Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-24
SUFFRAGE SEEMS
TO Be BLOCKED FOR
Indefinite Time
Clerks Of Both Houses Arc In
cludcd in Injunction Against
Certifcation.
NO DATE YET SET
FOR HEARING CASES
BY Associated Press 70 Every Evening

by Associated Press 20 Every Evening
Nashville, Tenn. Aug 2s.--With GER
tification Of TenDessee's ratification Of the
federal suffrage amendment beld UP by a
court order, suffrage and anti-suffragc
leaders today prepared arguments 10
present at the hearing on the temporary
writ Of injunction issued by Judge lang
ford. II is believed the hearing viii be- held
tomorrow or Thursday.
SuTraglsts expressed confidence that
the injunction would be dissolved IN n
few days. The opposition declared that
If il lost the initial court skirrnish IL 'uld
carry an appeal If necessary 70 the United
States Supreme Court, thus preventing
certifcation for some time.
With 81 members who opposed ratifi-
cation remaining at Decatur, Ala, II
was expected the House would be un-
able to remain in session when it convened
late today.
Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 24--Argument
on the order restricting State and legis-
lative officials from certifying 10 Washing
ton Tennessee s ratification Of the Federal
Suffrage Amendment might be heard to-
morrow or Thursday, II is thought,
though no agreement has been reached.
The order was extended yesterday 70 in
ciude the chief clerks Of the Senate and
House and was amended TO cover the
action Of the House in transacfing business
Saturday, when 10 was mot at any time
constitutionally organized
Meantime. the legislative machinery Of
the State has come to a complete stand
still, and more than score Of anti-s1Iffrage
me mbers who went 70 Decatur, Ala, re-
main out of Jurisdiction. Some Of tho
rIffragists in the House attempted yester-
day 10 dispense with roll call and 30
work on local bills, but roll call was de-
manded and a quorum being found lack
ing. adjournment was taken until late
today This is expected 10 be The pro-
cedure for the next few days, at least
Rumors that an agreement had been
reached between suffrage leaders and the
bolters at Decatur To return TO Nashville
and proceed with legislation under pledge
that suffrage would not be referred to by
either faction were denied IN all quarters.
Seth Walker, Speaker Of the House, and
the opposition leader, said he had no
authority to speak for members at De-
agree to such plan.
The suffragisis ssill maintain their action
Saturday was legal in every respect, and
regard the temporary injunction as the
only stumbling block inthe way Of certify
ing ratification 10 Washington. They we're
confident the injunction would be dis
solved within the next few days.
The opposition, declaring the suffraglsts
acted Illegally, claim the House still has
the opportunity to orescind ratification, and
they are urging massmeetings against suf-
frage throughout the State, IN the hope
that some members who voted for ratifi-
cation will reverse their stand when the
expected time comes.
Governor Roberts, Attorney-General
Thompson and Others hold that the
amendment has been ratified and declare
only the injunction stands in the way of
certifying ratification TO Washington.
Before the restricting order had been
amended by the court the resolution
ratifying the amendment as adopted by
the House had been transmitted TO the
Senate, but the clerk of that body must
report receipt of the resolution after
which the usual course would be for the
measure to be entered on the journal and
ordered sent to the engossing clerk. Then
ii would be signed by the Speaker and
transmitted TO the governor for his ap-
proval.