Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-08-19

Nashville, Tenn. Aug 1S.--The amend
ment extending equal suffrage TO Ameri-
can women was ratified to-day for in
clusion In the federal Constitution. tie
lower House of the Tennessee LeEis!a-
ture voting, 80 to 4s. to concur In the
Senate resolution adopted Friday. 25 TO a.
Action Of the House made Tennessee
tle 36th State to approve the amond-
ment which lacked tonight only formal
| oerti'ication by. Secretary Colby Of the
state department to complete Its accept.
ance by the nation.
MAY NBSC1ND ACTION
I There is still; a possibility that the
! House may resc.nd it's action. At the
! last moment Speaker Walker, leader of
/ the ant-suffraye forces, changed his vote
from no to aye. paving the way for
motion within tho next two legislative
days
| Should to-dAy's vote be confirmed or
the House fail 70 take further action be-
fore adjournment Friday, millions of
women will be free under the amendment
to vote in the presidential election next
November. Only successful litigation
contesting the legal right of this Legis-
lature to ratify the section could pre-
vent them. Steps for such test of the
provision of the Tennessee constitution
Involved already have been taken by the
Tennessee Constitutional League
| Ninety-sx of the 80 members of the
House We're present to-day and the align
ment. until a vote on concurrence was
taken. was a tie, each faction polling 4s
votes on a motion by Mr.. Walker to table
the resolution. On the ballot for con-
currence the lineup was 40 to 47 until
the speaker changed his vote. This
apparently would give the suffra gists an
advantage of only two votes. but their
leaders declared tonight that members
/, in favor of suffrage, who were absent to-
day, would arrive probably tomorrow
morning.
The motion to reconsider may he car
ried by a majority vote of the members
; presen. and since Mr.. Walker can act
without a moment notice, the suffragists
planned to be on hand in full force dur.
ing the next two days.
Suffrage leaders said they expected ne
defeCtions among their forces, but as &
precauton were tightening their lines to
night while opposition leaders were wag
ing an active campaign to increase thef
strength for a final effort.
; END COMES SUDDENLY
2 The end came suddenly. Debate on th'
{ motion to concur had been in progres
little more than an hour and there wa
n no indication a vote was imminent whei
,, Speaker Walker called Representativ
r Overton to the chair and took the foo
:. to reply to suffragists who had CHARGE
/, that special interests were at work t
;, defeat ratification.
a The battle has been won and the meas
g ure has been defeated" Mr. Walker said
II resent the iniquitous remarks that spe
cial interests are here alone against tn
measure, ! resent this on behalf or tn
womanhood that is both for and agains
suffrage.
- Il move that this measure go where
belongs, to the table,
FIRST BALLOT A TIE
Instantly the chamber was in an ur
10 roar. Suffragists clamored for recognitio
"a while a chorus of second the motion
II came from the antis. Mr.. Overton, how
X ever. refused TO recognize anyone an
ID ordered the roll called. The result wa
M in doubt on unofficial talles. An appe'
a. to the clerk developed that his tally ais
"a showed a tie, As to 4s.
III Pandemonium reigned Members lie
their seats and crowded around u
ID speakers stand. many demanding anoth
al roll call.
in Mr. Overton. who occupied the cha
during the remainder Of the session.
a. dered second roll call, which show'
ng a tie Of AZ 10 4s and the speaker deoiar'
he the motion lost FOR want OF majority
cd Instantly .he ant'-suffragists demand'
e- n vote on the original motion 10 concur
he the Senate action II another tie resulte
il meant rejection of the amendmer
when the speaker put the motion hu
dreds Of suffrag;sts regarded the oat'
as lost
nm The vote at ths outset was on pa
tisan lines but when the name OF II
preventative Harry T. Burn, Repun
-e- can Of McMinn County was calico,
OF voted AYE" The opposition Tn
at virtually conceded defeat for Mr. bu
-st had voted with them to table the ret