New-York tribune., 1920-06-25
Victory Seen
For Suffffra &c
In Tennessee
Acting Attorney Generals
Opinion on Priority of
Z. S. Law Over the State
Opens Way, Say Leaders
Women Are Confident
Sure Legislature Will Be
36th to Ratify; Views
Based OH Recent Polls

From The Tribure's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 24.-Suffrage
leaders day declared they are conf
dent the Legislature o. Tennessee, to
be called in special session by Gov
ernor Roberts, will act favorablv on
the proposed nineteenth amendment
to the Constitution, enfranchlslng 90
OOO,0O0 women and enabling them TO
vote for the first time in a Presidcn-
tial election.
Their hopes were heightened by pub
lication OF an opinion from Acting At
tornev General Frierson, in response
to an inquiry from President Wilson,
that the Ohio liquor referendum deci-
SION of the Supreme Court removed
legal obstacles which had stood in the
way of action by Tennessee. The court
held that state constitutions canno:
provide other methods for amending
the Federal Constitution than that in
strument itself sets forth.
TenNessee's constitution contains a
clause that an election of legislators
must intervene between the proposal
Of an amendment and action on it by
the Legislature. This, it is neld, is
now invalidated
Thirty-fve states have approved suf-
the amendment effective.
Suffrage Victory Certain
Miss Sue White, of Nashville, Tenn,
chairman of the National Women's
Party, declared to-day that victory for
suffrage was certain. She bases her
opinion on a recent poll of both cham
bera of the Legislature and the fact
that last year the Tennessee Legisla
ture passed a Presidential suffrage bill
President Wilson, in writing to Mr.
Frierson as preliminary to asking
Governor Roberts to convene the
Legislature, said:
"a constitutional question has
arisen in Tennessee with regard to
the power of the Legislature to act
at once upon the pending suffrage
amendment to the Constitution of
tAc United States A member Of the
Tennessee Congressional delegation
has requested the view of the Fed
cral authorities on that question,
and | would be very much obliged if
you would look into the matter for
me and let me have ,he view Of the
department, which will be glad to
communicate TO the member Of Con-
gress who has made the inquiry"
Mr.. Fricrson roplied
"1he constitution of Tennessee
contains provision to the effect
that no Legislature shall act on an
amendment to the Federal Constitu-
tion unless elected after the pro-
posal of the amendment. The pres
ent Tennessee Legislature was
elected before the suffrage amend
ment was proposed.
"The ruling OF the Supreme Court,
however, in the recent Ohio cases.
and the consideration which gave
to this question in preparing those
cases for hearing, leaves no doubt
IN my mind That the power o. ne
Legi stature to ratify an am 4ndmen1
to the Federal Constitution IS de-
rived solely from the people OF the
United States through the Federal
constitution and not from either
the people or the constitution of a
state. The power thus derived can
not be taken away, limited, or re-
stricted in any way by the constitu-
ton OF state. The provision of the
tennessee Constl'utlon, above re
ferred to, if valid, would undoubtedly
be restriction upon that power"
It Is believed enemies Of suffrage
VIII attempt to obstruct She amend
ment by court action should Tennessee
act favorably. But fhe women are con-
1dent the law is in their favor.
Workers Concentrate Forces
Concentration of forces of the Ma
tional Womans Party in Tennessee has
begun. Miss White will leave Friday
for Nashville to lead the campaign.
She has been in Washington for six
months conducting the research depart
ment of the party.
Meantime suffrage leaders are ex-
ertlng pressure on the Democratic Ma
tional Convention in San Francisco