Evening star., 1949-09-26
Democrats PLANNING
Big Votes for D. e.
Dinner in November

A big "VoteS-For- Washington
dinner at one of the Districts
leading hotels in mid-November to
consolidate public opinion here on
the issue and raise funds for a
suffrage campaign is being
planned by the District Demo-
cratic Club.
Arthur Clarendon Smith, presi-
dent of the club. announced this
today after hearing Chairman
Nicely of the Senate District Com
mittee declare last night he will
introduce a resolution to amend
the Constitution to provide ma
tional representation for the Dis
trict.
Senator Nicely, Democrat, of
West Virginia, said he would in
troduce the legislation as he made
a ringing speech before the
Democratic Club at 1926 New
Hampshire avenue NV.
The District Committee chair
man deplored the apathy" of
voteless Washingtonians and
called on them to be more active
in their demands for suffrage.
Responds to Challenge.
The Democratic Club responded
to the Senator's challenge. not
only by passing a resolution ap-
proving national representation
and Senator Neely's proposal, but
also by laying preliminary plans
for the renewed campaign for
both national and local suffrage.
Mr.. Smith said he has appoint
ed William Fadler, attorney and
second vice president of the Dis
trict Democratic Club. as chair
man of committee to plan the
"Votes-for- Washington" dinner.
Guests of honor to ibe invited,
Mr.. Smith said, will be the chair
men and members of both the
Senate and House District Com
mittees. Leaders of the suffrage
movement and the public gener-
ally will be asked to participate in
the dinner as subscribers to the
fund to start the new campaign
rolling. The cost per plate, he
estimated, may be placed at $40
to $25, but the figure will be fixed
later by the committee.
Favors representation.
Senator Neely's call for suffrage
action was in line with his repeat
ed declarations on Capitol Hill
that the people of Washington
should be more active in their de-
mands for the vote.
He is on record in favor of rep
resentation for Washington ir
Congress, votes here for President
and Vice President, and local home
rule. He supported the Senate bill
for an elected and reorganized city
government, which has passed the
Senate and is now shelved in the
House District Committee.
Sponsors of the home rule bill
in the House are planning to file
a petition for discharge of the
House District Committee from
further consideration of the bill
in order to bring it before the
House for action. To be success
full this must have the signatures
of 218 members of the House.
Some of the hackers of the
bill in the House have thought it
would be better to wait until next
January before starting this
move.
Called "Voteless Island"
Senator Nicely told the Demo-
cratic club last night that citi-
zenry here was "shipwrecked on
voiceless, voteless island in the
midst of the greatest ocean OF
democracy in the world"
II don't believe the District can
be half democratic and half auto
cratic" he said.
He criticized what he said was
"the little group of willful men
among District residents who were
trying to "thwart the will of the
majority"
The Senator said he offered his
sincere congratulations to those
who are trying to do something
about the Districts unhappy sit
uation," and my pity to those