The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-08-21
LOz0er House
Tables Motion
TO Reconsider
Ants Resort to FiIibuster Tac-
tics in Desperate Effort to
Defeat Suffrage.

mouse OF the Tennessee legislature to
day defeated so to GA motion to re-
consider It's action in ratifying tn
woman suffrage amendment and or
dered the senate joint ratification res
olution transmitted to the senate tina
IL might be sent TO the engrossinG
clerk.
When the house assembled and tn,
| rollcall showed no quorum present
Speaker Walker directed the ser,
geaht- at arms to arrest and bring be.
tore the bar of the house all absent
kmembers.
Me speaker declared the house ir
rs for one hour to give the ser.
4, snt- t-at-arms time to round up tn,
n sentees.
When the recess ended |. X. Rlddlch
inoved that the house reconsider its
Concurrence in the senate's ratifioa
ton of the amendment. The motion
was lost SO to 0.
Speaker Walker, who had left the
chair. then made point OF order that
the rollcall disclosed no quorum.
!. X. Riddick suffrage leader, de-
elaring the legislature was acting un-
der federal and not state law in con-
sidering the suffrage amendment and
that the state constitutional quorum
was not necessary. moved that the
Walker motion for reconsideration OF
ratification be taken from the journal.
The speaker held the Riddick motion
out Of order. On an appeal to the
house the speaker was overrulcd by
vote of 40 to s.
Many authorities regard the amend
ment as literally wrapped mp in legal
entanglements, and II is a foreRone
conclusion that the courts will have
10 pass on the legality OF it's ratifl-
cation.
Although the house ratified the
amendment Wednesday. Speaker Seth
walker. opposition leader, changed
his vote from the negative TO the af-
firmative in order TO have recorded on
the journal motion for reconsidera-
tion. His action gave him the sole
privilege of calling up the motion dur
ing the next two legislative days. This
time limit expired yesterday without
his acting, and the suffragist, in view
% the fact that after adjournment
vest crday anyone who voted In the
affirmative was privileged TO call the
motion from the journals followed this
course and killed 1t.
In an attempt 10 forestail such action
more than a score OF nntratifcation-
lists last night left the state in body
In the hope that the house today would
have no quorum. When the house was
called to. order and the roll call devpl-
oped only flfty nine memhGrs were
present when sixty-six were reQtltred a
recess of one hour was dscldd upon
while the sergeant afsHfms attempted
to round up absentees.
When the ecess was over, J. X.
Riddlck. suffragists leader, declaring the
legislature was acting on federal law
and not state matter and thnt the
state laws so far as quorum concerned
did not apply. moved that the Walker
motion be taken from the journal.
speaker Walker had Just been served
with an Injunction restraining Coy.
Roberts. the secretary Of state and the
speaker Of the senate and house from
certifying ratification OF the amend
ment TO Washington and from taking
any other action there on. He said
the house could not act but called an
other member to the chair.
The suffragists carried the motion and
then Kiddick moved that. the house re-
consider its action on ratification, The
motion was lost, 50 10 o.
Walker from the floor then made a
point OF order that there was no quorum.
demanding that IL be recorded in the
journal,
Motion 10 adjourn until Monday
afternoon then was made and imme-
1iately Walker made another point of
order that the speaker pro TEN. under
he terms OF the injunction, also was
from any action. Tho house
however. adjourned without ruling
rom the chair
List Of Fnlbusters.
Mr. Hall gave out the following list
" Tennessee house members who came
here with him:
r.. G. Howell. q. G. Harvill. Percy |
Sharpe. i. NJ. Whitaker J. u. Gal
breath, J. H. womack, X. w, Brotanf. |
]. II. Sipes. NJ. F. Long. Sam A. Hays, |
James B. Cole. w. r. story. w. n. |
weldon. A. O. Keisln. George Fran
cisco. J. A. Moore. W. c. Wilson. Carey |
wilson. W. r. swift, L. 81. Jackson
W. A. Milop and G. A. Travis.
Representative Hall criticised Sc
'erely Gov. Roberts for his stand IN /
he suffrage fight. declaring the Ten
,eEsee governor. through appointments.
'ad obtained control of several mem
'ers of the house who wished 20 vote
,galnst ratification. but we're forced 10
'ote In favor Of II at the insiEtence Of
he chief executive. Hotel lobby discus
ions this morning turned also 10 crit
clsm IN which the suffrage fight be-
ore the Tennessee legislature has been
onducted. Charges were freely made
hat members opposing ratification
we're ''insulted" AZ the capitol
Twenty five az eirminohaT.
Decatur. Ala. Aug 2i--Tweuty- Eve
lcmbers Of the Tennessee house which
'as to take final action upon tho federal
unrage amendment today. arrived here
arly this morning on the Louisville f.
Ia Hhville train from Nashville.
According 10 members Of the party
evcral of their associatee have gone 20
thor cities outside the Tennessee state
niits. and Will remain away. from Nash
lille until the state has been given an
prortunity 70 voice an opening Of the
Inraro amendment
s. ~ Han Of Nashville. leader of
1e party declared there VIII be thirty
,ur members Of the house In Decatur
hen the afternoon train arrives from
ashvilie. Four of the twenty-five Hi-
sady here are republicans and the re-
iaindcr are democrats.
We viii stay In Decatur until the
eopie of Tennessee have been given
chance 90 cypress their sentiment or
IfraEr." sad Mr. Han. We feel
l.t they have not yet voiced Their
Dinlon nad We intend n zee thai they
ave an opportunity 70 do Eo. We tried
, delay action on suffrage until iauu-
~ in order that our people may B.
card. but the ratifcutionists refuse 90
rrmtt uS fye are acting In accordance
Ith tho dictates Of our conscience a"
So~ A. Decatur.
Vfrnirrhau Ala Aug - Thirty
v sui.ers % the Tennsssss house have
ons % Decatur. Ala. according 70 tnr
ordncfor = IN Louisville 4 Nashville
.hich arrived here - $50 q m todaJ
rnu cnrrn nr IIniIcr