The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-30

ification they will do it.
1T is shameful that after glad ac-
claim has been made to Tennessee's
act from all over the world and Gov
ernor Cox has said that it was of such
transcendent Importance that it saved
civilization we should have the record
married in such manner.
What will be the reputation of the
state if by her act confusion may be
caused in many states and we shall
not know until the end of long ntiga-
ton whether or not the women are en-
titled to vote.
TT is not characteristic of the Vol
unteer state to make a gift to human
ity OF incalculable value one day and
withdraw it the next
I'VE shall be held in contempt and
execration if these 1awless methods
subjecting their participants to punish
ment for fe1onious conduct succeed
However. we have no fear that
there will be any failure. The amend
ment has been ratified. It received on
August Is fifty votes, a constitutional
majority of the house of representa-
tives of Tennessee. 1t did not need
SO many votes. It would have been
carried if it had received a majority
of those present. but it actually did
receive a majority of the total mem
bership of the house, SO any question
along that line is removed, thanks to
Speaker Walker who voted for the
resolution in order to enter a motion
to reconsider.
Tn the opinion of Gen. Frank
Thompson, Gen. Chas. T. Gates and
Governor Roberts this ended the mat
ter. The legislature of Tennessee de-
rives all its power for the ratification
of an amendment of the federal con-
stitution from that instrument and
none of such power from the constitu-
ton of Tennessee. The act of voting
on an amendment is a political act
and not legislative. The legislature
casts its vote of assent to the amend
ment. 1t cannot be withdrawn or re-
considered any more than the vote
of an individual citizen can be with
drawn from a ballot box, or the vote
of member of the general assembly
can be withdrawn or changed after
he has voted for secretary of state or
comptroller.
Otherwise there would always be
hopeless confusion.
IF the vote on an amendment can
be reconsidered, then its parliamentary
status may be uncertain throughout
session. Suppose the motion to recon
slider is laid on the table. under the
rules of parliamentary bodies it may
be taken from the table by a two-
thirds vote. 1t has been held that
state could not rescind its action on
an amendment. New York attempted
to do so once two months following rat
ification and before the PRONUNCIATION
of the proclamation, but such was not
allowed.
Since we have been unable either
to amend an antiquated constitution,
which is now held to be such a sacred
instrument, or to secure a constitu-
tional convention it is to be hoped that
do business should be annu1led, if that
is necessary to give justice to one
half the American people.
Nor will the court be long time
about it. in our opinion, which millions
of women waiting for the news from
Washington.
The press of the state and the ma
ton already is condemning the hegira |
III HO uuCCE Id1I lcliilS. II tldb bSSIi
hoped that the state would never again
have to answer for such an incident.
The example was set by the so-called |
regular democrats in 1909 and 1t did
much to destroy that faction. and when |
Governor Hooper's friends followed |
suit in 1918, il proved his undoing. |
Public opinion on this sort of tactics !
is best expressed in the language of
Hon. J.. o. Martin. of Hamilton coun- |
ty who refused to leave despite his |
views on suffrage, but said the min
GRITTY should stay in Nashville and |
take their medicine like men,
Probably the. only effect of the
runaway and the litigation win be to
moderate the enthusiasm of the suf- |
fragists over their unexampled vic /
tory because of the fear of defeat in
the courts. If men were going to grant |
suffrage to women why should they do |
it in such ungracious manner? Is this |
some of the southern chivalry we were |
hearing about? Since women I'M I
questionably are going to vote in No
yember why should they not be in /
vited into the parties in manner to /
secure their full participation? As il /
is corrupt and selfish interests are
seeking to intimidate and browbeat /
them into staying away from the polls. /
About the most contemplate feature /
of this affair is the effort to organize !
unthinking members of their own sex /
against the vote.
Manufacturers of Tennessee, nine |
tenths of whom favor suffrage we be- /
neve, should make inquiry as to how /
their organization has been used to /
impede this movement. The change |
in the votes of the Davidson county /
members is said to be due to such l
influence.
Second only to the Declaration of 1
independence and the signing of the /
emancipation proclamation the vote in 1
the Tennessee legislature on August IS /
viii be known in history. And it was /
by the vote of a young East Tonnes
sean that the balance was thrown to /