South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-08-25
RATIFICATION
OF SUFFRAGE
Is CERTIFIED
Women Now Await Formal
Proclamation From Secre-
tary of State Colby.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Aug. "a
Certifcation OF Tennessee's ratifica-
ton OF the federal suffrage amend
ment was enroute Tuesday to Wash
ington. On its receipt there by Sec
t'y of State Colby late Wednesday OF
Thursday suffrage advocates expect
issuance of the formal proclamation
making the amendment a part of
the organic law OF the land and plac-
ing $4,000, 600 American women on
an equality with men at the ballot
box.
Gov. Roberts placed the certifca-
ton in the mail Tuesday after re-
ceiving from State Attorney Cen
eral Thompson an opinion that a
writ of certiOrari and supersedeas,
issued Monday night by Chief Jus
tice Lansden OF the Tennessee su-
preme court in effect set aside a for
mer order temporarily restraining
the governor from taking such ac-
ton. The injunction was obtained
last Saturday by citizens Of Nash
Vile opposed to suffrage on the plea
that action on the amendment by the
present Legislature was in violation
of the state constitution and illegal
in other particulars.
NIny Tranfcr Fight.
Issuance Of the writ and the gov
ernor's certihC..uon may transfer
to Washington the battle over the
legality of ratification, anti-Suffrage
leaders declaring the American Con
stitutiOnal league was prepared to
apply 10 the District of Columbia su-
IRENE court for an order restraining
Sect'y Colby from issuing the pro-
clamatiOn So far as court action in
Tennessee Is concerned the only
thing in prospect for the suffrage op-
/ ponents is TO request the supreme
! court TO restrain the individual ac-
/ tion of Judge Lansden. Ihe court
meets in Knoxville September 20,
I court TO uphold Justice Lansden' S
course would have on the general
situation no one was prepared TO
| say.
Announcement early Tuesday that
Justice Lansden had issued the
writ, followed an hour later by the
statement that the governor had
mailed the certification, was a bonn
shell i'm the camp of the anti-suffrage
/ forces and an agreeable surprise TO
! the suffra gists. There had been no
/ intimauon that such a course was
] planned and a small circle of the
I suffrage leaders had kept the secret
/ well.
Files Petition.
! Attorney General Thompson filed
/ the petition for the writ with Justice
/ I.ansden at his residence Monday
night on behalf of GOV. Roberts, Sec
| t'y of State Stevens and Speaker
/ Andrew Todd and Clerk a. w. Car
| ter of the senate, parties TO the re-
straining order. The names of Seth
! Walker. speaker of the house and
! opposition leader, and John Green
clerk of the house, also named In the
/ Injunction, were not on the petition
presented the justice and il was un-
/ derstood only Justice Lansden.
! Gov. Roberts and Mr.. Thompson ac-
, t,;ally knew what was contemplated.
! Mr.. Thorn DsOn argued the case be-
fore the Justice and the writ was
granted. The petition was iiled with
! the clerk OF the supreme court at
! q:55 O'Clock Tuesday morning and
/ % minutes later the certifcation II
ratification was in the mails. The
petitioners who obtained the injunc-
! ton and anti-Suffragists generally
were amazed at the coup and the
| former in a formal statement attack
/ ed what they termed the high
/ handed tactics and unprecedentc !
methods" involved in the case.