The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-04

The Tennessee antisuffraglsts EVIL
IDENTITY had forgotten the historic case
OF New York, OF which the legislature
in 1869 ratified the Fifteenth amend
ment and the succeeding legislature in
| 1870 by resolution withdrew It's approval
or the amendment. Nevertheless,
nearly three months later the secretary
| OF slate issued his proclamation declar;
ing that the Fifteenth amendment had
been ratified by the required number OF
states, including New York. In the
case OF the Tennessee house, the sec
ond and adverse vote was not taken
until after the proclamation. not as in
the case OF the New York legislature,
before the proclamation OF the secre-
tary OF state.
II at any time that II might see At
the legislature OF a state could reverse
IT'S position and recall it's previous de-
clsion, there would never be any final
ity about the Adoption of an amend
mont TO the Constitution. Thirteen
states could at any time by withdraw
Ing their ratification, reamend the Con-
stitution by striking out an amendment
that had already become part OF the
supreme law Of the land, The process
might be indefinitely prolonged by va
rious states from time to time, so that
for six months OF the year an amend
ment to the federal Constitution might
months suspended. The theory is alb
surd on It's face.-New York World
(Dem.).
NEEDN'T BE DISTURBED
No one need be unduly disturbed by
the latest desperate maneuvers OF the
Tennessee recalcitrants In their attempt
to block equal suffrage. OF course,
their action in the house in passing a
resolution designed to reverse the rati-
fication OF the suffrage amendment and
to expunge the vote from the record
will doubtless be made the basis for
further litigation; and that will be vex-
atious. And. Of course, there Is a pos
sibility that the Tennessee courts may
complicate the situation still further.
But II is uncomfortable that this new
effort will be successful IN turning back
the hands of tho clock and In setting
aside. even temporarily, the enfran-
II is the last despairing effort OF a dy-
Ing opposition to the inevitable triumph
OF Justice to half the citizenship OF the
nation. and 1t will be as futile as 1t Is
foolish.
The formal certincation' Of the pas
sage of the resolution OF ratification to
the governor. his transmission OF the
notification to the secretary Of state. at
washington and the formal action OF
the latter In promulgating notice OF the
passage OF the amendment complete the
stltution and puts II beyond the power
OF n single house or even OF both
houses OF the Tennessee or any other
legislature to reverse. The amendment
Ia n fait accompli
That, at least, is the view that will
be taken OF the situation until the su-
preme court OF the United states,
should the issue be taken that far,
shall declare otherwise. There Is every
presumption that that tribunal VIII do
nothing OF the sort. The maneuver of
the antisuffragists in Tennessee, It
must not be forgotten, Is that Of de-
feated minority, already made ridicu-
lous by It's ignomlnious flight from thei
state. Tho Tennessee indictments have
nut themselves in n preposterous po-
sition; and they will gain nothing. for
themselves or for the interests which
have hoped to profit by postponemennt
OF universal equal suffrage
phia Public Ledger Qnd).