Evening star., 1946-10-13
District 10 Vote
November Son
Suffrage Issue
Boord Of Trade
Organizes PIebiseite
On z Questions

Washington is going to vote on
election day after all.
In a city wide plebiscite on No
S adults will cast their
ballots on the two subjects of
local suffrage and national
representation.
To plan for the referendum the
Washington Board Of Trade has
taken the initiative. it announced
last night, and the cooperation
Of all Washington civic organiza-
tions is being asked.
This will be the first time in many
decades that voteless Washingtoni-
ans go to the polls on the same
election day as their fellow-Ameri-
cans who are voting for members of
Congress, State and local officials.
Purpose of the plebiscite, 1t was
emphasized, is to bring forcibly
before Congress and the people Of
the entire country, the recorded
expression of Washingtonians on tho
question Of their voteless plight.
Results are expected to give strong
support to District suffrage legis-
lation in the S0th Congress next
year.
Two Questions on Ballot.
Into ballot boxes scattered
throughout the city people living
in Washington and 81 years Of age
[or older" will cast their votes on
two specific questions:
DO you want the right to vots
for officials of your own city gov
ernment in the District of Column
bia?
Do you want the right to vote
for President of the United States
and for members Of Congress from
the District of Columbian"
These are the identical questions
on which overwhelming majorities
were returned in a previous plebi-
scite conducted here April 80, 1888.
At that time about $1,000 votes
were cast.
In the new plebiscite still greater
response is expected because Of the
increase in population and fresh
interest IN suffrage.
Wide Support Urged.
Joseph G. McGarraghy. president
Of the Board of Trade, stressed that
the Board of Trade 'can only take
the initiative in the poll Of public
opinion"
st earnestly bespeak the communi.
ty-wide participation of every one
both organizations and individuals,
to make the plebisclte q complete
success" he said.
Mr.. McGarraghy announced thaS
James E. Colliflower.. civic leader
and past president of the Board OF
Trade, has accepted the chairman.
ship of the executive committee IN
charge of the plebiscite.
James s. Beattie. first vice presi-
dent Of the Junior Board Of Com
merce, and first vice president OF
the Central Suffrage Conference OF
the District of Columbia, has been
appointed chairman of the Com
mittee on Publicity and Promotlon
for the Plebiscite.
Other subcommittee chairmen
and additional members OF the
Executive Committee viii be an
nounced by Chairman Colliflower IN
a few days.
Finch Halls Action.
wilbur S. Finch, president of the
Central Suffrage Conference, who
was president of the former Citi.
zens Conference on District Sun.
rage which sponsored the 1888
plebiscite, hailed the new referen.
dunn as very timely" He said he
has called meeting of the trustees
of the Central Suffrage Conference
for pm. tomorrow at the Board
of Trade conference room to con-
slider how best the conference can
assist in carrying out the new
plebiscite."
Personally I am wholeheartedly
in favor of it." he declared. i know
the trustees are too; I have talked
with them about it.
ITO hold the new plebiscite on
election day." he stressed lis partic-
ularly timely. 1t is the day when
other American citizens of the
United States are exercising the
fundamental right to choose their
officers Of government"
Many Inquiries Reported.
Many inquiries have reached the
conference recently, Mr.. Finch said,
to ask what viii be done when the
new 80th Congress convenes IN
January.
sWe made considerable progress
in the last referendum" he added.
"and we expect to make still more
progress in the immediate future.
There ought to be a much larger
turnout on November s., than there
was in 1888"
He was gratified that the same
questions used on the 1888 ballot
are to be used on election day.
Mr.. McGarraghy in his statement
pointed out that for nearly half q
century the Board of Trade has
1See VOTE, Page A-30