Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-12
Suffrage Group Plans
TO Enlist Citizens in
United Front for Vote

soon will present Congress with q
united front of District citizens
determined to have the vote, Wilbur
S. Finch, temporary chairman OF
the group, told representatives OF
seven Northeast citizens associa-
tons last night.
Referring to yesterdays decision
OF the Senate Judiciary Committee
to postpone action on the Summers
Capper national representation res
olution for at least two weeks, Mr..
Finch declared that in spite of such
delays Congress is "on the fence
now as never before" with respect to
granting the District voice in ma
tional affairs.
He added that "even if we don't
win this current fight it won't be
too important, because of our plan
to organize a city-wide effort to get
the vote"
Mr.. Finch spoke at the third an
niversary meeting of the Brentwood
Terrace Citizens Association at 1851
Saratoga avenue NE.
Forecasts Fighting Organization"
1--WE know that IS per cent of the
people in Washington want all the
suffrage they can get,"- Mr.. Finch
asserted, whether it be national
representation or local Self-eovern-
ment, and Congress is becoming
aware of it, too.
I'VE are going to build up a
fighting organization" he promised
with the funds necessary to carry
on this drive for suffrage year in
and year out until we get what the
Constitution guarantees u.s."
Mr.. Finch, who also is president
of the Federation of Citizens As
sociations, paid tribute to the mag
nif1cent job" done by the suffrage
conferences National Representa-
ton Committee and its chairman,
James S. Beattie, during the three
week campaign to win favorable
action on the Summers Capper res
olution.
Drafted by Representative Sum-
ners, Democrat, of Texas and Sem
ator Capper, Republican, of Kansas
the resolution would provide an
amendment to the Constitution to
permit Congress to grant the Dis
trict representation in the Senate,
House and electoral college.
Attending last nights meeting
were delegates from the following
citizens groups: Brookland, Dahl
gren Terrace, Metropolis View, Lin
coin Park, Michigan Park and Ma
tional Gateway.
Jerome P. Lynch, president of the
Brentwood Terrace association, pre-
sided.
Hope Given Advocates.
In disclosing the Senate Judiciary
Committees decision to put of &C
ton on the Summers Capper reso-
luton until February Is, Chairman
McCarran gave suffrage advocates
hope the measure may receive a
favorable report at that time, with
an amendment limiting District
representation to the House.
Senator McCarran said one of two
changes proposed by committee
members last week had been with
drawn, and that it's author, Senator
Andrews, Democrat, of Florida, had
decided to vote instead for the other
amendment. That leaves the COM
mittee with the amendment offered
by Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat, OF
Wyoming. which would permit Dis
trict representation in the House and
among the presidential electors.
Would Decide Powers.
The OMahoney formula would
delegate to such representatives
such powers as the Congress shall
determine" leaving it up to the Ma
|tional Legislature to determine after
the necessary constitutional amend
ment just what those powers would
be. The number of Representatives
would not exceed the number ac-
corded State with the same popu-
lation as the District.
The number of District electors
would be equal to the number of Dis
tract Representatives under Senator
|O'Mahoney's plan.
Whether the so-called O'Mahoney
plan would be acceptable in the eyes
|of those conducting the suffrage
campaign remains to be seen. When
the question of amendments came up
last week, however, the Central Suf-
frage Conference registered disap-
prevail of any move to limit the Dis
tricts congressional representation
to the House alone.
Meanwhile, the District Branch of
the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People an
nounced opposition to any proposals
to eliminate District Senate repre-
sentation from the Summers Cap
per resolution.
In kilograms addressed to COM
mittee members, George E. G. Hayes,
president Of the local NAACP, said
in part:
"As American citizens, the people
of the District of Columbia deserve
full national representation in the
House, in the Senate and In the
Electoral college"