Evening star., 1944-09-03
District Doctor in War Zone Denied Ballot;
Judiciary Committee 'PoIIed on Representation
Seven Are Favorable,
Two Against and Four
Are Noncommittui
BY GEORGE KENNEDY.

Capper. Just think" he said.
there must be $1,000 young men
from washington in this situation. 4"
The thin, white-haired Kansan
was examining card from Col.
. Edward Clarke Morse; a postcard
with a red band across the address
side marked "Official Election War
Ballot-Via Air Mail"
.. Col. Noise is in command of a
station hospital in Corsica.
When he was given one of the 81
100000 postcard applications for
ballot which the Army has printed
for the men overseas, he filled it in
and mailed it,
Alaskans Given Data.
But, charts showing primary dates
of the States and Territories posted
by the Army at every headquarters
overseas, chart which even shows
soldiers from Alaska what they
must do to vote, bear this notation
opposite District of Columbia
mo provision for soldier whose
home residence is in the District
to vote in person or by absentee
ballot"
Col. Morse filled in the blank
space on the address side of the card
opposite Secretary OF State Of
by writing in District of Columbia
care OF Evening Star, Washington,
D. C.
Resident for 81 Years
Col Morse was an orthopedic
surgeon at Emergency Hospital
before the war. He was born in
Washington and it has been his
home for 54 years. His residence
is at 1923 Massachusetts avenue
NV. His wife is granddaughter
OF Gen. Pierre G.. T. Beauregard
He is not able to vote as an Ameri-
lean citizen because he happens to-
live in the Capital of the United
States. This reporter was dispatch
ed to the Capitol Hill to see what
could be done about getting Col.
Morse ballot He first called on
Senator Capper.
Perhaps said the Senator,
this realization on the part of every
young man in uniform from the
: District that he is different-that
he has been given an application
for ballot but he can't have one
will do something to change the
situation"
The Senator became angered
why, if the citizens of Topeka were
denied the vote-there would be
blood on the pavements
What can we do about it?" he
asked.
Queried on Measure.
What about the Summers -Capper
resolution for national representa-
ton for the District" asked the re-
porter. Where is it?" /
Its in the Judiciary Committee, ~
said the Senator. Ever since the
last war I have been introducing
resolutions for national representa-
ton and they always 60 to the Ju-
dietary Committee and stay there.
An offer by this reporter to poll
the Senate membership won the
Senator's approval.
Good he said let me know
, how you come out and if enough of
them are amenable III make
speech from the floor asking that
1t be reported out" !
Chairman McCarran of the COM
mittee is at home in Nevada This
reporter first called on the ranking
member of the majority, Senator
Hatch of New Mexico
I'll vote to submit it." Senator
Hatch said.
Connally Opposed.
Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas, was next:
I'm against it." he said.
The reporter took the Senator's
arm and led him to window of
the historic Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee room.
Senator he said. do you see
that broWnstone church building
down there?" The 5th Marine Re-
serve. most of them District boys,
used to drill there Tuesday nights
More than 200 of them were in the
first landing at Guadalcanal and
from all reports, they did pretty we'll
Why not make them voting citizens
of the United States when they come
back?"
That softened the Senator little.
He said:
I'd favor their voting for Mayor
or councilman. if they wanted to,
but ! d be against their representa-
ton in this body
Why, Senator?" the reporter
asked.
Too Much Influence
Because they'd have too much
influence here. Besides the Con-
stitution didn't intend it that way
and I'm for the Constitution.
Editors note: The Summers Cap
per amendment would not interfere
with the constitutional provision
giving Congress exclusive legisla-
tive control over the District
At this point, two State Depart
ment officials arrived to report on
some development at Dumbarton
Oaks and votes for the District went
by the boards.
Senator Chandler came off the
floor of the Senate where he had
been taking part in a debate on
more and larger islands for America
In the peace settlement.
I'm for it" he said. I'm for
their voting"
Senator EaStland of Mississippi
looked at Col, Morses postcard,
heard the story and countered a
question on how he stood with:
What do you Think"
The Senator finally talked but
was cautious about being quoted. /
He finally settled it with:
Put 1t down that I'm against it
because of Negro suffrage and for
other reasons"
Andrews Approves Plan.
Senator Andrews, Democrat, of
Florida talked it over at some