Evening star., 1945-09-26
Etz
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-C -Capper
resolution empowering Congress to
grant the District national repre-
sentation and a vote for President
probably will be taken sometime
next week by the Hatch subcom-
mittee Of the Senate Judiciary Com
nittee.
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 Commits
sioners. the Board of Trade, the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
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 1898,
however, he said, among the $4,000
Washlngtonlans 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 to
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 partys 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-
tion 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 question of fundamental
rights" Senator Hatch declared.
Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, represent
Ing several national women's 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-
zations represented on the commit
tee are the National Women's Trade
Union League, National Council of
Jewish Women, American Fedora
tion OF Teachers, Service Star Le-
gion, National American Womens
Medical Association and the Wom-
ems Homeopathic Medical Fra
+ ternity.
Legal Status "Uniaue."
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 we're
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"
ii DR.. Clinton N. Howard, super
| intendent of the International Re-
/ form Federation, spoke at the after
i noon session in approval of the
l measure.
k0 hndraw'e enrin4v DI,ne