Evening star., 1961-03-30
President and Other Leaders Join
In HoiIinq D. c. Vote Amendment

~
President Kennedy led en-
thusiastic response to the rati-
fication yesterday of the con-
stitutional amendment giving
District citizens the right to
vote for President and Vice
President.
The action also was hailed
by the Democratic and Republic
can national party chairmen,
Congressional leaders, District
officials and representatives of
Washington civic, business,
professional and labor organiza-
tons.
Ratification of the Twenty
third amendment giving the
residents Of the District of
Columbia the right to vote in
presidential elections by the
required 3S States is o major
step in the right direction" the
President said.
HThe speed with which this
constitutional amendment was
approved by the required
number Of States demonstrates
the interest Of the Nation at
large in providing to all
American citizens the most
valuable Of human rights-the
right to share In the election
ofthose who govern u.s."
( Hopes for Home Rule
Mr.. Kennedy said that
Hearings on enabling legisla-
ton to implement the amend
i1ent will be held shortly by
the District Of Columbia Com
n1issioners and a legislative
proposal will be submitted to
the Congress at the earliest
possible time"
He continued: "It is equally
important that residents Of the
District of Columbia have the
right to select the officials who
govern the District. I am hope
ful that the Congress, spurred
BY the adoption of the Twenty
third amendment, viii act
fayorably on legislative pro-
posals to be recommended by
the administration providing
the District Of Columbia the
right Of home rule"
Senator Morton, Republican
Of Kentucky and chairman Of
the Republican National Com
lnittee, also hailed the ratifica-
ton. This is a great day for
the District and the general
principle of suffrage for all in
the United States, he said.
"The ratification of the
Twenty-third amendment ad-
vances District of Columbia
residents from second-class
citizenship, as far as voting
for our President is concerned"
he continued.
Democratic National Com
mittee chairman John Bailey
called the ratification "a great
step forward toward making
cur nations capital a symbol
Of democracy that it should
be-"
But while this is q great
step forward" Mr.. Bailey con-
tinued, "it does not carry US
to the goal to which the Demo-
cratic Party is pledged in its
platform Of 1860.
For Representation
I'VE need to permit the elig-
inle voters of the District to
elect their own local govern
naent and we also need to pro-
vide for voting representation
H. the Congress for the Dis
tfict. "'he said.
sOther comments by Con-
gfeSsmen, and District Off
cials and leaders were:
Waiter N. TObriner, president |
Of the Board Of District Com
ulissioners: THE ratification Of |
the Twenty-third amendment |
marks a significant milestone
Id the progress of the District
Of Columbia toward greater
participation in political life.
.@1t is a cause for celebration |
afd for gratitude-celebration /
on, the part Of all citizens of
the District who now receive a
franchise after over 160 years,
gratitude on our part to those
Oh, the Hill and in the State
legislatures who have made this
possible"
District Commissioner Robert
3; Mclaughlin, from Key West,
Fla, where he Is vacationing: |
I'm overjoyed. This demon
strates the feeling Of American |
people toward Americans en-
toying full rights Of citizenship. |
s+I feel just as strongly that |
If. we can have the question Of |
home rule before a representa-
tive group of Americans, we
shall have the same result"
Brig. Gen. Frederick ].
Clarke District Engineer Com
missioner: Were glad the
amendment has now been ap-
proved. Now we can proceed
to secure the legislation to inn
plement It,"
#. ElwOOd Davis, chairman Of
the Citizens Joint Committee
for National Representation
and Of the Citizens for the
Presidential Vote for D. c.:
This is q great day and a his
toric one for the District.
1--WE are proud and happy
that there has been such great
national support for the resi-
dents of the District to have a
vote. I wish to thank the news
papers, locally and nationally,
and Sturgess Warner and Tim
othy May, members Of my
committee; the District Com
Iiissioners; Senator Keating,
Republican Of New York; Rep
resentatiye Celler. Democrat of