Evening star., 1946-01-21
D. 6. Vote
Continued From First Page J

words, to indorse the joint resolu-
ton
These joint sponsors of the resolu-
tion were followed by other congress
sional champions of District suf-
frage, and by leaders in the Board
OF Trade, Federation of Citizens
Associations. the Citizens Joint Com
mittee on National Representation,
the new Central Suffrage Confer
ence, and civic leaders who praised
and welcomed the Presidents mes
sage.
Sticks to Senate Stand.
President Truman was said by
Melvin D. Hildreth, vice chairman
Of the Democratic Central Commit
tee of the District. to have followed
with great consistency his action as
Senator from Missouri when he
advocated District suffrage as a
member of the Platform Committee
at the last Democratic National
Convention.
This is the first time a President
Of the United States ever officially
recommended to Congress that the
citizens of the District should have
vote" said Mr.. Hildreth, who was
a member of the Platform Commit
tee fighting for the suffrage plank.
The plank in the Democratic plat
form definitely placed the party on
record in favor of suffrage for Dis
trict residents.
1t said:
I'VE favor the extension of the
right OF suffrage to the people of
the District of Columbia"
First Since Jackson.
President Trumans official COM
munication to Congress followed his
recent press conference declaration
in favor of suffrage here. At that
time 1t was pointed out that it was
tine first time since President An
drew Jackson's term of office that q
Chief Executive had come out for
District suffrage. Jackson, who was
President from 1929 to 1887. sug-
gested no more than a District
delegate in the House. At that time
Washington was scarcely more than
village.
Comment on the Truman message
included the following:
Senator Capper-"His words have
my unqualified approval. l think the
President has said better, in a few
words, what we who favor national
representation have been trying to
say for so long. In fact, his is the
best statement OF the problem in a
few words have ever heard: he has
put 1t all in a nutshell. I think his
words will assure the success of the
fight for the vote within a very few
months. This should be very help
ful in bringing about favorable ac-
tion in Congress. The president has
rendered a great service in empha-
sizing the fact of voteless District
of Columbia
Representative Summers GER
tainly approve his statement, be-
cause residents of the District
should not be denied the right to
participate in their national affairs
Representation in Congress and the
right to vote for President and Vice
President is what the District needs
and what l hope the President
thinks it needs"
Representative Randolph, Demo
crat, of West Virginia, former chair
man OF District Committee and
Chairman of Civil Affairs Commit
tee, THE President very prop
erly focuses attention on the prin-
ciple of suffrage for those within
the District of Columbia. 1t Is. a
principle so right that we wonder
why words and not action, year in
and year out, are expressed on this
subject. 1t shall be my purpose
within the scope of my individual
and legislative jurisdiction, to con-
tinue vigorously the crusade for