The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-08-01
MAY ASK GOVERNOR
TO INCLUDE CHARTER
CHANGE IN HIS CALL
WOMEN MAY TAKE THIS PREcAU.
TON TO CLEAR THE TITLE
TO THEIR FRANCHISE.
IF LEGISLATURE IS ASSEMBLED
Another Complication Arises As to
Right of NONRESIDENT Women Prop
erty Owners to Vote in Munic' pal
es''o"s'
IF LEGISLATURE IS ASSEMBLED

bos' a. H. HODeTIS may De asked TO
include the consideration of an amend
ment to the cnarter of the city of
Columbia that will remove all doubt
as to right of women tovot here, if
he calls an extra session of the legis-
lature to pass poll tax legislation for
women, according to information CIV
en- by prominent suffrage leaders of
this city.
Miss Carrie Williams, county chair
man of the suffrage league, said We'd
nesday that she had read with much
interest the articles in The Herald on
the question of the right of women to
vote in Columbia, but that she had no
definite statement to make regarding
the situation. She said that all the
facts would be submitted to the otfic-
ers of the safe organization and the
action OF the women here would be
governed largely by the advice they
receive from state headquarters. She
said that it is not improbable that
Gov. Roberts will be asked to include
an amendment to the charter of the
city of Columbia in order that all
technical objections to their voting
may be removed
A new phase of the woman suffrage
question here that is being given con-
sideration today is that concerning
the right of women residing outside
of the city but owning property in
the city to vote in municiual elec-
tions. The charter provides that non
residents holding taxable freehold
of $100 value for IL months prior to
an election are entitled to vote, pro-
vided they are qualified voters of the
state.
The question arises, "Who is
qualified voter of the state?"
The suffrage act confers the right
VI fOIlu6 III IuuulCludl elcCtlOuS dHu
in elections of presidential electors
upon women, but they are not eligible
to vote for members of the general as
sembly, the state constitution reserv-
ing that right to male citizens. If
being voter in presidential elec.
tion makes one a qualified voter of
the state, nonresident women proper
ty owners may claim the right to vote
in Columbia
If it should be decided that non.
resident women property owners are
eligible to vote in municiual elections
in Columbia but that women resid.
ing in the city must comply with the
requirement Of six months residence
in the city and the qualification of
being eligible to vote for members of
the general assembly, the anomalous
situation may arise of nonresident
women participating in municipal
election here while resident women
are denied the ballot.
On the other hand, If 1t should be
determined that resident women are
given the vote in Columbia by the
suffrage act regardless of any pro-
vision of the city charter, there may
be another anomalous situation in
that nonresident women property
owners are denied the privilege of
voting while nonresident male prop
erty owners are given that privilege
on the grounds that voting for presi-
Dental electors does not make a per-
son a voter of the state but that such
voter of the state is one who is eli
gible to vote for state and county Of
ficers.
All of these perplexing questions
are fruits of the suffrage act and the
city charter as enacted. They may be
settled without entering the courts.
but the probability is that the fran
chise will not be exercised without
opposition by the women of this city
until the courts have passed upon the
questions involved.