Finally, on the matter of powers to be granted the District Delegates to the House of Representatives, we wish to express a reasonable and pragmatic position. Formerly, we have supported resolutions which would provide for voting Delegates in the House and even for representation in the Senate. We still prefer that assurance be written into the constitutional amendment that the District Delegates would have voting rights in the House. However, if such a provision is considered likely to jeopardize passage of the resolution by either the Judiciary Committee or the House of Representatives, we would certainly not insist on it. We can only trust in the good faith and judgment of future Congresses to give our Delegates a true voice. Gentlemen, in 3 weeks' time I shall be attending the National Convention of the League of Women Voters of the United States in St. Louis, Mo. I look forward to reporting to some 1,200 delegates from 1,000 local leagues on the progress of this legislation which has been on the league program throughout our history. When I ask their expert assistance in getting this resolution ratified in three-fourths of the State legislatures, I know they will respond enthusiastically. Please pass the resolution speedily, so that the next steps can soon be undertaken. Thank you for this opportunity to appear. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much. Our next witness is Mr. Culver Chamberlain. STATEMENT OF CULVER CHAMBERLAIN, DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, D.C. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I am Culver Chamberlain, attorney, of the District of Columbia. This morning I have the privilege of addressing you as chairman of the Central Democratic Committee of the District of Columbia, the original Democratic organization in Washington. I am speaking in a sense as substitute for Mr. A. L. Wheeler, the chairman of our committee. We are grateful to you, Mr. Chairman, and to the members of your committee and others in the Congress who concern yourselves with our problem. I shall be brief. I believe that the position of the Democratic Central Committee is well understood. In any event it has been voiced for a great many years, and has been endorsed by the National Democratic Party at successive conventions as, Mr. Chairman, you are very well aware, of course. I do wish to say this: Our position is simple. We seek, and in the long run we shall be satisfied with no less than, the voice in government that is enjoyed by all other Americans in the United States. We ask no more, but we shall be satisfied, Mr. Chairman, with no less. In the meantime we welcome any and all measures that tend to this general direction. Therefore we are heartily in favor of your joint resolution and, if you will forgive me, insofar as it goes, Mr. Chairman. We are of the opinion that such representation as we have in the House of Representatives should be fully participating on the same basis as representatives of other locales. That is one. We also feel that eventually we should secure similar representation in the Senate of the United States, like other jurisdictions. The only reason that I stress those things is this: We feel and apprehend that should this measure go through in its present form that we may be stuck with it for quite a number of years, because it is in a different category of course, than a mere act of Congress, such as would enfranchise us for local government purposes, and which could likewise be readily amended. However, in this situation if we amend the Constitution in this wise we probably will be stuck with it for an indefinite period. Therefore, without caviling, and without seeming to be ungracious or grateful to you, as indeed we are for your effort in this respect, we hope that these other things may be considered. And finally, if I may say so-and please forgive me, I realize that you are trying to keep this to the libretto-I would say most emphatically that we earnestly trust that this will in nowise divert attention from, or the possibility of our securing the local self-government measures that are presently pending, and I urge any and every Memberof Congress who has not done so to discharge this bill that is pending before the House of Representatives to give us local representation. That is all I have to say, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. We are grateful. We support this measure. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chamberlain. Mr. McCULLOCH. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the witness a question. Do you advocate statehood for the District of Columbia now? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN. No, sir. Nor would I believe that I should' ever, personally. I am not speaking for the committee. But the committee, I believe, to my knowledge-and I have been on it for many years has never even seriously entertained the idea. Mr. McCULLOCH. But you are an advocate for home rule and you hope the pending bill will be considered by this Congress? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN. Yes. Indeed I do. But I do not-to pursue that I do not perceive that that would make a State out of us by any manner of means. And I am also of the opinion that, with all good will, I am of the opinion that the Congress should, and I have no doubt it will, continue to retain the ultimate control of the District. But that is no reason why it should not delegate those powers, like the States delegate local powers to the communities in their jurisdictions. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Chamberlain. The next witness is Mrs. Jack Gottsegen, District of Columbia chapter, National Council of Jewish Women. STATEMENT OF MRS. JACK GOTTSEGEN, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, INC. Mrs. GOTTSEGEN. I am representing the National Council of Jewish Women. My statement is so brief-it is less than a page-that I would like to read it. I am Mrs. Jack Gottsegen, representing the National Council of Jewish Women, an organization with an integrated program of serv ice, education, and social action. Our membership numbers 110,000 women, organized into 240 sections throughout the United States. Our District of Columbia section is a member of the Citizen's Joint Committee on National Representation for the District of Columbia. For 30 years the National Council of Jewish Women has supported national representation and suffrage as local self-government for the citizens of the District. This support has been reaffirmed at every national convention since 1930. We are therefore happy to appear here today in support of the principles embodied in House Joint Resolution 529 because we consider these an important step toward granting complete suffrage for residents of this city. We would also like to express our hope that this committee will consider two changes in the present wording one which would provide that the delegates be designated as voting delegates and second, that the number of electors be equal to the number of both Senators and Representatives to which the District would be entitled if it were a State. We believe this would provide a greater degree of representation for the residents of the District of Columbia. We thank you for this opportunity to appear before you today and earnestly request your prompt and favorable action to secure these rights of citizenship which are so long overdue. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much. Now we have Mr. Daniel Sherry, president of the National Capital Association of B'nai B'rith. STATEMENT OF DANIEL SHERRY, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL CAPITAL ASSOCIATION OF B'NAI B’RITH, WASHINGTON, D.C. Mr. SHERRY. