The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-22
TENNEeeEEIa oLoRv.

Mrs. Gait has said that the suffrage
vote IL tied 10 neither party and she
has analysed the support given by mem
bers OF each party TO the ratification
of the Nineteenth amendment. This,
however. remains true: But for the
ratification by Tennessee the women
could not have voted In the coming
election. Already hundreds OF thou
sands have voted who otherwise would
not have been qualified until the 1921
sessions OF the legislature. Thirty-five
states had ratified. Then the Delaware
legislature was called in session, but
failure was recorded The republican
governors OF Vermont and Connecticut
were appealed to TO call extra sessions
for the ratification OF the amendment.
They absolutely refused. Tho constitu-
lions OF Florida and Tennessee seemed
to preclude the possibility OF ratifca-
tion by either state, on account OF the
clause which put a limitation on the
legislature. Then came the decision OF
the supreme court In the Ohio case in
volving the Eighteenth amendment. and
setting aside a clause In the Ohio con-
stitution which was similar in principle
to the Tennessee constitution, except
that in one case the limitation on rati-
fication involved the holding Of a refer
dun and in the other case required that
a new legislature be elected. The Ten
nessee delegation was on the way TO San
Francisco when the dispatch was
printed. Although no action was taken
by the members Individual kilograms
were al once sent to Gov. Roberts urg-
ing him to call an extra session. The
next day the national committee met
NJ San Francisco and sent a formal re-
quest that he call such a session. All
eyes were on Tennessee. The governor
met with some Of his friends and II was
decided to call the session for Aug. o.
So grateful was the convention that II
unanimously adopted resolution, pre-
scented by Chairman Homer Cummings,
thanking him for HIS action.
Then the battle began on Tennessee
soil. The opponents OF suffrage from all
over the country gathered ut Nashville.
Mrs. Gait was present. She knows the
powerful influences that had to be
overcome. The battle lines swayed
backward and forward Sometimes
there was gloom. On the final test vote
the motion TO lay on the table there
was tie in the house. On the vote on
the resolution one OF the democratic
members reserved his vote and a re-
publican, at the request Of his dear
mother, changed his vote to one in IA
vor Of the resolution. Then the demo-
crat also voted aye. So on the final test
II can hardly be said that either party
could take all the credit.
but looked at from a broader view
point II was n contribution to the cause
OF Justice made by a southern and a
democratic state. II 10 for that reason
that democrats and southerners. while |
they must not claim an undue share
Of the praise, ut the same time may
exhibit pride that they overcame the
old sectional prejudices which were In
fuoncing the south against woman's |
suffrage and put Tennessee abreast or
tho progressive spirit Of the nation. 1t |
Is the finer accomplishment that from |
tho section of the country which was !
thought to be opposed to this measure |
has come this evidence of progressive |
democracy.
The Tennessee action has been at
nessee as the thirty-sixth,, state, Secre-
ncssee as the thirty-six state Secre-
tary Colby proclaimed the ratification |
OF the amendment. hundreds of thou
sands Of women have already voted.
and Gov. Holcomb, OF Connecticut, was
Induced by reason of the new situation
to call tho legislature Of that state in
session and 1t promptly ratified, thus
removing the last shadow OF doubt. But
for Tennessee's action this would not
have occurred. To us belongs the glory.