Evening star., 1946-01-03
Meeting Maps
Drive 10 Win
ID. {. Suffrage
Civic, Business and
Labor Groups Plan
New Organization

A drive to give Washington resi-
dents the right to vote was launched
last night by representatives Of
civic, business and labor groups as
they met in the District Building to
map plans for creation of an organi-
zation devoted exclusively to this
goal.
Those present voted unanimously
to form such an organization and a
tentative title, Central Suffrage
Conference, was adopted. Slated
only as a preliminary meeting, it
was agreed at the session to hold
larger meeting in approximately
three weeks, to which every organi-
zation in the District interested in
the question of suffrage for the Dis
trlct, including national representa-
ton or local vote for city officials,
will be invited to send two delegates.
Last nights meeting authorized
Wilbur S. Finch. president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
and chairman of the session, to ap-
point Steering Committee to Sc
lect the time and site of the next
rally and to draft the groups state
ment of principles.
Hold Time "Now Ripe"
Mr.. Finch appointed a commit
tee to promote citizen interest in
the Senate Judiciary Committees
session January % on the Sum-
ners-Capper resolution to grant the
District national representation. A
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee al
ready has reported favorably on
the measure.
Mr.. Finch told the group the
time was now ripe to achieve a vote
for the District. He pointed to the
recent statement of President Tru-
man favoring suffrage for Wash
ington and the recent Senate Ju-
dietary Subcommittee action.
Questioned on what form of suf-
frage the conference would sup
port, Mr.. Finch replied:
Il take the position that we
should support both national rep
resentation and local suffrage.
Supporters of either proposal should
work together in common cause
to see to it that we get some kind
of a vote"
Harry S Wender, former fedora
ton president, urged that differ
ences of opinion on the kind of
suffrage for Washington should not
interfere with the conferences OBJ
| jective.
About Effort Urged.
"If we ever want the vote, now
is the time to push for it," he said.
l"Conditions have never before been
SO favorable. If we miss our oppor-
tunity now it may be another so
years before we get as favorable a
chance"
Both Mr.. Wender and Mr.. Finch
stressed that all-out effort shoulc
be made in support of the nationa
representation resolution now be.
fore the Senate committee.
At the next meeting delegates oi
the organizations attending will
have the opportunity to vote on the
statement of principles and also on
the methods of obtaining the
groups objectives, it was announced
That citizens here desire the right
to vote was stressed by Mr.. Finch,
who pointed to the unofficial ref
erendum held few years ago, when
Washingtonians balloted overwhel-
mingly for the right to vote.
Those Attending.
Those attending last nights meet
ing and the organizations they rep
resented were: George w. Hodg-
kins, Kalorama Citizens Associa-
ton; Oliver T. Palmer and Robert
Sherman, Washington Industrial
Union Council, CIO: Harry N. StulI
Federation of Citizens Associations;
Mrs. Robert F. Leonard and Mrs
Milton Dunn, District League OF
Women Voters; Woolsey W. Hall
and Austin L. Fickling, District Fed
Grafton of Civic Associations: Cor
nelia H. Hill, District Fedora
ton of Women's Clubs; Edward
j. Clarke of 4801 Connecticut ave-
nue., representing himself; j. S
Beattie, Junior Board of Commerce
and the AMVETS; Kenneth P
Armstrong. District Suffrage Asso.
citation, and Mr.. Wender, Southwest
Citizens Association.