Evening star., 1944-11-05

IOr Inc reQeTALlOn OF IltlZenS AS
sociations revealed last night he had
dispatched identical letters to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Thomas E.
Dewey, calling on them to declare,
in advance Of election day, whether
they would aid the movement to
free voteless District residents of
their political bondage"
Mr.. Wender pleaded for direct
declarations in favor of suffrage for
the District from both maj jor party
candidates. He voiced regret there
has been no discussion by candi-
dates of this subject which so
vitality concerns a substantial, in
telligent and capable segment Of
our population"
The federation president empha-
sized his appeal by citing the sacri-
fices being made by District resi-
dents on the battlefronts, protest.
ing that they alone have the
humiliation Of being denied the use
Of ballots in the choice Of their
Commander-in-Chief."
Critics Carpet Bagsers."
Taking a sharp slap at carpet
baggers" named to District jobs, he
declared the recent appointment OF
q nonresident to be District record
er Of deeds, though somewhat justi-
fed by precedent, was an indica-
ton Of the lack Of consideration"
given in filling posts which right
fully belong" to District taxpayers
who maintain the municipality.
I'm no other American jurisdic-
tion," he declared, would citizens
permit the fostering of the "gaulei-
ter system which plaques the Ma
tion's Capital"
In this connection. he added q
protest against the failure to ap-
point District lawyers to District
Court positions. saying, 1T Is sig
nificant that during the past II
years not a single local resident has
been appointed to the United States
Court Of Appeals for the District
Of Columbia although the principal
business Of that court is local In
nature"
The letters recited that out
standing members Of the two major
parties, in both the House and the
Senate, are sponsoring bills dealing
with the lack of suffrage, In three
different ways.
Cites d. c. Patriotism.
Mr.. Wender referred the pending
Summers -Capper proposal for a con-
stitutional amendment to authorize
Congress to grant District repre-
sentation in the House, Senate and
the Electoral College; the McCar-
ran ''home rule" bill for a council
manager form Of city government,
and the Walter bill to give the Dis
trict nonvoting delegate in the
House.
"Our citizens have shown their
overwhelming patriotism in all the
wars Of our history" Mr.. Wender
wrote President Roosevelt and Mr..
Dewey. They have led the Nation
In subscriptions to war bonds, have
over-subscribed their Red Cross
quota and co-operated in every con-
ceivable way toward the success
full waging Of the war.
II trust that I need not remind
you that the mothers and fathers of
our city have sent close to 100, 900
fine young men and women into the
armed services of the Nation, who
are distinguishing themselves on the
battlefields. on land and sea all
over the world.
These heroes are alike in every
respect to their comrades in arms,
but they alone have the humiliation
of being denied the use Of ballots
In the choice Of their commander
IN chief. Can it be expected they
will accept with complacency this
negative reward for their great
sacrifice?"
Protests Lack Of Control.
Declaring that Washington resi-
dents have been refused civil serv-
ice appointments because of the
lack Of congressional sponsorship, I"
which the accident Of residence de-
nies them. Mr.. Wender continued:
I'VE have no control over the
amount or kind Of taxes which we
pay, nor the manner in which the
money shall be spent.
THE oficials who are chosen to
administer our affairs from the
highest to the lowest are not in the
slightest degree responsible to those
who support them.
1T is natural that this unique
situation should lend itself to the
appointment Of incompetents and
carpetbaggers IS political rewards
and that our city should be made
fertile field for political patronage
without regard to the welfare Of the
city or the Nation.
mo administration has been free
from this tlr4forta1f.afa frf11iaS1aa nns.