Evening star., 1946-10-23
House Leader Favors
DC. Suffrage; Others
Join Him in Stand

Representative Mccormack OF
Massachusetts,, Democratic floor
leader of the House, today declared
himself without reservation in ia
vor of votes for Washington.
In telegram to The Star the
majority leader said he approved
both local and national suffrage for
the District.
These are the two issues on which
Washingtonians will vote on Elec-
ton Day, November S, in plebi-
scite designed to help influence Con-
gress to enfranchise people of this
city.
Il have always favored any pro-
posal which would give the people
of Washington the right to vote"
Representative Mccormack said.
"If the people of the District de-
sire their own local government, I
unreservedly favor the passage of
such legislation in the Congress.
Il also favor provision being made
80 that the people of Washington
are represented in the Congress, so
that the views and best interests of
the people of the District of Colum-
bia can be protected by their own
representative in the Congress"
One of Many Statements.
The majority leaders approval was
one of many statements in response
to a wire poll by The Star of a
cross-section of Congress.
Other comments:
Senator Morse, Republican, Ore
gon-"I wholeheartedly indorse the
plan for referendum. l have
always felt that denying the citizens
of the District voting and represen-
tation rights constitutes violation
of one of the basic tenets of a rep
resentative government, namely, to
have part in determining the laws
that shall govern them"
Representative johnson, Republi-
can, California; am in favor of
local suffrage for the District of
Columbia. Also I would like to see
some form of local government
where the people of Washington
would have right to select their
electedS officials and these in turn
would have the right to elect their
administrative officials.
"The people should be permitted
to draft charter laying down the
formal law and governmental struc-
ture of the city based on the pattern
of city charters in California where
by the provisions of their charters
are supreme as to municipal affairs,
and as to other matters they are
governed by general law.
LAS to national suffrage I have
not made up my mind. Washington
is different than an ordinary State
and whether you are entitled to two
Senators and proportionate num-
Der of Representatives is doubtful,
although my mind is not closed on
the matter"
Representative WoodhOuse, Demo-
crat, Connecticut-"Your unofficial
plebiscite should be most useful. 4
am most definitely in favor of local
suffrage for the District of Colum-
bia. 1t is absurd to take the time of
Representatives and Senators from
all over the United States to vote on
local District measures on which
only few members can be well in
formed. The District has had good
government well above the average
of municipal governments. but under
present-day conditions Congress
should not act as city council.
THE recommendations of the
Monroney Committee on Re-organi-
zation of Congress should be car
ried OUT This involves commit
tee OF Washington residents to
frame city charter to be submit
ted by referendum to the residents
of the District. Your plebiscite will
no doubt show great support for
local suffrage and will be an incen-