Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-17
SUFFRAGE BATTLE
IS WARMLY WAGED
At TWO CAPITALS
Advocates and Opponents
Make Ready for Climax
Tuesday When House Is
Expected to Vote

WASHINGTON, aug. 16.-Tht
anti-suffrage organization in Ten
nessee has played havoc" with the
ratification pledges over the week
end and is working to force a vote
in the house this afternoon, Miss
Ann Politzer, legislative chairman in
Tennessee, informed the Nationa,
Woman's party headquarters here to-
day.
1.-THE ants have succeeded in
breaking many of our pledges over
the weekend, and are working for
vote on ratification by o'clock
this afternoon" the suffrage worker
said.
TENNESSEE HOUSE
TO VOTE TUESDAY
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. 16.-The
Tennessee legislature met today aft
er the weekend recess with every in
dication that a vote on the woman
suffrage amendment would be reach
ed tomorrow in the house. The
amendment was ratified by the SEN
ate late Friday. Plans of suffrage
leaders, who still counted on a ma
jority, were for considerati ton of the
ratification resolution tonight by
committee, a report to the house to-
morrow morning and a vote during
the day. The opposition appeared to
be confident of victory and was dis
posed to go to the mat with the suf-
fragists without further delay.
With a settlement of the issue in
sight, hotel corridors were seething
with excitement until midnight and
conferences of leaders of the oppos-
early today. Reports O. defections
from the ranks of the suffra gists
were encountered in various quar-
tiers and one suffrage worker was
quoted as having stated that she
knew of six representatives who had
Topped to the ants. On the other
hand, accessions to the suffrage
ranks was claimed by ratification
leaders Whether there was any
truth to such reports could not be
confirmed, but it was noticeable Sun
day that both factions were bending
every effort to keep their line-ups in
tach
There was speculation today among
LEGISLATORS whether quorum would
be present when the house was call
ed to order this afternoon. The OPP
position was waglng an active cam
: paign to bring pressure to bear upon
|. members who had pledged them
selves to support suffrage and during
the weekend recess ants were busy
in various parts Of the state. Some
of them, it was said, might not be
on hand until tonight. To guard
against any delay suffrage leaders
late yesterday began telegraph1ng
favorable members who had gone to
their homes to return to Nashville
at the earliest possible moment.
Attorney General Thompson's rul-
ing last week that a majority of the
members present, If there was a
quorum, would be sufficient for rat1-
ication, and not the constitutional
majority Of fifty as generally bel1ev-
Of possibilities today. Bas1ng his
ruling on a decision of the Tennes-
see supreme court, the attorney gen.
eral held that passing on the ratl1-
cation resolution was political, not
a legislative act, since the COVER
Leaders OF the opposing factions
were wondering what would happen
If, after a quorum answered the roll
call, either side, finding itself in ma
jority, should attempt TO call the
n resolution out of committee and
y force a vote.
Senator John C. Houk, of Knox
vile, announced he will demand an
investigation of powerful influences
he asserts are operating to bring
about the defeat of suffrage.
Senator Houk is chairman of the
Republican campaign committee for
: the state. The decision to demand an
Investigation was reached at a con-
ference which lasted until a late
hour last night.
Senator Houk said:
"a conference of members Of the
legislature, both Democrats and Re-
publicans, and of the leaders OF
both parties not members of the
legislature, all friends Of ratiff1ca-
.tion, was held to consider the ques-
ton of instituting a legislation into
the lobbying situation, the interests
appearing to be in the saddle to de-
feat ratification.
at believe one Of the most pow
erful lobbies in the history of the
Tennessee legislature is now at
work to defeat ratification and If
ratification is defeated the special
interests of the state will be re-
sponsible.
"There is belief here among pro-
ratificationists that a conspiracy is
on to get friends Of ratification, who
ARE members of the legislature, to
find it suddenly convenient to dis
appear, and return home on account
Of sickness in families and for 9TH
err reasons"
Representative w. w. Neal, Of the
North Carolina legislature, reported
on his way here as an emissary of
the naturalization element of that
state, to view the suffrage situation
in the Tennessee legislature at first
hand, had not arrived. in Nashville
up to 10 O'Clock yesterday, accord.
ing to naturalization headquarters
F, Opposition leaders said they knew
nothing of Mr.. Neal's proposed visit
until they read press dispatches
from Raleigh published here today
and that thew had no additional in