Evening star., 1943-03-01
Trade Board Chiefs
Renew Campaign for
D. {. Representation
Copper-Sumners PIon
Specifically Backed
By Directors
lCn,,Ai,,,ad 1.e..a 1n;,..4 ra
Continued From First Page.

L C
heartily in the agreement thai
priority must always be given t.
legislation and to civic action for the
winning of the war"
Pointing out that absorption ir
the war effort by Congress" hac
been suggested as IAN obstacle tc
obtaining consideration at this time ;
Of the Capper-Sumners joint resolu-
ton, the report declared 1.-The
prevalence of the war only en-
phasizes the denial of the rights
which the proposed amendment
would restore.
Controversy Denied.
"A controversy provoking consti-
tutional amendment" continued the
report, might, with reason, be re-
garded as out Of place for considera-
ton when the Congress is under
such pressure with necessary war
legislation. Our proposal contains
nothing Of controversial nature.
ut is stripped of every word which
would indicate a campaign for full
statehood or any committal what
ever as to the form of any such
representation if representation were
granted. 1t omits all stipulations
concerning the future action of
Congress In putting into effect its
new power, and 1t also provides that
this power in Congress shall not be
exhausted by its first use, but shall
be continuous to protect both the
national and the District interests.
enabling Congress to amend from
time to time the legislation defining
District representation and even to
repeal such legislation If considered
necessary or desirable. The contro-
Versial points developed In the effort
to define in advance what repre-
sentation should be granted the
people Of the District are thus elm
mated.
The granting Of this power to
Congress will enable it in its dis
cretion as to time and method of
action, to give to the District limited
and revocable national representa- =
ton by the same vote by which It
gives full sovereign statehood to
the territory. It will remove the
people of the District politically
from the list OF incurably defective
Americans, like the convict and the
lunatic, and in the discretion Of
Congress as to the exact participa-
ton in the Nations councils will
make such participation reasonably
accessible.
The new constitutional amend
ment will serve as rallying point
for the Board Of Trade and for the
multitude of national petitioners
for District national representation
who will doubtless view it as a non
controversial step in the approach
to partial political equity for the
Washingtonian, which may perhaps
be given consideration even in war
time.
Nations Founders Quoted.
THE signers of the latest petition
70 Congress on this subject reafIirm
and uprge application to the people
Of the District Of the principles pro-
claimed by the founders Of our re-
public that:
Taxation without representation
Is tyranny; that
Governments derive their Just
powers from the consent OF the gov
erned'; and in order that
Government of the people, by
the people and for the people may
become an accomplished fact for all
the people Of the United States.
In regard to the time when action
on the constitutional amendment
should or can be taken, some of our
legislators declare: We have got
to do everything now to win the
war; this is no time to pay special
attention to the needs or grievances
of the District
1T is time that the war obliga-
tons of Americans precede and dis
place all others and there will be
difficulty in getting the interested
attention Of political equity for the
District. But, on the other hand, it
Is in wartime that the value and
vital Importance of American ma
tional citizenship are most en-
phasized.
reconsideration in wartime of any
Constitutional amendment Is dim
cult for obvious reasons. On the
other hand, the consideration of
such an amendment, Americanizing
the people Of the District, is pecu-
liarly appropriate as a wise measure
Of war preparedness and is in &C
cordance with the wartime spirit.
ID. c. Service Men Affected.
In accordance with the spirit Of
the wartime and in recognition Of
the democratic principle that they
who fight and risk their lives for
their country's defense are entitled
TO participate in the Government
which sends them to war, Congress
has declared that our soldiers, sailors
and marines are high up In the
preferred list of voters and provided
that they might vote in the recent
national elections, even without pay
ment OF the poll tax exacted by
some Of the States. Among the mil
lions OF American armsbearers thus
honored are thousands of Washing
tonians who, though just as enthusi-
astic. patriotic and self sacrificing
as their companions, were forbidden
by the Constitution to participate
in the national election.
TO Americanize the political
aliens OF the District is to do
justice and to relieve the Nation
of reproach and shame-achieve
ments which, like the motion to ad-
Journ, are always in order. And
not only in general but in a
special sense is this Americana
ing process peculiarly opportune, in
that 1t reflects the very thought
and spirit of the times and is an
integral part OF the legislation
which springs naturally from the
patriotic impulse toward true pre-
paredness.
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