Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-13
HARDING EXPLAINS
SUFFRAGE DOUBTS
TO TENNESSEEANS
Says State Basic Law Can
not Be Ignored-Ratify,
Says N. C. Governor.

gust 13.-The Tennessee
senate today ratified the
woman suffrage amend
ment.
The vote was: Yeas, IS;
noes, 4.
NASHVILLE. Tenn, August 13.-At
least two hours of debate was in
prospect when the Tennessee senate
began consideration of the federal
woman suffrage amendment today.
Speaker Todd said shortly before the
upper house was called to order.
On all sides was discussed the prob
able effect upon the republican mem
bers of a letter from Senator Harding.
republican presidential nominee. read
at the committee hearing by Judge
u. n. T1llman, in which the senator
declared that members of the gem
eral assembly cannot ignore the state
constitution"
Senator Hardins's letter was in
reply to a communication from Judge
Tillman, republican and former
republican nominee for governor of
tennessee, who explained in detail
the contention of those declaring that
the constitution prohibited action by
the legislature. Judge Tillman is one
of the leaders of those opposing
ratification on this ground.
Harding Statement.
Senator Harding was asked if he
mad been quoted correctly in ex-
pressing the hope that republican
members of the legislature would
vote Tor ratification, only if they
should feel they could rightly do so
mad heard something about the
constitutional inhibition against your
legislature acting upon the federal
amendment" the senator wrote. "but
do not know of the explicit pro-
vision to which you make reference.
l quite agree with you that members
OF the general assembly cannot ig-
more the state constitution.
Il did say and l still believe it
would be fortunate thing for re-
publicans to play their full part in
bringing about ratification. ! should
be very unfair to you and should very
much misrepresent my own convic-
tions If 1 urged you to vote for rati-
fication when you hold to a very
conscientious belief that there is
constitutional inhibition which pre-
vents your doing so until after an
election has been held"
Il do not want you to have any
doubt about my belief in the desr-
ability of ratification the senator
concluded, but L am just as earnest
about expressing myself in favor of
fidelity to conscience in the .perfor-
nance of public service"
Senator Harding's letter was dated
August 10 and was read only after
Judge Tillman had received tele-
graphic permission from the nominee.
A majority of the republican member
ship of the legislature is conceded to
favor ratification.
Suffragists Win Point.
A motion to table a minority report
urging no action on the suffrage reso-
luton and Offered as a substitute for
the favorable majority report. which
recommended adoption, was carried, 23
to 10 today. 1t was the first definite
indication of the strength of the OPP
posing forces. Seventeen votes are
necessary for ratification by the senate.
Senator Haston, floor leader of the
suffragistS, moved immediate adoption
of the resolution.
A point of order that the legislature
had no authority to act under the
Tennessee constitution was promptly
made by the opposition. and was over
ruled by the speaker. An appeal to
the house on motion to sustain the
speaker was carried, % to 5.