The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-08-20
.DESPE ERATE TRY
To RECONSIDER
At NASHVILLE
Anti-Suffragists Are Making a
Final Effort
BRIBERY BUSILY CHARGEI
Henry Burn, %, and Youngest Member
of Tennessee House Is Hero of
Great Suffrage Victory,

Nashville, Tenn, Aug 19-Faiure
of anti.suffrage leaders today to at.
tempt to force the lower house of the
Legislature to reconsider its action of
ye e5terday in ratifying the woman suf-
Ifrage amendment was oyershadowed
in interest by the launching of a
county Grand Jury investigation into
charges that improper Influences had
been brought to bear on members of
the Legislature in their consideration
of the measure.
Publication by the Nashville Ten
Inessean and the Nashville Banner of
two afiidavits attributed to c. G. Wal
lace. Judge of the City Court of Lew
isburg, Tenn, and Dennis E, Murray of
Nashville. general agent for the Fed
leral Land Bank of Louisville, KY, al
leging that an attempt has been made
by suffrage leader to bribe Repre-
sentative Harry T. Burn, Republican
of McMnn county, also was feature
of the days developments.
The Grand Jury charged by Judge
j. ID. b Debow of the Davidson county
Criminal Court, lost no time in getting
to work and before noon had summon
ed ] f. Eichelberger of Washington,
ID. c., publicity man in charge of
headquarters here of the anti ratifica-
tion forces. Mr. Eichelberger was
before the jury two hours and 1t was
said additional witnesses probably
would appear tomorrow.
Judge Debrows charge was directed
at alleged special interest which it has
been charged have representatives
here working against ratification.
ut has been and it Is being current
ly reported by some of the friends and
advocates supporting the ratification
Of the proposed Federal Amendment, .
Judge Debrow told the jury, 'that
forces of corruption and representa-.
ltiyes of special interests have come to
this state from beyond our borders
and that lobbyists, or, in any event,
individuals bearing the reputation OF
lobbyists, have been and are present
in this city and county invading and
infesting the rooms of our State Capt.
to, and the lobbies and public assem-
bling places in our hotels and other
places in our county"
After quoting and explaining the
state Statutes relating to lobbying the
court instructed the jury to return
indictments promptly If an investiga-
tion developed that the laws had been
violated,
Charges of the attempted bribery OF
Representative Burn we're not regard
ed seriously by suffrage leaders and
many nti.ratificationists were frank
to say that their views were similar.
Mr.. Burn was recorded as voting with
the suffrage opponents on both roll
ca Is on a motion to table the ratifi-
cat on resolution, which was lost on a
/ tie vote and a few minutes later cast
his vote for the amendment, One vote
decided the issne in favor of suffrage
The affidavts charged that he was ap-
lproached during the interval between
the vote on the motion to table and
| the vote to concur with the Senate in
ldtINlHg the duleuuIneHI.
! know mothers advice is always
safest for her boy to follow, and
mother wanted me to vote for ratifi
lcation"
Thus Harry T. Burn, 22,-the young
est member of Tennessees Legislature
defended the course he took in
chang ng his vote in the House OF
Representative here from anti rati
fcation to ratification, when the final
test of strength came on the Susan B,
ANTHONY amendment.
Burn, Republican member from
McMinn county, in the heart of the
East Tennessee mountains is credited
with having enfranchised 100000
American women by his action in
favor OF the amendment. Today he
made the only reference made in the
House to the suffrage question, He
mentioned it in statement explain
ing his vote and denying he had ac
cepted bribe. as was charged in
yelled intimations,
81 be ieve in full suffrage as a
fright. said Burn. 81 believe we had
a moral and legal right to rat fy
appreciated that an opportunity such
as seldom comes to mortal man-tc
free 100000 women from political
slavery vas mine.
81 desired that my party, in both
State and Nation, might say it was q
Republican from the mountains OF
| EaSt Tennessee the unrest Anglo
Saxon section in the world, who made
national woman suffrage possible al
/ this date. Not for personal glory
but for the glory of his party
The newspapers had printed affi
dav.ts of two persons who declared
they had overheard a conversation ii
which Rep. Hanover endeavored tC
bribe Burn Both Burn and Hanover
swore to counter affidavits vigorous