The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-20
ANorAER RErREAr.

NOIHEH NE IhEAT.
The morning paper abAndons its con
tontlon. II would seem. that the leglsla
ture of Tennessee could not legal
ratify the Nineteenth amendment AM
now vociferatss that the ratitcation wa
Illegal because quorum was not pres
ont when the vote on reconsideration
was taken. So the whole case OF tho
antis is finally backed up against theil
disgraceful runaway TO Alabama. They
did not have the courage TO face the
issue. They knew they could throw q
cloud on the title OF the amendment
II at all, only by a trick, and they
decamped. vamoosed, absquatulated and
then with a ieer said. what are you
going TO do about TT There is nc
quorum present" Speaker Walker.
who made his braggadoclo. spread eagle
speech asserting that the battle was
won." remained in the speakers chair
20 manipulate the parliamentary game.
But he was quickly discounted. Fifty
votes were cast against reconsideration.
showing for the second time that a ma
jority Of those elected TO the Legislature
favored suffrage. But the vote on re-
consideration was not needed to COM
picte the ratification. As soon as the
last vote which was necessary to give
n majority OF those voting for the resolu-
tion was cast three days before the
amendment became part OF the Or
ganic law. II couldn't be reconsidered.
Once presented and acted on favorabiy
that was the end Of II.
The antis now Seem to admit that all
their talk about Tennessee having no
right to ratify was just for effect. They
have abandoned their contention. II we
are to Judge by this spokesman. that
there was no conflict between the fed
eral constitution and the state consti-
tuition. OF course there was q conflict.
otherwise the state could go ahead and
ratify. The very fact that the state
constitution was cited 70 show that the
legislature could not act waA proof Of a
conflict. since II there had been no
clause In the state constitution bearing
on the subject then manifestly the state
could have proceeded TO ratify. There
waH a conflict and being a conflict the
loyalty Of every member under his oath
was to the federal constitution. Not
since the SOS has anyone claimed to the
contrary. And in the period when south
ern leaders asserted the right of seces-
sion they argued effectively that. Il
was one Of the reserved rights which
had not. been surrendered. But we did
not reserve the right to put n limita-
Ion on the right to amend. There Is |
no limitation on the right to propose or |
he rights OF legislatures TO concur.
once a legislative body votes that's
he end of It. unless It fails. then
may be brought up at the next
Iession. But even II. II were
,ranted that the house or senate might
TX rules of parliamentary practice I'm.
lor which they should act on an
amendment, weNnnd that the privilege
4 reconsideration demanded by the mi
Iority had expired by the two days lin
alton. They had recognized that a
majority was against them ant had not
AIRED bring up the resolution. The right
o reconsider then passed. Under the
ules Of the house the governor Is EN-
lowered to sign bin OF. resolution after
hose two days expire In case OF n con-
titutional amendment II isn't neces-
AIRY for him TO sign.
BY loud language and misrepresenta-
lon the ants are keeping up the
emblance Of night. Walker is
gain making himself ridiculous. His
rip to Washington will be az fruitless
$ was the runaway 10 Decatur.
In the meanwhile the attack on Gov,
,oberts 10 nzSling out. The governor
as never shown up an splendidly ms
\ his keeping faith with the people ON
his issue. The party platform adopted
I Nashville pledged him to the course.
here was not q vote in the state con-
ention against II. The party platform
I San Francisco pledged him to II.
here wasn't a vote there against Il.
IL during his primary campaign he re-
Grated his intention to call an extra
ession. The criticism some OF us who !
pposed him made was that he didn't
o 20 before his primary. But those
no are now assailing him and were
len supporting him knew he was going
} call II and urge suffrage. Did they
ipport a man for governor whom they :
slicvod would he false in his promises2 y
40 II was no compliment to Gov.
oberts and he 10 now well quit OF
with such a low standard Of
'litical morals and ne has by his fear
- course fittingly rebuked those who =
'pectcd him TO break his solemn word, /,