Evening star., 1951-11-04
One Vote
District BulIoted
In 1900 Election
By John Cloeett Proctor

When was the right to vote taken
away from the citizens of Washing
ton?
The people of the National Capital
never had full suffrage, and except
for the single occasion when they
voted as part Of Maryland in the
presidential election Of 1900, they
never exercised the right accorded
all other normal American citizens.
In connection with this isolated
instance, no candidate received the
prescribed majority of all electoral
votes. Thomas Jefferson, who ran as
Republican. received 70; Aaron
Burr. also a Republican, who resided
on F street where now stands the
Press Club Building, received the
same number; John Adams, the in
cumbent and a Federalist, obtained
IS, and another Federalist. Charles c.
Pinckney. "a. John Jay. the first
Chief Justice, received but one vote.
The choice devolving upon the House
of Representatives. jefferson received
the votes Of 10 States, which, being
the largest vote cast for candidate.
elected him President. Burr received
the votes of four States, which be-
ing the next largest elected him Vice
President.
Woshington's First Mayor
Locally. according to the judgment
Of Congress. Washington has had
several forms of government. Its
first charter, granted by Congress on
May 3, 1902. provided for the gov
eminent Of the city by a Mayor. 70
be appointed annually by the Presi-
dent. and for an elective council of
II members. divided into a first
chamber of seven members and q
second chamber" Of five members.
Under this charter Robert Brent was
appointed the first Mayor and served
from 1902 to 1911, when he resigned.
Daniel Rapine was appointed by
President Madison to I'LL out his
unexpired term, and when the new
charter went into effect. on June /.
1912. which provided for the election
Of the Mayor by the city councils, he
was selected to succeed himself,
In like manner, DR.. James H.
Blake was appointed to succeed
Mayor Rapine in June. 1918, and
continued to serve by selection until
1916. being followed with one term
by Benjamin G. Orr Q817-ls18 and
Samuel N. Smallwood, who was Sc
lected by the city councils in 1919
and served until the new charter
went into effect in 1920.
The new charter provided for popu-
lar ballot. and under this system
Mayor Smallwood was elected and
served until succeeded in 1922 by
Thomas Carbery. In June, 1924, Mr..
Smallwood was again elected. but
died on September 80 following.
The system Of electing the Mayor
by popular ballot continued down
until the territorial form of govern
ment went into effect under the act
of Congress approved February 21,
1871. 49,
Prior to this, the following Mayors
served subsequent to Mayor Small
wood: Roger c. Weightman, Joseph
Gales. jr,: John P. Van Ness. VIII
liam A. Bradley. Peter Force. Will
liam w. Seaton, Walter Lennox, John
w. Maury. John T. Towers, William
B. Magruder, James G. Berret, Rich
ard Wallach. Sales J. Brown and
Matthew G. Emery. who was elected
in June. 1870. and served until June
/. 1871.
Mayor Motthew Emery
OF the city's 20 Mayors perhaps the
name of Matthew Gault Emery is
best remembered. principally. no
doubt. because the period of his
service was the most recent. and also
because he was the last of a long
line of distinguished Washingtonians
who served as Mayor Of the city, still
being well within the memory of so
many, since he was actively engaged
in the banking business here until
his death. on October IL, 1901.
The first executive to serve under
the territorial form of government,
which went into effect on June /.
1871, was Gov. Henry D. Cooke Of
Georgetown. who was born in San
dusky, Ohio, November %, 1925, and
died in Georgetown, D. c.. February
"a. 1881: He resigned September l3,
1873, and President Grant immedi-
ately appointed to the office Alex
ander r. Shepherd, who served until
June 20 of the following year, when
the present commission form Of gov
eminent went into effect first as a
temporary measure and four years
later as a permanent law.
Alexander r. Shepherd was a ma
tive Washingtonian and was born in
Southwest Washington-over on the
Island, as We used to say-on jan
uary 81, 1885.