The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-08-18

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Nashville. Aug. ts.--Tennessee, the
thirty. sixth state, ratified the fed
eraI woman's suffrage amendment
today, the house, by vote OF 30
to 46, concWrlna In the action Of
the senate, which voted favorabiy
last week.
The constitutional change thus
VIII become effective In time for the
1900, 900 women OF the country 10
vote In the presidential election In
November unless the lower house OF
the assembly rescinds It's action
Speaker Walker, leader OF the
antisuffraoists, put opponents In
position to demand reconsideration
by changing his vote from nay 20
aye and moving to reconsider. The
house adjourned until 10 o'clock to-
morrow when the speakers motion
Will have the right Of way. Suffrage
and antlsuffrage forces tlphtered
their lines this afternoon for the
final fight and both sides were
claiming victory.
For a few moments Just before
vote was ordered on the resolution
to concur In the senate action
many leaders Of both sides, Inciud-
Ing Speaker Walker, were certain
the amendment had been rejected.
This came on a motion TO table the
resolution which Mr.. Walker offered
Unexpectedly. Al the conclusion OF
the roll call leaders who were check
ing ballots as the members voted,
had total Of forty. nine In favor OF
tabilne and forty. seven In tire mega.
tive. The clerk OF the house an.
nounced his ballot showed tie Of
ds to 4s. The house was In an up.
roar and II was several minutes be-
fore the speaker pro tenn was able to
order another ballot. The second bal
lot was a tie, 48 TO 4e, and the mo.
. ton was lost.
A vote on the motion TO concur Will
ne senate was ordered Immediately
ne opposition expecting a tie vote, Il
Which event the motion would have beef
psf and ratification would have beei
elected, There was a break In tn
anks Of the antis. however one o
hem voting with the suffraglsts, an,
he motion carried 40 to AZ. with an
ouncement OF the result, speake
Walker changed his vote to AYE" II
rider to have II entered on the journa
living him the privilege of moving TO
reconsideration, and the count stood 81
D 46
Any attempt Mr.. Walker may maxi.
D have the action reconsidered mus
Q made within the next two days.
Legality Of Ratification.
Legality OF ratification Is questioned
y many legal authorities and Leaders
the antisuffragists have announced
npeatcdly that should Tennessee ratif,
n appeal to the courts would he mad,
on the ground that thii
'gisature, elected prior to submission
the amendment to the states by con,
ress. had no right TO act because of q
tate constitutional inhibition, The con.
titution provides that no Legislature
hall pass upon an amendment unless
should have been elected after sub.
Ilssi0n.
Others contend that decision Of this
lpreme court Of the United states hold.
" void clause OF the Ohio eonstitu.
on relating referendum on amend
tents also nullines the provision Of the
ennesseo constitution IN question. The
ght of the antisuffragists element
the contest was based
lrgely on the contention that action ny
his legislature would be In violation ol
he state constitution.
CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY.
Speaker Walkers action In chang.
Ing his vote 20 "aye" giving suffrage
the constitutional majority OF fifty,
removes the possibility OF an attack
on legality OF ratification on this
Issue had the suhraalsts polled n
majority OF less than tfty votes.
The state attorney general had
ruled that majority OF the mem
bers present. and not the eonstItu.
tlonal majority, was sufficient for
ratification.
Bratton Votes No.
When Representative Hfatton. a
was recognized and announced
q would vote against ratification th'
In tho galleries staged
wild demonstration. MIR Bratton pre-
lously had pledged himself to vote fol
uffrage.