denial Of
the right of representation in the
District of Columbia proves itself
contemptuous of the basic principles
Of representative government in its
own Capital?
In the same vein, our leaders every
where are listing as one Of the war
aims Of the Allies the preservation
of democratic principles among the
peoples of the world. The third of
eight points of the Atlantic Charter"
declares that They (the United
States and the United Kingdom)
respect the right of all peoples to
choose the form of government under
which they will live. and they wish
to see sovereign rights and self
government restored to those who
have been forcibly deprived OF them"
Here in the District Of Columbia
the people do not aspire to control
over the seat of government. They
recognize the wisdom of sovereignty
over their own Capital by the people
of the United States, exercised
through Congress What they ask is
g new power which Congress may
utilize in extending to the citizens
Of the Capital the right of repre-
sentation in the National Govern
ment, which includes Congress and
the electoral college. They want the
right of participation in the Govern
ment which taxes them and sends
them to war They do not see how
any government can be truly demo-
cratic government which denies this
basic right to the more than half
million intelligent. patriotic citizens
who live In the Nations Capital.