The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-09-07
NOMEN CAN'T VOTE
IN GEORGIA PRIMARY
prTURNS OF ANY COUNTY
WHICH THEY CAST BALLOT
WILL BE THROWN OUT.
A STATEMENT BY FLYNT

20
No Authority to Change Rules.
Notwithstanding an opinion given
- Governor Dorsey by Attorney
General Denny that women could
locally vote in the state primary TO-
,oorrow the subcommittee Of the
state democratic committee has neg
otived that program. At a meeting
IN Atlanta Friday night the commit
tee by vote of five to two precluded
onv further argument about the
nossibilitv or probability of women
voting on Sept. 8. They will not be
allowed to vote and the statement
was made by Chairman j. j. Flynt
that the returns of any county IN
which the women are allowed to
vote will be thrown out and the
election in that county will be de-
clared null and void on the ground
of illegality under the statutes of
Georgia.
After long discussion and the CT
tation of numerous court decisions
the following was adopted by a five
to two vote, Messrs. Barrett and
Dean voting against it.
"Be it resolved: That this sub
committee has no jurisdiction to
amend the rules and regulations I'M
der which the pending campaign has
been conducted, by providing rules
and regulations for the women vot-
ers, or for their participation in the
primary of Sept. 8, and it is the
sense of this committee that the ex-
sting rules and regulations control.
The secretary is hereby instructed
10 so notify each county chairman"
The meeting, which had been call
ID by FermOr Barrett, was attend
b by considerable delegation rep
&esenting the Georgia Woman's Suf-
xrage Association.
Illegal, Says Flynt.
"a Judge Flynt made the argument
hat, despite all that has been said
bout the ratification of the federal
Constitutional amendment, the SUI
preme court of the United States
has held in opinions which were cit
I'D by J. H. Miner that the statu-
eory laws of the states are the con-
Erolling factor in all primary cleo
lions in those states. He holds that
even the full state committee has no
authority to abrogate those laws,
bot even under the constitution of
the United States as it has been
amended.
Following the decision of Attorney
General Denny preparations were
being made by some politicians for
the women to vote, and Chairman
lynt was requested to call meet
ang of the state committee for the
purpose of taking action to that eff
feet. This Mr.. Flynt refused to do.
with all due respect to Colonel
Benny" said Judge Flynt, II cannot
Zee how he can possibly come to the
Conclusion that the mere ratifica-
flon of a federal constitutional
amendment upsets all the laws of
fhis or any other state with regard
70 suffrage. 1t is absolutely impossi-
pie, as | see it, for the women to
Vote until the legislature of Georgia
Rnacts a law providing the machln-
ery for the qualification of female
voters. No such legislation has yet
Peen passed and they cannot vote.
The law of Georgia makes it
Crime for any election manager, in
Rny election, whether primary or
general, to allow an unregistered
person to vote. My opinion is that
fvery election manager who allows
woman to vote in the September
primary will be subject to prosecu-
pom for violating this law.
1T does not make any difference
Fhat action the democratic state
committee may take or refuse to
sake. The committee has no power
70 change the laws of the state. The
avs are written by the legislature,
nd nobody can change them but
NE legislature. The state committee
ian hold a primary within the law,
PuI 1t cannot go outside of the law,
change the law"
Senator Fermor Barrett, who, is
hartman of the subcommittee of
ne state committee, took a contrary
lew and called the subcommittee
ogether to make provision for the
omen to vote, with the result as
fbove stated.
In a Befuddled State.
The whole suffrage situation is
Re1uddled, and there is sharp differ
nee of opinion as to whether the
eoeral suffrage amendment has
zen ratified.
IN the absence of a quorum of the
ennessee legislature that body con-
urred IN the amendment, and the
overnor of the state certified the
t'IUn to Secretary of State Colby
Washington, who Immediately is
ued proclamation that the amend
neht had been ratified by the neces-
y thirty-sixth state and was
r,erefore the law. Subsequently the
enhessee legislature, when a quo
I'M was present, revoked its con-
uiIence by large majority, and
TmIo,tltled the governor.
ms is the situation up to date,
Nu the matter will necessarily have