New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-16
Attempt Made to Steal
Written Pledges of
House Members to Vote
for Ratification Bill
Ants Enlist Aid
OF Wives in Fight
Each Faction Predicts
Victory When Final
Vote Comes Tomorrow
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. 15.-The
most powerful secret influences ever
used in Tennessee politics have been
at work since yesterday to prevent the
House of Representatives from ratify-
ing the Federal woman suffrage amend
mcnt A futile attempt was made to-
day to steal the written pledges OBJ
tanned by the suffrage supporters from
members of the House. If the pledges
had disappeared and thirteen of the
sixty~two Representatives, pledged to
support ratification could have been
persuaded to disregard their pledges,
suffrage might have faced defeat.
Ratification leaders, on their part,
are leaving no stone unturned to coun-
teract their vigorous opponents.
"A constant stream Of kilograms and
long distance messages is being sent
to the leading citizens OF the places
from which the doubtful men come.
apprlsing them of the situation and
seeking their aid to counterfeit the op-
position efforts.
When the House meets at 2 O'Clock
tomorrow afternoon it is expected
That Democratic and Republican lead
ers from every section will be present
TO protect the interests of suffrage.
actions of the lobbyists A resolution
Tor immediate investigation may be
presented in the House.
!, we Will rip things wide open," is
the way Republican leader put it.
Women Fight Ratification
Anti-suffrage workers are also at
tempting to influence members votes
through their wives. They are sending
representatives armed with copies Of
The Woman's Bible" which they claim
was compiled under the direction of
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, to see the
wives OF the members.
They are putting up the plea that
suffrage means atheism fo1 American
womanhood. This is being done re-
gardless of the fact that Mrs. Gait did
not see the copy of the "Womans
Bible" and that as soon as it was ia
sued she introduced a resolution in
the meeting of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association repu
dating and denouncing it,
The ants have organized in the
home counties of members they hope
to sway through church connections.
They are spreading the "Womans
Bible propaganda as thoroughly as
they can, and getting the folks back
home to appeal to their REPRESENTATIVE
to vote against suffrage They have
published advertisements in various
newspapers in the state about the
"Woman's Bible" and are working viq-
orously with it,
AS soon as a suffrage man gets
wabply,' headquarters gets busy and
finds out why. They are able to
counteract nearly every anti argument
so tar used, they believe, and remain
confident that Monday afternoons SEES
sion will bring ratification.
Pressure on Legislators
The legislators, chosen from the
hills and hollows of the state. are
under the most tremendous nressn ne
poth Tor and against ratification that
they have ever been under for anv
measure. They are showing the effect
OF the strain. Their faces begin to be
hollow and drawn; their eyes have
holler look. Rumors of the new line
ups and OBJECTIONS from one side or
the others are of almost hourly occur
renee. The ratification field generals
work has so far been directed to keen
ing the ants working on their own
men to keep them lined up. Suffrage
men and women are constantly after
the anti members. They are after
them so strong that a great part of
the opposition forces is directed to
keeping them in line. So the effective
ness of the ants is considerably re-
duced
"The best defensive is a good Of
fensive" is the suffrage motto.
Whichever way Mondays verdict
goes will be by good majority. If
the ratification resolution passes, all
Continued on page three)