Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-23
BY JOHN v. HORNER


One of the heartening trends
In Metropolitan Washington is
the zest for participating in pub
lie affairs.
Citizens everywhere are max
ing it their personal business to
help mold the expanding COM
munity.
One of the most striking
manifestations of interest in
civic matters is reflected by vot-
ing statistics.
The District, of Course, remains
DISTINGUISHED. But suburban Vir-
GINA and Maryland-which now
have a majority of the Metro
politan population-are rolling
up impressive records at the bal
lot box.
Take the last two presidential
elections.
More Than Doubled
In 1948, the four counties and
two cities within the Metropoli-
tan Area polled $4,000 votes. Just
four years later, in 1852, they
amassed a grand total of 215,000.
The nearby electorate is COM
posed of three elemental groups:
Cd natives of the suburbs, ~
native Washingtonians who
moved outside the District and
go citizens who migrated to the
Capital from other sections OF
the country.
This makes for a pretty in
teresting. and sometimes excit-
ing, situation. The old-timers
normally like to keep what
they've always had. Newcomers
from afar have different ideas;
they are articulate and quite
willing to fight for change.
The Washingtonian turned =
suburbanite is apt to be some
where between the extremes.
In any event, all three groups
vote when the time comes to
settle issues. And none finds
greater satisfaction in the doing
than the former District resi-
dent.
Welcomes the Role
Having been deprived of the
franchise all his life-like a
convicted traitor-he welcomes
and exercises his new but fun
damental American right.
State and local elections never
attract as many votes as Presi-
dental contests. There is. how
ever. a steady gain in all bal
loting.
This phenomenal Metropoli-
tan development since World
War II has aroused public con-
Germ over schools, water supply,
sewerage. streets, sidewalks, zon-
ing, traffic regulation. transpor-
tation, police protection and
countless other services.
Most State and local agencies
have been unable to cope with
the demands of the rapidly ex-
panding communities.
Taxpayers are an impatient
lot. however. They want prompt
action.
There's no point in waiting
to let George do it," said one
newcomer to the Virginia SUBJ
urbs. 1--WE must press for our
goals, ourselves"
Work For Detectives
So it is. The newcomer finds
himself a convenient civic as
ISOLATION or, if need be. organizes
a new one. Members usually
wind up on committees, working
for community detectives they
regard as important.
The group works diligently
preserving public officials until
it achieves success. When the
community wins fight. interest
in the association wanes. 1t re-
wives when another hot issue is
raised.
The pressure is applied by
petition, by mass meeting and
appearances before governing
bodies. Officeholders are re.
minded that another election
day lies ahead.
One Of the most effective or
CARNATIONS, for years. has beer
the Parent Teacher Association
It is in every community and il
constantly champions pro-
gram for school improvement.
Sometimes the PTA join!
other groups in campaigns MOI
directly related to schools.
In a typical case, a nearby
merchant applied recently for al
alcoholic beverage license. Hom'
owners stirred up immediate op
position in a citizens associa