Evening star., 1946-11-06
District Home Rule
Advocated by Clark
AS Sacred Riqht'

| Attorney General Clark was on
record today as an advocate OF ma
tional representation and home rule
for the District.
Mr.. Clark addressed a luncheon
of the Washington Advertising Club
and the Women's Advertising Club
at, the Statler Hotel yesterday.
He pointed to the strange circum-
stance that 9 great democracy
denied one of its most sacred rights,
the right to vote. to city with a
population Of nearly 100000. He
urged the advertising men and
women to use their influence on
public opinion to help persuade
Congress to submit a constitutional
amendment enfranchising Wash
! ington.'
Explaining that Congress, mean
while, could allow home rule here
without a constitutional amend
ment, by a simple act Of legislation,
he urged local government elected
by the people.
Hopes for Model City.
IT WISH" said Mr.. Clark, that
on my trips over the country I
could point to Washington as the
model city of the country. But I
must point to a city which hasn't
vote, whose residents have nothing
to say about their National Gov
ernment or their own local govern
ment.
You have beautiful parks and
public buildings. But jail which
people get out of-more or less at
will, at least they did at one time,
according to a report which the FBI
made to me. I could talk about
other things which would be elm
mated If a good, strong local gov
ernment responsive to the people
was in charge. I'm not critical of
those who try to administer this
government, but of it's form.
Congress has too many problems
affecting the whole world to have
time to govern the city of Washing
ton. You can do something about
it. If people like you who have
hand in molding public opinion
would get together on program, 1t
would not be long before Washing
tons right to a voice in its own
affairs would become a reality"
Points to Straw Vote.
Mr.. Clark started his speech by
announcing the results of a straw
vote taken at the luncheon IN con-
nection with the plebiscite. This
was as follows:
For national representation, 1870;
against, 18.
For local self government, 100;
against, 38.
People of the District are not the
only class of Americans who have
been denied suffrage, Mr. Clark re-
called. 1t was only recently, he
explained, that women received this
basic right, and they still are denied
may rights, including jury service
in some States. Colored citizens,
although guaranteed suffrage ever
since the Civil War, were given the
power to use this right only recently,
when the Supreme Court affirmed
it, he said.
Mr.. Clark paid tribute to his
Congressman, Representative Sum-
ners, Democrat, of Texas, a cham
pion Of District suffrage, and ex-
pressed regret that he is retiring
from Congress. The Attorney Gen.
eral pointed to the proposed Sum-
ners-Capper resolution for a Con-
stitutional amendment, introduced
at the last session, which would en-
able Congress to enact law giving
the District representation in Con-
gress and the right to vote for
President.
Local self-government, he pointed
out, is simpler matter, since it,
would take only an act of Congress.
Congress" he said. can set up
for the District any form of govern
ment it thinks best"