Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-23
Clerk of Tennessee Senate
Gets Measure, But Must
Not Deliver 1t.
LEGISLATORS IN EXILE
PRESENT ARGUMENTS
Demand That People Of State Hold
Mass Meetings Next Saturday
to Indicate Their Will.
BY the Associated Press.

Is! the Associated Press.
NASHVILLE. Tenn. August pa
Under an amended bill filed yester.
day. raising the point that the Ten.
nessee house Saturday defeated the
Walker motion to reconsider ratifica-
tion by that body of the woman suf-
frage amendment without the pres
ence of quorum. Chief Clerks w. NJ
Carter and John Green of the senate
and house. respectively, today were
made parties to the temporary in
junction restraining the governor,
secretary of state and speakers of the
senate and house from taking any
steps toward certifying ratification
to Washington. The writ of injunc-
ton was served on Carter and Green
this morning.
New Features Involved.
The original bill was based on the
contention that ratification by this leg
isIature was in violation of a clause of
the state constitution which prohibited
action on amendments unless the legis-
lature had been elected after the pro-
posed measure had been submitted to
the states by Congress. This legisla-
ture was elected in November, 1918, and
the amendment was not submitted until
June. 1918. Gov. Roberts, however. called
the special session after he had been as
sured by various authorities that the
clause was invalid.
At the time the temporary order was
issued Saturday, the motion of Speaker
Seth Walker that the body reconsider
the matter still was on the journal and
unacted upon. The opposition minority
had bolted the legislature and gone TO
Decatur. Ala. in order to prevent the
presence Of quorum of sixty menu
bers. The suffrage majority with only
nifty nine members present, declared
the house in session, killed the Walker
motion and ordered the joint ratification
resolution transmitted to the senate,
which the week before had adopted it by
vote OF 25 to 4.
Mr.. Greene transmitted the resolu-
tion to Mr.. Carter Saturday, and SO far
as the restraining order is concerned
will not figure in the case. as he had
acted before the writ was served
| upon him. Carter. however. must re-
| port to the senate receipt of the reso-
luton: this must be entered on the
journal and the senate must order
| the document sent to the engrossing
clerk. The restraining order effectu-
| ally stops this procedure.
Corps Of Speakers.
After receipt here today of an ad.
dress to the people of Tennessee from
the thirty-seven bolters at Decatur
urging that they hold mass meetings
in every county seat next Saturday to
express their will as regard sratifi-
cation or rejection of the suffrage
amendment, naturalization head
quarters announced corps of speak.
ers headed by Gus w. Dyer, professor
of political economy at Vanderbilt
University; Frank P. Bond. Nashville
attorney. and Miss Charlotte Rowe of
New York would begin Immediately
tour OF the state.
The speakers, the announcement said
would endeavor ito explain what the
suffrage amendment really means"
with the end in view that public sem
timent would ge so aroused in the
home districts of legislators who vot-
ed for suffrage as to force them to re-
verse their stand and vote to rescind
the house action. The first meeting
will be held tonight at Gallatin
The ants are acting on the theory
that the house has. not disposed OF
the Walker motion and that they vet
have a chance to adopt it and rescind
ratification if they can muster a ma
jority. Gov. Roberts, Attorney Gem
eral Thompson and others hold that
the amendment has been ratified and
declare only the Injunction stands In
the way of certifying ratification to
Washington.