Evening star., 1945-02-14
o THE EVENING STAR, Washington, D. c.
WEDNESDAY 4

cans of the District pay national
taxes, obey national laws and 60
to war IN the Nations defense, they
are entitled on American principles
to be represented in the national
Government which taxes them,
which makes all laws for them and
which sends them to war"
John Russell Young, as presi-
dent Of the Board of Commissioners,
gave a brief but pointed indorse-
ment. He said the resolution is
entirely consistent with the form of
Government set up in the Consti-
tution-a document that contem-
plated Government of the people,
by the people, in which taxes would
be levied and laws enacted con-
trolling the activities of the people
would be adopted only by repre-
sentatives duly elected by the peo-
pie.
McConihe Among Witnesses.
A number of spokesmen for va
rious groups which have been fight
ing for representation were called
to the stand for brief statements
before the hearing ended. Among
these was Malcolm S. McConihe,
Democratic national committeeman
for the District, who was instru-
mental in having the Democratic
National Convention twice adopt a
platform plank calling for District
representation.
Another was Edward F. Colladay.
Republican national committeeman
for the Distrist, leader in the
movement for many years.
Mr.. Randolph, in his testimony,
expressed the conviction that if
the resolution reaches the floor of
the House it will pass, "and when
word goes to the. country, it will
approve"
Il believe there would not be so
votes against it in the House" he
said, If the resolution is brought
to the floor, debated and then put
to roll call"
Mr.. Randolph reminded the COM
mittee that members of the House
and Senate District Committees,
who are charged with all the af-
fairs of the District, "are giving
of their time freely, but they are
giving their time for subject mat
ter for which they have not been
elected"
UrpeS IocaI Voina
Il feel there should be some one
directly charged with speaking for
the citizens of the District" he
said. Our time and our talents
should not be given to the local
affairs of the National Capital. /
believe the country will welcome the
to give powers to the
representatives of the District. as
this. resolution would provide"
Sergt. OLeary tol dthe committee
that on more than half dozen oc-
casions he had to step aside while
his comrades overseas received in
structions on how to vote and later
obtained their ballots.
Il knew that none of them were
for me- he said. 1T was somewhat
disheartening. The boys used to kid
me about 1t and I had to explain
that I was from Federal territory
like the Indians. Some of them
laughed and said the insane couldn't
vote, either"
The marine, who served as COM
bat correspondent and was re-
turned to this country after ne was
wounded, said he had lived in Wash
ington so long that he had be-
come accustomed to being without
a vote until he went overseas and
came in contact with men from the
States.
Called Ironical Situation.
Representative Tolan, Democrat,
of California, asked Sergt. OLeary
II he did not think it was ironical
that Nevada, with 100000 voters,
should be entitled to two Senators
and several representatives, while
the District, with an estimated 200,-
600 natives, should be denied all
ronraeanf finn Cerot at oorx, Va