The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1920-08-27
ANT|-SUFF RAG|STS
KEEP UP BATTLE
Fugitive SoIons and Injunction
Proceedings BaIk Amendment.
FLEE TO PREVENT QUORUM
Bill Runs Into a SnarI of Legal and
Legislative Technicalities, as the
Tennessee Senators Go to
Alabama.


Tennessee's ratification of the federal
woman suffrage amendment stood on
the legislative record of the lower
house of the legislature as finally con-
firmed, snarl of legal and Legislative
technicalities remained to be disposed
of before the action can be certified
Suffrage supporters, who had ridden
rOughshOd in the house over every OBJ
stacle thrown in their way, claimed
full legislative triumph They de-
clared that only a temporary inJunc-
ton secured by the ants prevented
immediate certifcatiOn to Secretary
Colby at Washington
On the other hand Speaker Walker,
leader of the opposition, and many OF
his lieutenants, said the suffragists
had ruined their cause and that even
should the courts eventually hold ratl-
fication legal, litigation would so de-
lay a final decision that the amend
ment would not figure in the Novem-
Der election unless some other state
ratified it.
Members Flee to Alabama
Meanwhile, Is members of the
house opposed to suffrage, were in De-
catur, Ala, evading service in the
house for the avOwed purpose of pre-
venting any legislative action in the
state until a new legislature shall have
been elected in November. They hur-
ried across the state line in body
Aoforo +I,a houca Ua in convened
The restraining ORDER, granted by
Judge Langford Of the chancery court,
is returnable in five days. 1t was is
sued on an application cOntending that
under the statel constitution this leg
islature has no power to pass on the
suffrage amendment.
Governor Roberts and other officials
were forbidden to certify to Washing
ton that ratification had been com
pleted and speakers of the senate and
house restrained from taking any ac-
tfOn toward ratification until the mat
ter is heard by the court.
House Seven Short of Quorum.
When the house met all the suf
fragists and a sprinkling of the OPP
position members were in their seats.
A roll call showed 50 members pres
ent or seven short of a quorum.
Speaker Walker declared a recess and
ordered the sergeant-at-arms to arrest
absentees. The official reported that
none of the missing members appeared
to be in the city.
T. X. Ridick, SuffragiSt floor leader,
declaring that action on the suffrage
amendment was not a state but fed
eral NATTER and that the state laws
as regards a quorum of the house did
not apply, moved that the Walker mo-
ton for reconsideration be called from
the journal and acted upon. Speaker
Walker requested him to put the mo-
ton in writing that it might be spread
on the journal. 1t was done
Puts suffragist in Chair.
Walker ruled the motion out of or
der for lack of quorum, and added
that the injunction just served upon
him also stood in the way. On an ap-
peal the house failed to sustain the
ruling and Walker called Representa-
tive Joe Odle, suffragist, to the chair
Odle ordered a roll call on Riddick's
motion for reconsideration. Walker
made a point of order that there was
no quorum, but was ignored and the
suffragiSts defeated the motion to re-
consider by a vote of so to 9.
Riddick then moved that the house
transmit to the senate in the usual
manner the senate joint resolution
ratifying the amendment Again Walk
er made point of no quorum and
also challenged the right of the
speaker pro tenn. to put any motion
relating to the amendment in view of
the injunction restraining the speak
er of the house."
Again Odle ignored Walker. ordered
the roll call and the motion carried
80 to 9, the ants not voting AL.