Evening star., 1946-11-01
Mr.. Calvert on the Vote

WhSl11IlStOHs
Mr.. Calvert on the Vote
To the Editor Of The Star:
Most persons who come to Washing
ton to live cannot understand why those
conversant with the facts do not favor
suffrage for the District of Columbia
while those who have given conscien-
tious study to the problem know there
is no other course.
In Article I of the Constitution,
among other powers delegated to Con-
gress, is that: "To exercise exclusive
legislation in all cases whatsoever over
such district as may. by cession Of
particular States become the
seat of Government =" ."
Conditions existing at that time
(when the Nations Capital was being
constantly shifted about made such
action necessary If the Nation was to
endure-and is more than ever neces-
sary now If the Nation is to endure.
So that the Government cannot relin-
quish the responsibilities now placed
on it, by the act creating the District
of Columbia.
The farseeing fathers of the republic
did good job when. wearied from
seeking a permanent location for the
Capital Of the Nation, free of the po-
litical despotism that even then was
threatening the Governments dissolu-
ton, they accepted from the States Of
Virginia and Maryland the joint offer
OF tract of land for a Federal city
on the banks of the Potomac reser-
vation free from the Vaccinations of
self-seeking cliques. so that Congress
could perform its duties unhampered by
anxiety and intrigue.
Many who locate in Washington seem
incapable Of grasping the plan of a
Federal city. They do not realize that
in 1t is. embraced the Capital of all the
48 State Capitals, as well as the Terri
tories and dependencies under the
wings of our National Government.
Given suffrage 1t must need forfeit
the exalted position of an impartial
umpire the moment 1t graduates from
q Territory to State. Forced to become
involved in the maelstrom of a colossal
bureaucracy, confusion worse con-
founded would be the inevitable result.
Why the advocates of the Summers
Capper bill are unable to understand
the tragedy involved is greatly to be
deplored.
Back In 1941 when . similar resolu-
ton was given public hearing, one of
the members of the Senate Committee
on the Judiciary stated: IF this act
were passed, If the amendment to the
Constitution were adopted, and If it
were exercised to the full limit pro-
vided for In it. the relationship would
be entirely changed, and the Munich
pality of Washington would govern the
Capital City of Washington, and that
would be difference so marked that
do not believe you would ever get
ratification by enough States for such
an amendment"
Human nature being what 1t is, the
party in power at the time would have
no use for the blinded justice with
which figure we are familiar) and
would constantly tilt the scales in its
own behalf, If history is to repeat itself
and it generally does. What then
becomes of equality under the law?
What Of the republic?
The proponents of national represen-
tation are assembling when they deny
aspirations for statehood. For no mat
ter what may be said to the contrary,
if suffrage Is to be granted to the Dis
trict OF Columbia, statehood is the only
solution possible under the Constitu-
tion. That means Senators, Represent
atives, Governor and host of other
officials Getty and State) Of necessity
will be added to the payrolls, leading
to greatly augmented sums for salaries
and other expenses, which in turn would
add still more to the tax burden. Every
large city between the two oceans would
get the urge for statehood. Could they
be denied? Several are ready to jump
now.
This would be followed with increas-
ing demands for statehood from Ha-
waii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands
(where few know who Is their father
or mother) and other like places. In
stead of upgrading our heritage, this
lowering of standards would take less
than three generations to make q mon
grel nation of what had been the proud
home of the white race. Thus would
eventually end in chaos what every
patriotic American had always hoped
would remain an indissoluble union of
States.
1t is extremely difficult to comprehend
why any one should wish to exchange
the present commission form of gov
ernment, in spite Of much that is un-
desirable, for the chance to vote one day
out of 1865 for the hand-picked candi-
dates of "big boss" such as controls
every city in our land, and such as
they had right here in Washington
when they did have the vote. 1t fits
in perfectly with the slogan OF the
suffrage forces (soft-pedaled the last
five years.: "We would rather have a
bad government with the vote, than a
good government without It,"
ALFRED D. CALVERT.
A. I'll - IL