Evening star., 1946-08-06
Washington Writer, 81.
Casts His First BuIIot
Tells How District Resident Re.
acts to Voting Privilege
BY David Laurence

Today. at the age Of 81, this CORE
spondent casts his first ballot. Having
lived in the District of Columbia since
the age of 81 except for brief interval,
there was no opportunity to vote before
this date. Absence on newspaper as
signments during early years of resi-
dence in nearby Maryland made it nec-
essary to forfeit the chance for vote.
The writer has moved his residence
to farm in nearby Virginia after 80
years of residence in Washington and
thus enjoys the privilege of voting not
only for Congress but for State and
local officers.
1t Is strange sensation to be able
to exercise the privilege of citizenship,
and, until one does acquire the right to
vote, there is feeling of detachment
from the body polite. This is felt by
almost all residents of Washington.
Residents Only Observe.
Elections come and go, campaigns are
fought across the country, but the resi-
dent of Washington is only an observer
and not participant. While the city
administration of three Commissioners
does a very satisfactory job, it in turn
Is dependent on Congress for power.
The two houses of Congress form the
Board OF Aldermen or Supervisors for
the District of Columbia. Somethinp
that is side issue for the members of
Congress is in other cities of paramount
Importance to a local governing body.
IN the selection of which the citizens
nave voice. No resident of Washing
ton has anything to say about the eIec-
ton of any members of Congress,
The theory back of the elimination of
the franchise in the District of Colum-
ola was that, since the National Gov
ernment has its seat here, it should have
the dominant voice in ruling the CITY
But there are countless individual oues-
tions which are not the concern of the
Federal Government.
Thus, for instance. the citizen NAV
olsagree as to an Interpretation of an
income tax ruling and the courts NAV
sustain the existing regulation, but the
citizen cannot secure redress except by
petltlonlng the whole Congress, and it
Is oltf1cult to get the attention of the
members for purely local grievances.
This means that, for at least 750, 900
persons, there is taxation without repre-
sentatlon. 1t sometimes has been said
that the real reason Washington is vote
less is because it would be difficult to
deny the franchise to the numerically
large Negro population, which would
hold the balance of power and possibly
add to the difficulties between the races
When Negroes were elected to office.
II this is the real reason why Congress
hesitates, the problem is more theoreti-
cal than real and should not stand in
the way of enfranchising all citizens of
the District. Various movements. of
course, have been launched to get the
vote here but the situation is unchanged.
1t is significant that both political par
ties select delegates from the District
OF Columbia to participate in national
conventions but no electoral votes are
assigned to the District.
tOteu IOr smith and Byrd.
This correspondent plans to be an in
dependent in politics and to cast his bal
lot In each election for the men who
appear in his Judgment to be conscien-
tious in their devotion to public service.
Believing that Harry Byrd, Democrat,
has made an independent record as a
United States Senator, and that Repre-
sentative Howard Smith, Democrat, has
served the people of his district and
the country courageously, this CORE
spondent voted for both in today's pri-
mary In the belief that the Democratic
party in Virginia is the sole instrument
through which effective legislation can
be obtained at present. When 1948
comes around the question of which
candidate for the presidency to support
will depend on developments up to that
time and on the persons nominated on
each ticket. There is no intention on
the part of the writer to become g.
straight ticket voter.
Over the years this writer has been
labeled Republican in periods when a
Democratic administration was In pow
er and Democrat when the Republic
cans were In power. This is the in
evitable lot of the critic. Actually this
correspondent, had he possessed the
franchise, would have voted for Theo-
dore Roosevelt in 1912, Wilson in 1916,
Cox in 1920, Davis in 1924, Al Smith in
1928 Hoover in 1892 I,andon in 1875
Willkie in 1910 and Dewey in 1914. This
would have made five Republican and
four Democratic votes, which is pretty
evenly bipartisan after all. It's great
to be able, however, to cast an actual
rather than a theoretical vote.
u