Evening star., 1944-07-18
Mrs. Norton Declares
Women Could Brinu
Suffrage for District

A strong plea for suffrage for
Washingtonians is voiced by Rep
resentative Mary T. Norton. Demo-
crat, of New Jersey, former chair
man of the House District Com
mittee, in an article published in
the current issue of Woman's Home
Companion, out today. This city
is labeled 'Democracy's Stepchild."
Pointing out several faults in the
city, Mrs. Norton maintained that
reforms would follow If Washing
tonians shared the privilege enjoyed
by their fellow Americans-to elect
those they think will serve them
best and to turn out of ONCE those
who do not"
At time when women will hold
the balance of power in the elec-
tion." Representative Norton de-
clares:
If a militant army of District
women decided that they were tired
of being stepchildren of the Federal
Government; If they joined forces
and demanded recognition of their
rights as free Americans; If they
were supported by the women in the
States. the bills before Congress to
give them part of these rights would
be debated and passed
Denied Self Government.
Can any fair-minded person."
she asked, see justice in compelling
Washington men to serve in a war
to provide self-government for other
nations when 100000 Americans In
their own city are denied that right
under our laWS?"
Members of Congress, she pointed
out, are elected primarily to repre-
sent their own districts, which
should be their first consideration.
When they are appointed to the
District of Columbia Committee"
she charged, they serve two dis
tricts. The double responsibility is
unfair to them, to their constituents
and to the people of Washington"
Referring to the long continuing
battle for District suffrage, Mrs.
Norton declared the opponents of
District self-goverhment have been
influential and articulate." Quoting
among the arguments against suf-
frage the Negro bugaboo," the au-
thor said group of fashionable
clubwomen here had been asked to
sponsor one of her bills for suf-
frage, but replied: I'VE don't want
to be governed by Negroes!"
We'll, St. Louis is comparable to
Washington in total population
she explained, ''and in the proper
ton Of Negroes, who are about one
fourth of the total population in
both cities, and st. Louis has never
been governed by Negroes"
Population Largely Permanent.
Declaring lit is another myth that
Washington's population is tempo
rary," Mrs. Norton said that "at
least two-thirds of the Districts
population Is permanent" adding
that whatever postwar administra-
ton there is, Democratic or Repub-
lican, washington will have large
and stable population at work on
the job of reconstruction
Almost million citizens here, she
pointed out, have no say about the
taxes they must pay, no voice in
choosing their President, no repre-
sentative in Congress, no means of
choosing the officials in charge of
health facilities, traffic regulations
or the education of their children"
The lack of self government here,
while District men are fighting over
seas for self government, Mrs. Nor
ton declared, would be funny" if it
were not so tragic" 1t is something,
she asserted, to make Hitler laugh.
The Capital is not just beauti-
full cultural city with few concerns
outside those connected with the
Federal Government" said Mrs,
Norton. 1T is first-class city with
all the problems that entails, a city
where hundreds of thousands of
men and women make their homes.
where they bring up their children"
Washington ought to lead all
other cities, said the author. But"
she charged. behind the marble
facade of the impressive Federal
buildings, back of the lovely parks
and clean main streets, are hideous
conditions. Hospitals are a dis
grace. The police are poorly trained.
There are appalling slums. There
are not enough schools, recreational
or day-care facilities for children.
Venereal disease, tuberculosis and
juvenile delinquency rates are high"
Without claiming that District
suffrage would remedy these condi-
tions overnight, Mrs. Norton main
tanned that reforms would come If
Washingtonians shared the vote with
other Americans.