The Washington herald., 1920-08-19
VICTORY OF WOMEN
ENDS BATTLE BEGUN
WAY BACK IN 1875
CONTINUED FROM FACE ONE.

II would have been but Representa-
tive Harry Burns, of McMinn
County, Immediately announced he
changed his vote from mo" to
aye" This gave victory for the
resolution of ratification. Burns is
the youngest Representative in the
house.
Adjourn After Decision.
Immediately after the vote the
house went into adjournment on
motion by Riddick.
Lea lers of suffrage forces de-
clsred IT will be absolutely impos-
sible' for Speaker Walker to change
the result through a reconsideration.
women now will be able to vote
in the November elections on equal
| Iity with men unless the amendment
| is blocked in the courts or a re-
( consideration changes the result.
| The vote in the house came with
dramatic suddenness after an inef-
fectual attempt to table the reso-
luton of ratification had been made.
/ Speaker Moved TO Table.
Speaker Walker moved to table.
The vote on this was As to As.
and the house went into an uproar
because the decision was in doubt.
! A second roll call also tied.
I Then the speaker announced the
vote would be taken on the original
| resolution providing for ratification.
/ When order had been restored, the
clerk began to call the roll, and on
lockers held their breath. The vote
was announced as 40 to AZ. Speaker
/ Walker was Immediately on his feet
and the house was in confusion.
Then walker said: Il change ny
vote"
This made the resolution so in
favor OF suffrage and IS against it.
Session stormy.
The session was another stormy
one. Time and again the sergeant
alarms was employed to restore or
der. Speaker Walker and Repre-
I 81 ntativc Riddick. when the motion
TO table was un. engaged in an al
terCation that looked like il might
develop into a fight. and the ser
Geant-at-arms and several members
rushed to them. Spectators hootcd.
cheered and hissed when the faction
10 which they adhered scored a
point This made the transaction
Of business diffiCUlt
Tho speaker threatened at one
time to adjourn the house unless the
members took their seats. Several
had to he persuaded by the ser
Genat-at-arms
Plan Legal Attack.
legal attack will be made on
suffrage. according to the officers OF
the Tennessee Constitutional League
which is composed Of lawyers The
argument will be that the State con-
stitution forbade action by this scs-
sion of the legislature.
Aside from this and the possibility
.Of change in the result through a
reconsideration, the only step re-
naming to make the Nineteenth
amendment operative is the promuI-
cation Of a decree from the Score
tary Of State.
Suffra gists estimated there are
27,o0O.O0O women voters in the coun-
try. Seven million Of those already
had Presidential suffrage through
state action. and 1000 200 had local
suffrage.
Leaders Are JubiIant.
Tennessee has ended our fight
for political freedom and our graft
tude to her is boundless." said Miss
Sue S. White. Tennessee chairman
of the National Woman's party.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait. prcsi-
dent Of the National American
Women Suffrage Association. said:
Tennessee has triumphantly
closed the sixty years of the wom-
ems struggle for the right to have
their prayers counted on election
date. The gallant men of the
volunteer State. unsfraid of the in
timidation, havov opened at last the
long locked door through which
millions of grateful women will
pass to political freedom.
Ratification of the amendment is
more than d victory for woman suf-
frage. 1t is proof of the inviolsb BILE
integrity of the Tennessee Iegisla-
ture, fact which should fill every
tennessee heart with pride
History of Fight.
The Tennessee legislature was
called into special session week
ago to consider the suffrage amend
ment by Gov A. H. Roberts.
Lobbyists by the score worked
early and late, and political lead
ers of both parties joined the struE-
gle, among them President Wilson,
Gov. Cox, Senator Harding. senator
Mcclellan, and several Congressman
and lesser lights. Political pres
sure as much as any other thing
is credited with having accomplish
ed the suffrage victory.
Ratification of the amendment
brings to an end a struggle TO OBJ
tain votes for women which began
before the civil war and crowns
with success the Efforts Of Susan IS.
Anthony, who was the pioneer in
the suffrage movement in America.
The resolution approved today was
drawn by Miss Anthony IN 1873. and
was introduced tn the United States
Senate in 1878. 1t went before the
States in June, 1919, since whom
women have carried on spirited
campaign throughout the country to
obtain ratification.
paSS in tho ratification 80 +ba .,,ee