Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-09

son for opposing home rule. He
said on the WTOP television
program, City Side, that he
opposes home rule because he
feels all American citizens, as
well as residents of the Dis
trict, should share RESPONSE
bility for governing the Capital.
4 He has sponsored constitu-
tional amendments to give
WashingtonianS a vote for
President, Vice President and
congressional representatives.
The amendments could sail
through like a swan" if people
could understand the diStinc-
ton between national suffrage
and vote for a local govern
ment, he said.
Senator Morse, Democrat Of
Oregon, charged bluntly that
I a coalition of 'reactionary Re-
publicans and Dem ocratic
forces" in the House had
blocked home rule for years
because large percentage of
the population is colored.
THE best proof that we can
give to the backward nations
Of the world that we believe in
the free franchise, regardless
of color OF skins. would be to
grant home rule" he declared.
Other comments in inter-
views recorded for broadcast
we're:
E. X Morris, president of the
Washington Board of Trade
Most essential is that our
citizens, like all other United
States citizens, have the right
to vote for President and Vice
President, and then be given
the opportunity to elect repre-
sentativeS in Congress. I think
it would be much simpler to
have the present local govern
ment. The minute you start
changing local government,
you run into all sorts of COM
plications in regard to local
and Federal responsibilities"
Ulysses S. Grant uI-"Per-
Sonally. I would like to see a
Governor appointed by the
President to retain our Fed
eral connection, and then, an
elected council with entire con-
troll over finances of the Dis
; trlct. But 1t is not safe to do
! that, unless we have repreSen-
tation in Congress and a vote
for President and Vice Presi-
dent" He recited the history
OF local government from 1902
to 1874, when it failed, he said,
because it was "home rule
without any Federal obligation
and no financial help from the
Federal Government"
]. Joseph DOnOhue, former
District CommiSsioner-Oppos-
ing factors are twofold. A pre-.
dominantly large Negro popu-
lation has led a number of
House members to defer the
right to vote for fear that Ne
groeS might dominate the leg
iSlative assembly or that a.
Negro might be Governor. Also.
the Board of Trade, which I
characterize as a real estate
and banking lobby, definitely
opposes home rule, and pur-
ports to represent before Con-
gress the opinions of the Dis
trict at large"
Robert E. Mclaughlin, pres
ident of the Board of Com
misSioners-"I favor a terri.
torial form of government"
Aked if he wouldn't lose his job
under home rule, he said. I'D
like to take that chance-Td
be very glad to give up my job
in return for the right to vote
Tor a local government"
\ Gerhard van ArkeI, attorney
and chairman of the board Of
the Washington Home Rule
Committee - I'VE have two
principal objectives- to rouse
residents to their voteleSs plight
and to try through national
organizations to bring pressure
on Congressman and Senators
to restore to us our democratic
rights"
Mrs. ]. Borden Hartman.
former minister to Norway and
home rule Supporter-"I think
it is scandalous that residents
of the District of Columbia, the
Capital of the greatest country
in the world. should not have
a vote. 1t seems unbelievable.
Why haven't we been success
full? People are afraid of de-
mocracy, and they don't know
what they're going to get.
A number of citizens ques-
toned in Negro night clubs
said they favored home rule,
but doubted chances of its
clearing Congress so long as
Southern congressman dom
mated" the House District
-