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for the privilege of being here this morning representing the National Capital Association of B'nai B'rith lodges. We comprise 9 lodges in the District of Columbia and the neighboring Maryland counties, with a membership of approximately 1,800. At our convention this past Sunday we passed separate resolutions-one for national representation, and one for home rule. We feel that the treatment of this matter, as has been expressed by the chairman, is the proper political treatment. We hope that the resolution before the subcommittee receives favorable consideration. We also hope that the home rule bill that is pending in the House will receive favorable consideration. I thank you for the opportunity of appearing. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, sir. Now we have Mr. J. Norman Stone, president, Uptown Morse for President Club. This is no political speech? Mr. STONE. No, sir. It is in reference to the pending resolution. STATEMENT OF J. NORMAN STONE, PRESIDENT, UPTOWN MORSE FOR PRESIDENT CLUB, WASHINGTON, D.C. Mr. STONE. The question before the House is not if the residents of the District of Columbia should be given the right to vote, but when. It is becoming increasingly clear that we in the United States can no longer deny democratic principles to some of our citizens because they live in a certain area or because of their economic status, racial origin, or religious denomination. This is an explosive decade and the world is already aflame. People who have been denied basie human dignities are on the march. We refer to Africa and Asia, principally. The giant has been aroused the giant in the form of millions and millions of people denied and ignored. He will no longer be ignored. The free world desperately needs him and the Communist world must have him. To whom shall he turn? Or will he turn to either side? No one can say. But this can be said, in truth. If we in the United States do not appear before him with clean hands, humble hearts, and a sense of honesty, he will not only turn from us but against us and that would forebode certain disaster. How can we appear as the apostles of democracy when the citizens of our Capital City have no say in who governs them? How can we dare meet the eyes of the awakened giant when our hearts are dripping with the poison of hypocrisy? We, the Uptown Morse for President Club, are following the lead of our revered Senator-the modern day Abraham Lincoln, who has continually preached against the doctrine of "taxation without representation." Senator Morse has pointed out again and again that the point of no return has just about been reached and that if we do not begin to practice total democracy now, it could very well happen that we could lose, and very soon, even that degree of liberty which we have already attained, and which we so dearly cherish. That which is proposed before the House is not a whole loaf or even half a loaf, but merely a slice of basic liberty. To deny this slice would be to deny food to a starving man- a man starved for rights so long denied. Senator Morse and his constituents here in the District of Columbia believe in home rule for the District of Columbia, and as surely as the sun sets this will come, and, we venture to predict, sooner than many would believe. But until it does come, we urge you to pass the legislation before you so that we, the residents of the District of Columbia, might vote for President, Vice President, and representation in Congress. If this be done, then it will be the second step in the direction of true democracy-the first step being the right of District of Columbia residents to vote in the presidential primary which bill was sponsored by Wayne Morse in the Senate. The remaining steps, toward a goal of respect and brotherly love for all mankind, kindred of the Creator, who placed us here and who is watching what we do here, we trust, and are sure, will be achieved, and we hope soon. J. Norman Stone, president; Mrs. Herman Glover, secretary; vice presidents: Mrs. Hubert Barnes, Mrs. A. C. Berry, Mrs. Kirkland Davis, Mrs, Ralph Green, Zeb Sharpe; Publicity Chairlady Virginia Stacy. I have distributed copies of this statement to the committee. I wish to point out that the word "against" in the sentence We, the Uptown Morse for President Club, are following the lead of our revered Senator the modern day Abraham Lincoln, who has continually preached against the doctrine of "taxation without representation”— was inadvertently omitted, and I certainly want to correct that, because, if anything, that would be a very unfair error. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much. Mrs. Robert J. Phillips. I will ask all the other witnesses to submit statements so we can terminate the hearing this morning. Very important legislation is on the floor and we will not be able to conduct any hearings this afternoon. I am going to ask all the witnesses to submit statements. Mrs. ROBERT J. PHILLIPS. Is she here? (No response.) The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Herbert Borchardt, commander, District of Columbia Department, VFW. (No response.) The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Morton Gluck, Washington chapter, Americans for Democratic Action. (No response.) The CHAIRMAN. Mrs. Gordon Van Sanford, Parent-Teachers' Association. STATEMENT OF JOHN B. GILLILAND, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CONGRESS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS Mr. GILLILAND. My name is John B. Gilliland, and I am appearing for the Parent-Teachers' Association, and I will submit our statement as you suggest. I am appearing for Mrs. Gordon Van Sanford. I would like to say that we, 44,000 members of the District of Columbia Congress of Parents and Teachers, while sometimes we may have a minority opinion that does not agree with the majority on some subjects, I believe in this particular case there is not a single one of our members who does not go along enthusiastically for the proposition which you gentlemen are favoring, national representation. As Mr. Lusk says, he hopes that that will take the place and stop DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CONGRESS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS, Re constitutional amendment to give District residents the vote for President, Hon. EMMANUEL CELLER, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee, House Office Building: I am speaking for the District Congress of Parents and Teachers. Last May at the annual convention of the District Congress of Parents and Teachers our membership of over 44,000 endorsed the principle of home rule for the District of Columbia. We have been very active in our efforts to obtain home rule for the District. Since at least 1940 the District Congress of Parents and Teachers has also supported national representation for the District of Columbia. Our activity has fluctuated on this matter depending upon congressional action. We have approved and endorsed an amendment to the Constitution granting that bona fide citizens of the District of Columbia be given the right by election, to national representation in both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress and the right to vote for the Office of President and Vice President or the electors thereof both as is or may be consistent with similar privileges enjoyed by the citizens of the several States. H |