Evening star., 1945-09-26
Senate Unit Due
To Act in Week
On Suffrage Bill
Solid Support Given
To Sumners-Copper
Plan; Hearings End

Plan; Hearings End
Action on the Sumners-Ca Capper
resolution empowering Congress to
grant the District national repre-
sentation and vote for President
probably will be taken sometime
next week by the Hatch subcom-
mittee of the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee.
Senator Hatch, Democrat, of New
Mexico, who presided over hearings
on the resolution yesterday said he
found the testimony of civic leaders
and war veteran most interest
ing"
He said the subcommittee will
hold hearings the rest OF this week
on other proposed constitutional
amendments pending before it.
Then sometime next week he will
call an executive session to consider
all the proposals, including the
suffrage resolution, Senator Hatch
said.
Those who spoke or submitted
written statements of approval to
the subcommittee yesterday included
Senator Capper, Republican, of
Kansas, sponsor of the resolution
in the Senate; Representative Sum-
ners, Democrat, of Texas, sponsor in
the House; the District Commis-
sioners, the Board of Trade. the
Federation of Citizens ASSOCIATE tons,
and many other leading civic or
ganizations.
Two Opposition Speakers.
Only two speakers appeared in
opposition. They were Alfred D.
Calvert, president of the Lincoln
Park Citizens Association, and
Joseph W. Cheyney, who lives at
2615 Myrtle avenue NE.
Mr.. Calvert said members of the
Lincoln Park citizens group had
voted unanimously against the reso-
luton.
ITO give the District suffrage
would rip the constitution apart, "
he said The action might lead to
other cities, such as New York, even
tually getting statehood, he said.
The capital of the country, Mr.
Calvert said, should be like an 'um-
pire-free so that the other 48 States
can have in us city of refuge
Mr.. Cheyney declared Congress
has no right to grant suffrage and
that also Washingtonians don't
want it."
Speaks for Federation.
Wilbur S. Finch, appearing for the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
said that only two associations
among the Federation's membership
are opposed to the resolution. In an
unofficial referendum taken in 1888,
however, he said, among the $4,000
Washingtonians voting for suffrage
were residents of these associations
territories.
Mr.. Finch added that his son,
James David Finch, wrote he had
been the only man on his ship in
the Mediterranean unable to vote in
the presidential election. Mr.. Finch
said his sons shipmates refused toI
believe he could not vote and offered
to bet him on it.
Melvin D. Hildreth, vice chairman
of the Democratic Central Commit
tee for the District, speaking for
himself and also for Malcolm Nc
Conihe, and Russell Balderson, also
Democratic leaders, pledged the Dis
trict Democratic party's support.
Mr.. Hildreth praised Senator
Hatch as having been instrumental
in getting the suffrage plank in
cluded in the last Democratic con-
vention platform. Senator Hatch
has said he will vote for the resolu-
ton because he believes the party
should carry out its campaign
pledges.
Nonpartisan Issue.
Edward F. Colladay, for many
years member of the Republican
National Committee, said that the
Republican organization here is a
supporter of the measure.
Senator Hatch commented this
testimony by party leaders shows
the question proposed by the reso-
luton is not partisan issue. 1t is
"only a question of fundamental
rights" Senator Hatch declared.
Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, represent
ing several national womens or
ganizations, said that millions of
women across the country are sup
porting this measure through their
organizations
Mrs. Gutenberg is suffrage chair
man of the Women's Joint Con-
gressional Committee. The organi-
cations represented on the commit
tee are the National Women's Trade
Union League, National Council of
Jewish Women, American Fedora
ton of Teachers, Service Star Le-
gion, National American Women's
Medical Association and the Wom-
ems Homeopathic Medical Fra
ternity.
Legal Status Unique"
James r. Kirkland, professor of
law at George Washington Univer-
sity Law School, said the legal status
Of the voteless District is unique"
and leads to endless complications
in law cases. Legally, the District
is only = "quasi-American" state,
he said
Mr.. Kirkland added that the Dis
trict once had the right to vote for
Its Mayor.
Although all elective Offices were
abolished by 1874, the right of
suffrage here was not taken away
but has remained dormant ever
since" he said.
Guilford S. Jameson, representing
the Forest Hills Citizens Associa-
tion, said the resolution would take
from the District the stigma of
political impotence"
DR.. Clinton N. Howard, super
intendent of the International Re-
form Federation, spoke at the after
noon session in approval of the
measure.
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