Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-31
Union Council
Takes Suffrage
Plea 10 Capitol
Beuttie Also Appeals
To Senate Group to
Report Measure

w
Report Measure
James S. Beattie, chairman of the
Central Suffrage Conferences Ma
tional Representation Committee,
today xdded a written appeal to the
scores OF District voices which dur
ing the last two weeks have petit
toned members of the Senate Judi
ciary Committee to report out the
Sumners-Capper resolution to the
Senate floor.
The letter should reach judiciary
Committee members at about the
same time that representatives of
fthe Washington Industrial Union
Council, CLIO, appear at the Capitol
today to throw an additional seq
ment of labor's weight behind the
drive for suffrage in Washington.
In his letter to members of the
Senate committee, which is sched-
uled to act on the Summers Capper
resolution Monday, Mr.. Beattie
called attention to the widespread
Interest shown here in behalf of
the fortnight-old campaign for ma
t1onal representation.
"Considerate" of Congress.
: The Summers Capper measure,
which would amend the Constitu-
ton to enable Congress to grant
the District representation in Con-
gress and the electoral college, is
very "considerate" of the National
Legislature, Mr.. Beattie declared,
since it gives you the entire say
as to just what type or degree of
self-government the District should
enjoy"
Offering "the 80-odd local civic
professional and labor groups which
have fought for the franchise for
so many years" as a testament of
the Districts determination for, the
vote, Mr.. Beattie added that as a
recent Navy discharge himself he
felt qualified to give assurance of
the fact that 10000 District vet
Grams are solidly behind this fight
to enfranchise their home town.
The Washington Industrial Union
Council, which was slated to visit
members of the Senate judiciary
Committee today, already has in
formed the members by letter OF
its support for the Summers -Capper
measure. The councils president
Robert Sherman, in letter released
yesterday, called attention to the
fact that the entire Congress OF
Industrial Organizations has placed
itself on record in favor of national
representation for Washington.
Backed by Church Federation.
Representatives of church and
business groups last night continued
the series of radio appeals designed
to further the cause of suffrage
Speaking over WWDC, the Rev.
Francis McPeek, speaking for the
Washington Federation of Churches,
declared the federation was square
ly behind" the Summers Capper
resolution, and promised that the
group would devote its efforts toward
securing passage of the measure.
In another address, B. M. Nc
Kelway, president of the Washing
ton Board of Trade, reviewed past
efforts to secure the franchise here
and cited various polls as positive
evidence OF the Districts interest in
its right to participate in national
affairs. In one such poll, Mr.. Nc
Kelway recalled, the people voted,
Is to /, in favor of national rep
resentation and to / for local self
government.
MIR. McKelway said the favorable
action on the Summers -Capper
measure by the Senate Judiciary
Committee would be lust the begin
ming" of the fight for national
representation. pointing out that the
measure then must be called up for
debate in the Senate.
Referring to legislative procedure
he said that unanimous consent as
a means of calling up the measure
for consideration was "out of the
question" because of its controversial
nature. The alternative would be
for the measure to be assigned tc
the Senate calendar, where it woulc
remain until a motion is made anc
carried to call it up for debate. "Anc
Senate approval would require, Of
course, two-thirds vote" he added
Pending in House Committee.
Even should the measure receive
Senate approval, Mr.. McKelway re-
sminded, I'VE must remember that
the identical resolution still is pend
ing in the House Judiciary Commit
tee, and before it could be submitted
Ito the States, the House must receive
the resolution from the committee
sand approve it also by two-thirds
vote. Then it is up to the legisla-
2tures of the States, three-fourths OF
which must approve before adop-
ton"
Mr.. McKelway was interviewed by
Edward j. Clarke, a member of the
National Representation Committee
of the Central Suffrage Conference
A former naval officer recently re-
turned to civilian life, Mr.. Clarke
emphasized the injustice being done
servicemen by denying them the
right to vote.
Radio speeches scheduled for to.
night include an address by Guy
ECaponnetto of the Columbia Typo.
graphical Union, AFL. He wills BIT
heard over WWDC at 7:30 o'clock.
Tomorrow Mrs. Anna Lord Straus
Epresident of the National League
Sof Women Voters, and Mrs. Loui.
FOttenberg, former president of thu
sVoteless District of Columbia League
kof Women Voters and representa-.
stive of seven national organization.
Established for the purpose of Sc.
touring the vote for Washington
will speak over WINK at 1905 pm
{ Another talk tomorrow will b.
! given by John A. Reilly, presiden
{ of the Second National Bank ant
second vice president of the Wash,
ington Board of Trade, who will b,
heard at 7:30 pm. over WWDC.
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