The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-03-13
SUFFRAGE VOTE
NOT POSSIBLE
Col. John Beard Says Special
Session of Legislature Can
not Ratify Amendment.

Col. John s. Beard said yesterday
that the state legislature cannot ratify
the federal woman suffrage amendment
this year, because of constitutional in
ability. Col Boards contention is that
under the constitution federal amend
-ment cannot be acted on unless the
members of the legislature which votes
on the amendment are elected after the
amendment is submitted.
In a communication to The Journal
Col. Beard says:
"A special to The Journal from Tai
lahassee announces that the governor
will, probably, convene the legislature
in extraordinary session for the con-
sideration of the proposed 10th (the
equal Suffrage) amendment to the fed
eral constitution. The congressional
resolution. proposing this amendment,
was submitted to the several states
subsequent to the election of the pres
ent legislature of the state of Florida.
Every member of both houses of the
present legislature of Florida was elect
ed prior to the submission of this pro-
posed amendment by congress to the
several states.
section 10, Article i6, of the con
stitution of the state OF Florida de-
clares: No convention nor legislature
of this state shall act upon any amend
ment of the constitution of the United
States proposed by congress to the sew
eral states unless such convention or
legislature shall have been elected after
such amendment is >ubmitted
section :, Article I6 of the consti-
tuition of the state of Florida declares ::
Each and every officer of this state
including members of the legislature,
shall before entering upon the dis
charge of his official duties, take the
following oath of office: Il do solemn
ly swear or affirm that | will sup
port, protect and defend the constitu-
tion and government of the United
States and the state of Florida s.
So help me God"
1.-The legislature of 1911. very proper
ly, refused to act upon the 10th amend
ment to the federal constitution be-
cause one-half OF the Florida state sen
ate had been elected prior to the sub
mission of the proposed 10th amend
ment to the several states by congress
The 10th amendment was the first
amendment to the federal constitution
submitted by congress TO the several
states after the adoption of the present
constitution of Florida.
I'm 1915 the legislature Of Florida,
very properly, refused TO act upon the
erdl constitution for the same "casons
that the legislature of 1911 refused TO
act upon the proposed 10th amend
mentment. viz: that one-half Of The
state senate had been elected prior TO
the submission of the proposed iith
amendment to the several states by
congress.
But the present legislature When
convened in extraordinary session ny
the governor. in 1918, did act upon and
-ratffy the proposed 18th amendment to
the federal constitution, notwithstand-
ing the fact that precisely the same
conditions existed as in 1911 and 1913,
when the legislatures of those years
refused TO act upon the 10th and 18th
amendments respectively, viz: one-half
of the state senate had been elected
prior to the proposal of the 18th
amendment by congress to the sew
eral states.
IF the legislature is convened in ex-
traordinary session will it act upon
the proposed 10Th amendment? 1t is
the same legislature that ratified the
18th amendment-only one-hal Of the
Florida state senate had been elected
prior to the submission by congress al
I'M f-Copf;nued IN psos ~