The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-08-23
Ratification Complete,
Coz. Roberts Declares
Executive W Exercise All Legal and Legitimate Power of OF
fee to Consummae Certi6cation-Says sc Had Pledged

Gov. A. n. Roberts today declared
that the action Of the two houses
OF the legislature constituted a
ratification Of the Nineteenth
amendment and the will Of tho
majority, which cannot be nuIli.
fed by the minority. either by
Hight and abandonment Of official
! duty upon the part Of the mem.
bers or otherwise.
~ will exc roise and bring to
bear all the legal and legitimate
powers OF the office Of governor
TO oonsummate in an orderly and
| legal manner the certifioation of
the action Of the legislatures to
tho proper federal officials"
Statement in Full.
The statement OF Gov. Roberts In
full Is as follows:
Under the act of the legislature of
Tennessee, passed In April, 1919, the
right To vote for electors for president
and vice president OF the United
States, and for all officers OF cities,
towns and taxing districts. and upon
all questions or propositions sub
mittcd exclusively to a vote OF the
electors of municipalities. was con.
ferred upon the women OF Tennessee
over the age of ~ years. This act has
been held valid by the supreme court
or this state, thus guaranteeing to the
wrmen or Tennessee the right to vote
In the coming presidential election.
"A short time thereafter the pro-
posed Nineteenth amendment of tho
constitution of the United States was
submitted by congress- to the legisla.
lures of the various states. thirty Ave
OF which Ind ratified It before the
democratic state convention met on
juno s, last. A short time before that
date, the Ohio case was decided by
the supreme court OF the United
states, upon n point considered by
many lawyers 70 be detcrminativo of
the Interpretation. to be placed upon
n clause IN the constitution of Ten
nesseo which undertakes TO prohibit |
the legislature whose members are |
elected before submission, to act upon
such amendment ! called upon the
attorney general OF this state for an
opinion ms to the power OF the lcgisla-
ture elected In November, 1918, TO act
upon the Nineteenth amendment. Be
fore furnishing me his opinion, ho
took the matter up with the depart.
mont OF justice at Washington and
secured an opinion from the solicitor
general of the United States These
opNions both hold that the present
legislature hns the power to act upon
this proposed amendment, upon the
theory that there is n conflict between
the provision In tho state constitution
md the provisions In the federal con-
upon this subject
state Platform.
Before the rendering OF the opinions,
The democratic state convention III
NASHVILLE unanimously adopted plat
tion;
We heartily favor the ratincatinn
of the Nineteenth amendment TO the
Constitution OF the United States be-
slowing on women the equal right OF
suffrage With maas In order that thpy
may be placed on mn equal basis with ,
men, and that no discrimination may bo
'hown IN fnvor Of either, we favor the |
OF poll tax on women, and
y order that this may be done before /,
he November election. In which the ,,
somen WIZ participate and TO prevent !
ny determination, for or against either /,
Z the sexes, we demand that the gov
rnor call an extra session Of the legis-
aturc and include IN the call this sub.
ect or imposing poll tax on women.
In view OF tho resent decislon OF
NO supreme court OF the United states
. the Ohio case the governor ls re- y
uested upon calling an extra seHalsn Of
he legislature, 10 include IN the call the
'tlhcation of this amendment provided :
shall appear to bc valid TO do So !
"Early In July, after the publication u
these opinions. the democratic nG-
onAl convention nj san Francisco
ioptcd platform containing tho fol r
wing pronouncements. We lndorHe the 1,
roposod Nineteenth amendment grant
" equal suffrage. We urge the demo.
attic governors and legislatures Of Ton
rSsee, North Carolina and Florida. aud
Ich states aa have not yet ratified tho
'dernl suffrage amendment. To unite m
an enort to complete the process In Az
me for all women 10 participate In
Ie fail elections
"A resolution was passed by that con-
milton calling upon me 10 comply m-
ediatcy with the platform demand by
'nvenlng an extra session Of the lcElS- o.
ture for the purpose ~ ratifyinE this OF
nendment, About that time received ~
! urgent telegram from President VIII -
m 10 the same effect I was then ",
mpHignlng IN West Tennessee, and NJ
order IN confer with n few friends :. y,
Nashville. came 10 this city for the VI NJ
rnoHe II determining definitely and ~, ~
nlly my duty IN the premises M ~
nocratic governor and hs n candl- mn
te for denomination. ~
stood on Platform. pc
ON every occasion. IN my public hd- ne
'ascA | had stated clearly aud posi-
ely that / was standing upon the A
tie democratic platform IN It's en- n
ety. and that I would carry nnt Us
FRY promise 10 the utmost of my
lity. This pledge 20 the people on
part was made IN the utmost good
tn. as my friends well know In the
1ference held At Nashville early IN by
~ II WAS mutually agreed that under / sci
editions then existing an extra Hes- sid
= could not be held before AuE. ?. cxl
! that a number ~ vacancies IN both | Vd
uses should be nllcd IN order that the
re should be fun representation in me
h bodies. II was apparent that ape-
! elections could not conveniently be
Il on any other date than tho reE.
r August election Immediately after
ching this conclusion. ! made public Re-
iounccmcnt ~ my purpose 10 call the
ra session on Aug g. y
Sends Message pHr
on the conVoning of the legislature for
transmitted to II the resolution 81 In
ErcEs with the proposed amendment lng
pmphnlod bF u message setting forth lea
fact thRt both great political par jHl
IN their platforms IN state and the
ION had unequlv0caily indnraed this liev
'ndment and recommended itH rRti- mat
tinn. nlro sent cony ~ the opn- crn
~ Gen Frank NJ Thompson stat Vice
that this legislature has tho mower "a 4
act on this amendment. SiNtv-six Lan
nberR ~ the lower house without Am
seHiion from mo had pledged them
- In writing to vote FOR ratification. r
had most ~ the senators. Of the I
new members elected tn the house N