The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1920-07-30
SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT.

SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT.
Interest will soon center In the suf-
frage amendment as 1t is only a lit
tie more than week before the legis-
lature will meet In extra session for
the purpose of acting on the federal
amendment. Tennessee salons who
are in favor Of woman's suffrage as
an original proposition are ''up
against" difficult question. 1t is one
that is worrying members from this
county and doubtless from other sec
tions of the state. Unquestionably a
large majority of the members of
both the senate and house are in
favor of equal suffrage and If there
were no constitutional bar would
promptly vote for ratification. The
indications are that the amendment
will be ratified despite the language
of the state constitution, at the same
time many 4williyote for ratification
who seriously sdoubt the right Of the
Legislature to passo on 9 the question
undefothe states constitution. nv
The constitution of Tennessee, pro
vides that no federal amendment
shall be acted upon by the legislature
unless the legislature shall have been
elected after the formal submission
of such amendment. The woman's
suffrage amendment was not sub.
mitted until the year after the pre-
sent legislature had been elected.
This is bar to ratification at this
time. But in the meantime the SUI
preme court of the United States, in
the liquor cases, has held that no
state constitution can impose any
limit upon the right of legislature
TO ratify; that the federal consti-
tuition itself provides the means for
amending that document and that
any thing to the contrary in the con-
stitution of any state is null and
void This is not only the law but it
is common sense. The Herald has
little doubt of the legality and vail
dity of resolution of ratification if
passed at the extra session.
Nevertheless the members of the
Tennessee legislature took solemn
oath to support and defend the con-
'stitution Of the state. A vote in ia
vor of ratification would be a viola
tion Of the oath. 1t Is no answer to
say that the provision of the Tonnes
see, constitution quoted is void under
the, decision of the supreme court
in the liquor cases, for the reason that
the court has never passed dupon the
states constitution. Its reasoning in
the Ohio case would indicate that If
the question is ever presented Ten
nessee's constitutional inhibition on
federal amendments would be violated,
at the same time will the solons in
the state be justified in anticipating
such decision?
1t is all very vexatious question
and one that unquestionably is giving
many members who are thoroughly
conscientious many sleepless nights.
Equal suffrage is coming, it is in fact
almost here. If Tennessee does not
ratify some other state will. 1t may
be wise and proper change in the
organic law, but The Herald doubts
the. advisability of treating lightly
the. constitution of the state, even to
attain a needed reform. 1t has no
sort of sympathy with the fight that
is being made to put over" the
amendment for partisan political eff
feet. Nothing oais1 more disgusting
than the effortsoa6 the national re-
publican, ,apdu democratic leaders to
carral the fwoman vote" AS aYmat-
ter of fact IT, women in every state
vote this fall is doubtful IL the
result is changed in any way.