Evening star., 1948-02-03


from segregation in the schools
and other public facilities, and from
racial barriers to places Of public
accommodation which now exists for
one-third of the Districts popula-
ton.
The present inequalities in es-
sential services are primarily prob
lem for the District itself, but they
are also of great concern to the
whole Nation. Failing local correc-
tive action in the near future, the
Congress should enact model civil
rights law for the Nations Capital"
Chairman Auchincloss Of the
Hcme Rule Subcommittee of the
House District Committee, COM
menting on the Presidents support
of local suffrage, said:
"It is again gratifying to know
of the interest that the President
has in self-government for the
people of the District 1t is of ad-
ditional interest to learn that he
believes in their right to vote for
presidential electors.
Significant Recommendation.
TT is not often that the Presi.
dent of the United States recon-
mends any changes in the Consti-
tuition and I think that this recon-
mendation is a most significant
one"
John C. Connaughton, president
of the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, declared:
We're on record for suffrage and
we feel very delighted that the
President has taken his stand for
local suffrage We agree also that
the Constitution should be amended
to permit citizens of the District to
vote in national elections.
On the other questions OF the
relationships of various groups to
each other in the District Of Colum-
bia. we feel that this subject should
be left to the people of the District
and that they be allowed to solve
these questions in their own way.
Wilbur Finch, president of the
Central Suffrage Committee, said:
MY view, without expressing an
Iopinion on the merits of the civil
rights section of the Presidents
message, is that the question OF
voting rights for the District is po-
litical. 1 am glad, therefore, that
the President approves Of home
rule.
Political rights are a necessary
precedent to the protection of civil
rights"
Harry S. Wender, head Of the
District Recreation Board, COM
lmented:
What the President has said in
regard to suffrage has my complete
approval I think this goes further
than any other President has gone.
this is the first such formal state
ment.
There is no question in my mind
that if the Auchincloss plan is
passed and upheld as constitutional,
the citizens of Washington could
have any kind of local government
they want, subject to congressional
veto. If the people don't want seq
regation, in the schools and else
where, they could get rid of it.
If they want it, they could keep 1t.
We ought to be allowed to choose
for ourselves"
Sees Segregation Backed.
! Clifford H. Newell, former presi-
dent of the Federation of Citizens
Associations and a Federation dele
gate from the Arkansas Avenue Cit
liens Association, said:
Il am very much pleased that the
President has come out not only for
local suffrage but for the privilege
of voting for President. I think he
should have included in that voting
for Representatives in Congress.
/ L was especially interested in his
reference to the civil rights OF our
citizens and, in suggesting that we
have the opportunity here OF max
ing our own laws relative to the in
terpretation of those rights. / feel
that we are wholly competent to
attend to those matters as are the
people in the States.
| Pleased by Statement.
| Leon Ransom, chairman Of the
Committee for Racial Democracy in
the Nations Capital declared;
I'm immensely pleased with the
Presidents entire statement both
on the question OF civil rights Ma
ton wide and the rights Of SUI
frage here in the District. l think
| it's very fortunate that it came at
the time of the Auchiincloss hear
ings. 1t ought to help convince re-
calcitrant members Of Congress to
| look after the rights of the people
in the District.
Il think Congress can act on
segregation in the schools right
now. but perhaps, If We had local
suffrage, we could, as the President
suggests, take care of the matter
ourselves.
Mrs, John F. Thomas, president
of the VoteleSs D. c. League of
Women Voters told reporters:
We certainly approve OF the
Presidents desire to give suffrage
to the District Of Columbia. At the
moment that's a subject on which
we are spending all our time and
effort. We're terribly anxious to get
local suffrage, hoping that even-
-tually we can achieve national rep
resentation and we're very happy
the President included that in his
message"