Evening star., 1946-01-27
Stanfi|| Pledges
Support for
dc. Suffrage
Kentucky Senator
Joins 7 Others on
Judiciary Committee

~SsiiitiittSS
Asserting that under our demo-
cratic form of government. popu-
latlon of more than 100000 is en-
Titled to be heard" Seantor Stanfill,
Republican, of Kentucky, yesterday
placed himself on record in favor
of national representation for the
District as embodied in the Sum-
newspaper resolution.
Announcement of Senator STAN
fllFs stand, made at a press con-
ference at the Capitol arranged
by the Central Suffrage Conference,
conceded with a reiteraiton of his
support for the enabling measure
on the part Of Senator Hatch, Dem
ocrat, of New Mexico.
Both are members of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, which will
consider the resolution February 4.
Mr.. Stanfill, newest minority ad-
dition to the Judiciary Committee,
told reporters he first was hesitant
about committing himself, but
added:
The way I feel now, I'll vote to
report out the Sumners-Capper
resolution favoraoly"
Approves Procedure.
Discussing the fact that the mea-
sure would require ratification by
the States if passed by Congress,
Senator Stanfll expressed his ap-
proval of such a procedure, declar-
ing:
Il have always felt that Congress
should submit such matters as
granting suffrage TO a new segment
of our population to the States"
Following Mr.. Stanflls statement,
James S. Beattie, chairman of the
suffrage groups national repre-
sentation committee, announced
the names of eight members of the
Judiciary Committee who, he said,
nave assured him of either their di-
rect support for the Sumners-C Cap
per measure or some other means
of granting the vote to the District.
Six Backers Named.
Besides Senators Stanfll and
Hatch, those named by Mr.. Beattie
were Senators Huffman of Ohio,
Andrews of Florida and Kilgore of
West Virginia, Democrats; Wherry
of Nebraska. Wiley of Wisconsin
and LANCER of North Dakota, Re-
publicans.
In restating his support for the
resolution. Senator Hatch said in
his opinion the measure has an
excellent chance of passing during
this session of Congress"
He urged supporters of the act
to stress the fact that (it) simply
grants Congress the power to en-
act legislation giving the citizens
of the District of Columbia such
representation as the Congress
might then determine to be proper"
Final Action Up to Congress.
There is no guarantee of the vote
in the Sumners-Capper measure,
Mr.. Hatch pointed out, but only a
means of enabling Congress to
grant whatever degree of suffrage
it deems warrantable in the Dis
trict.
The conference was arranged by
R. Cary Nichols, jr. and Jesse H.
OFT, both members of the Senate
liaison subcommittee of the confer
ences national representation COM
mittee.
Earlier Mrs. Harvey w. Wiley,
representing the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations, visited the Capitol
to urge Senate Judiciary Committee
members to give the resolution
favorable report.
Another development yesterday
which added impetus to the suffrage
campaign was the announcement by
the Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tions of its full support of the Sum-
ners-Capper measure.
CIO Letter Points to Flaws.
In letter to Chairman McCar-
ran of the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee, Nathan E. Cowan, national
CIO legislative director, said be
cause persons domiciled in Washing
ton, D. C. are not citizens of any
State" they are deprived of two ele-
mental democratic rights, national
representation and local suffrage"
Mr.. Cowan declared there were
more people in the District than in
some dozen States" adding that
unlike the 48 States, Washington
has no voice in the National Gov
ernment. though the city is subject
to all National laws"
Residents of Washington" he
continued, have less representation
in Congress than the territories of
the United States"
ave to Add Support.
Suffrage drive events scheduled
for tomorrow include visit to the
Capitol by delegation from the
American Veterans Committee. Sec
ond veterans organization to par
ticipate in the effort to secure favor
able action on the measure, the AVG
group will add their names to the
growing list of organizations sup
porting the resolution.
Two radio addresses by advocates
iof national representation for the
District also are slated for tomor-
row. Representative Randolph,
Democrat, of West Virginia, and
Edward Clarke, member of the ma
tional representation committee will
be the speakers.
Mr.. Randolph, chairman of the
House Civil Service Committee and
former chairman of the District
Committee, will be heard over
WMAL at 10 pm. Mr.. Clarke will
speak at 7:30 pm. over WWDC.
At 1890 pm. tomorrow, there will
be meeting of the national repre-
sentation committee of the Central
Suffrage Conference in room 3114