The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-08-13

Nashville, Aug l3,--The senate com
mittee on constitutional amendment.
this morning reported to the senat,
that "the present legislature has boil
legal and moral right TO ratify tn,
suffrage amendment"
"The provision Of the constitution
Of Tennessee denying the Ieplsla.
ture the rleht TO exercise
because In direct conflict with the
United States Constitution. The
attempt to deny this legislature or
any legislature this power ls with
out legal force and effect,
"lts adoption Is as certain as the
recurrence OF the seasons" the re.
port says OF the Nineteenth amend
ment," which speaks OF the fact
that both democratic and repubII-
can platforms urge ratification and
all LEGISLATORS belong to one OF the
"Natlonal woman suffrage by fed
eral anne ndment; Il may be delayed,
but II cannot be defeated; and we
oovet for Tennessee the signal
honor Of being the thirty sixth and
last state necessary 20 consun,mate
this great reform.
"FulIy persuaded OF It's Justice
and confident Of lts passage, ~
earnestly recommend H."
The report was signed by ten mem
befs Of the committee.
With efforts of the antiratihcation'
lists to prevent consideration side
tracked. debate on the motion fol
adoption OF the resolution began with
Senator Chandler, republican, the FRS
speaker against ratification. Senator
Chandler stressed the question OF le'
Sneaker Todd opened for the suffra
Rists, basing his plea for ratification oi
the expressed belief OF the democratl,
party that women should have the bal
lot and declaring that action would ma
be In contravention to the Tennessee
constitution
VILE, followed Speaker Todd, urginI
ratification in order to grant swomef
political freedom and share Tin tn
control Of government. He brought thu
spectators to their feet In a wild dem
onstration when he concluded with IN
appeal. Lets make Tennessee q per
feet thirty-six,"
senator Haston, floor leader OF ths
suffraglsts. moved immediate adoption
OF the resolution. A point or order that
tho legislature had no authority TO aci
under the Tennessee constitution was
promptly made by the opposition and
appeal to the house on n motion TO sus-
tain the speaker was carried "a. to B.
Antls Win Heat.
Nashville, Aug. Observation-Disclosures
won their first victory in their battle
to prevent the Tennessee legislature
amendment when they forced de-
cislon from the house committee. whici,
had the ratification resolution In
charge, not to report back the resolu-
tion until Monday night,
This action. which was complete sur
prise to suffrage floor leaders. came by
vote of 3 to 6. The senate committee
at the Eame time by n vote OF to 2
decided to report ratification favorably
as soon as the Senate convened this
morning
Speaker Seth Walker OF the house had
personal hand In forcing the decision
Of delay by the house committee BY
virtue OF his office OF speaker he u n
member ex -officio OF every committee,
a privilege OF which he rarely avnila
himself He attended the meeting OF
the constitutional amendment commit
tee last night. and voted to hold over
until Monday night. He Is also under
stood to have prevailed upon one AZ his
staunch adherents IN the committee TO
hold with him. Suffragsts are bitter
at what they term the speakers un-
precedented action.
Power OF House.
The house has the power 10 call any
resolution back from committee and act
on II. II only takes n majority vote TO
do this. and the same majority vote
which would pass the ratification reso-
tuition would be able to oall II back from
committee. The houses also would be
able to act on the senate resolution
when passed by that todA nnd reported
to the house. This woaid involve n
ratification leadership in the house will
take to force a decision there today
were the subject Of conferences lasting
far into the night without decision.