Evening star., 1960-12-22
cOngressnlen
Alert 3 States
On D. c. Vote
New York, Nevada
And Oregon Urged
To Rotify Promptly
BY GRACE BASSETT
star stan Writer

TE9
BY GRACE BASSETT
star star Writer i
New York, Nevada and Ore
gon State leaders are being
alerted by members Of Congress
to back the constitutional
amendment which would give
the vote to Washington citizens.
Senator Heating. Republican,
Of New York, and Senate spon-
sor Of the suffrage amendment,
today wrote Walter ]. Mahoney,
president Of the State Senate,
and Joseph Carlino. Speaker Of
the Assembly. Both houses of
the New York Legislature are
Republican controlled.
Senate District Committee
Chairman Bible. determined
that his own State Of Nevada
be among the first to ratify.
contacted his fellow Democrat,
Gov. Grant Sawyer, by mail, TO
urge his support. In Nevada,
Democrats control the lower
house and Republicans are in
the majority in the upper
house.
Mrs. Green Acts
In Oregon, Democratic lead.
ers Of both houses Of the Legis-
lGture received letters from
Representative Green, Demo-
crat Of Oregon. She solicited
their backing with the re-
minder that denial Of democ-
racy in the Capital "hurts our
country's reputation abroad
and weakens our democratic
institutions here at home"
Mrs. Green's message may
carry more weight with Legisla-
tive leaders than word from
Gov. Mark Hatfield simply be-
cause she belongs to the party
with q majority in the State
House. The popular Governor
Is q Republican. ~
Ratification was written into
both the Democratic and Re-
publican platforms at the party
conventions this year. however,
and the amendment has broad
bipartisan support.
New York. Nevada or Oregon,
by prompt ratification. could
become the Fourth State to in-
dorse the proposal. Hawaii, |,
Massachusetts and New Jersey
already have ratified.
Cites New York Tradition
Senator Keating wrote that
ne would like to do everything |
possible to promote ratification
by all States before the next
national election.
1--WE are proud Of New York
States traditional leadership In
extending the right Of demo-
cratic government to all its
qualified citizens" SenatorI,
Keating added. "In line with
that tradition, I believe NeW
York should be among the first
States to give its approval to
this long overdue amendment.
Senator Bible said he planned
to write or telephone each
individual member Of the
Nevada Senate and House to
solicit support for suffrage. The
Senate Is controlled 10 to z by
Republicans; the House, 80 to
IS, by Democrats.
In his letter to the Governor,
Senator Bible said the suffrage
move would be greatly bene-
f1ted by your leadership should
you see At to urge in your
opening message to the Legis-
|lature" that the amendment be
cleared.
No Sell. Government
Certainly, I know you agree
with me that probably no other
State cherishes the franchise
|of the vote more than does
Nevada, q State born In the
Civil War years when the
United States itself survived
possibly its greatest threat" the
letter continued.
To-day In Washington, D. c.,
citadel Of the worlds democra-
cies, citizens do not vote for
President and Vice President
nor do they have elective self
government.
"In my capacity as chairman
Of the Senate District Com.
Emittee, ! helped fight through
the Senate this constitutional
amendmen and also on two
occasions legislation to grant
self government to Washing
ton. D. c. ! do not subscribe
to the view that q little democ-
racy Is enough" /;
The Senator asked how
Americans could preach prin-
ciples Of democracy to the
world and yet. in practice, |,
deny its greatest heritage-the
vote-to American citizens liv-
ing in the Capital city Of this
country.
How can we fear democracy
here and yet proclaim its ad-
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