The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-08-26
|ANTI-SUFFR AGISTS
KEEP UP BATTLE
Fugitive SoIons and Injunction
Proceedings BaIk Amendment.
FLEE TO PREVENT QUORUM
Bill Runs Into a Snarl of Legal and
Legislative TechncaItes, as the
Tennessee Senators Go to
Alabama.


Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 23.-Although
Tennessee's ratification of the federal
woman suffrage amendment stood on
| the legislative record of the lower
| house Of the legislature as finally con-
| fimned snarl of legal and legislative
rechnicalities remained TO be disposed
of before the action can be certified.
Suffrage supporters, who had ridden
| roughshod in the house over every OBJ
stacle thrown in their way, claimed
full legislative triumph. They de-
cared that only a temporary injuuc-
tion secured by the ants prevented
| immediate certification to Secretary
| Colby at Washington.
On the other hand, Speaker Walker,
leader of the opposition, and many Of
his lieutenants, said the suffragists
| had ruined their cause and that even
should the courts eventually hold rati-
fication legal, litigation would so de-
| lay a final decision that the amend
ment would not figure in the Novem-
Der election unless some other state
ratified it.
Members Flee to Alabama.
Meanwhile, % members Of the
house opposed TO suffrage were in De
catur, Ala, evadlng service in the
house for the avowed purpose of pre-
venting any legislative action in the
state until a new Legislature shall have
been elected in November. They hur-
ried acress the state line in a body
before the house again convened
The restraining order granted by
Judge LangfOrd Of the chancery court,
is returnabe In five days 1t was is
sued on an application contending that
under the state constitution this leg
islature has no power TO pass on the
| suffrage amendment.
Governor Roberts and other officials
were forbidden to certify to Washing
ton that ratification had been com
pleted and speakers of the senate and
house restrained from taking any ac-
ton toward ratification until the mat
ter is heard by the court
House Seven Short of Quorum.
| when the house met all the suf-
fragists and a sprinkling of the OPP
| position members were in their seats,
A roll call showed 50 members pres
| ent, or seven short of quorum.
| Speaker Walker declared "A recess and
ordered the sergeant-at-arms to arrest
absentees. The official reported that
\ ,F In
to be in the city.
7. X. Ridick suffragist floor leader,
! declaring that action on the suffrage
amendment was not a state but a fed
eral matter, and that the state laws
as regards quorum of the house did
not apply, moved that the Walker mo
ton for reconsideration be called from
| the journal and acted upon. Speaker
Walker requested him to put the mo-
ton In writing that it might be spread
on the journal. 1t was done.
Puts Suffragist in Chair.
Walker ruled the motion out of or
der for lack of a quorum, and added
that the injunction just served upon
| MN ALSO StuOu III inc way. VII an uH-.
peal the house failed to sustain the
ruling and Walker called Representa-
tive Joe ode, suffragist, to the chair.
OdIe ordered a roll call on Riddick's
motion for reconsideration. Walker
made a point of order that there was
no quorum, but was ignored and the
suffragists defeated the motion to re-
consider by a vote of 80 to o.
Riddick then moved that the house
transmit to the senate in the usual
manner the senate joint resolution
ratifying the amendment. Again Walk
err made point of no quorum and
also challenged the right Of the
speaker pro TEN. to put any motion
relating to the amendment in view OF
the injunction restraining the speak
er of the house"
Again ode ignored Walker, ordered
the roll call and the motion carried
| SO m tho nntis NOT voting Ad-