The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-19
Tennessee Rdtifies But
Nay Reconsider Act
Final Decision Will Be Made
Within Two Days Under
Limitation Rulings.
VOTE IN HOUSE is so TO 46
Speaker of House Voted mo"
But Changed In Order to
Move to Reconsider.

Nashville. Tenn, Aug. 1s.-Tennes-
see, the thirty sixth state, ratified
the federal woman suffrage amend
ment today, the house by a vote Of
80 to 46 concurring in the action Of
the senate, which voted favorably last
week.
The political lineup in the house on
today's vote follows: Democrats. ave,
50: no, "a: absent. l. Republican, aye.
Is: no, -; absent, 2.
The constitutional change thus win
become effective in time for the
100000 women Of the countr yto
vote in the presidential election in
November unless the lower house of
the assembly rescinds its action.
Speaker Walker, leader Of the anti
sufffagists, put opponents in a position
TO demand reconsideration by chang
ing his vote from aye to naye and
moving to reconsider The house ad-
journed until 10 o'clock tomorrow,
whe nthe speakers motion viii have
the right of way. Suffrage and anti
suffrage forces frightened their lines
this afternoon for the final fight and
both side swere claiming victory.
For few moments just before the
vote was ordered on the resolution to
concur in the senate action many
leaders of both sides. including Speak
er Walker, were certain the amend
ment had been rejected. This came on
a motion to table the resolution which
Mr.. Walker offered Unexpectedly.
AT the conclusion Of the roll call.
leaders who were checking ballots as
the members voted, had a total Of 40
in favor ftabling and ~ in the neg
ative. The clerk Of the house an
nounced his ballot showed a tie OF
4S to 4S. The house was in an unroar
and il was several minutes before the
speaker protein was able to order an
ohter ballot. The second ballot was a
tie, As to As, and the motion was lost.
A vote on the bottom to concur with
the senate was ordered Immediately.
the opposition expecting a tie vote. in
which event the motion would have
lost and ratification would have been
rejected. There was break in the
ranks of the antis, however. one OF
them voting with the suffragists. and
the motion carried. ~ 10 ~. With the
announcement Of the vote. Speaker
Walker changed his vote TO aye, in
order to have ii entered on the jour
nal, giving him the privilege Of moving
for reconsideration, and the count
stood so to 4e.
ANY attempt Mr.. Walker may make
to have the action reconsidered must
be made within the next two days
Legality of the ratification is ques-
toned by many legal authorities and
leaders OF the anti suffragists have
announced repeatedly that should Ten
nessee ratify an appeal to the courts
would be made Immediately on the
ground that this legislature, elected
prior TO submission Of the amendment
10 the states by congress. had no
right TO act because OF a state consti-
inhibition. The constitution provides
that no legislature shall pass upon an
amendment unless Il should have been
eecfed after submission.
Others contend that a decision ~
the supreme court Of the United
states holding void a clause Of the
Ohio constitution relating 20 referen-
endum on amendments also nulifies
the provisions Of the Tennessee con-
stitution In question. The fight of the
forces throughout the
contest was based largely on the con-
AEAAAaA AAAaAt AA - " AfaaH tsaAeaaAaft
would be IN violation 0f the state
constitution.
Speaker walkers action in chang
ing his vote % aye" giving suffrage
the constitutional ma i0rlty of fifty.
removes the possibility ~ an attack
on legality Of ratification on tbis issue
had the suffragists poiled q majority
Of less than fifty votes.
The state attorney general had ruled
that a majority of the members pres
ent. and not the constitutional major
ity. was sufficient Tor ratification or
rejection.