New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-21
40 Legislators Who Voted
for Ratification Aid in
Blocking Move of the
Ants for Adjournment
Final Action To
Be Forced To-day
Foes Only Hope Seems To
Be 10 Break Quorum;
Women Cheer Governor
snccicl Dispatch to The Tribune

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Aug. 2O.-The
same forty.nine members whose votes
on Wednesday ratified the suffrage
amendment in the Tennessee House of
representatives to-day stood firm in
the face of assaults by the ant-suf-
fragists. II their lines hold until to-
morrow the defeat of all efforts to
reverse the action of the Legislature
seems assured.
The sutfragists to-day frustrated an
attempt of the ants to adjourn until
Monday and laid their plans to move
for reconsideration of the suffrage
resolution the first thing tomorrow
morning. defeat that motion, or lay
the question on the table and dis
pose forever of parliamentary tactics
that might alter the decision that the
House made Wednesday.
Only Hope of Ants
Meanwhile the certificate of ratifca-
ton BY the Tennessee Legislature is
understood to be en- route to Washing
ton. Secretary of State Colby has sig
nihed his readiness to proclaim the
Nineteenth Amendment to the Consti-
tuition as soon as the Tennessee certif-
cate is deposited.
The only hope of the ants is to
leave town. If enough ants leave
town to prevent a quorum at to-mor-
rows session, the suffragists will be
unable to force and defeat reconsidera-
ton. Sixty-siX members are a
quorum. If seventeen ants are on
hand tomorrow there will be a
quorum and the reconsideration plan
Of the suTragists can be carried
through.
Speaker Seth Walker to-day made no
move toward bringing up his resolu-
ion to rccons der the ratification reso-
luton, although the time limit within
which he was privileged to act expired
with to-day's adjournment. His failure
TO act was taken to mean that the
ants had been unable to gain more
than the forty seven votes which were
east against the measure Wednesday,
Attorney General Thompson ex-
pressed his belief tonight that ratif-
cation had been completed with the
failure of Speaker Walker to call up
his motion to reconsider. Several lead
ers among the House suffrage support
ers. however. contended that the posi-
bllity of reconsi liberation was still open
and insisted that they wished to settle
the question definitely by defeating it
tomorrow.
When local bill after local bill had
come up, been droned through and
acted upon under a tension that was
apparent on every hand, with no men
ton OF suffrage, an anti suffragist
moved to adjourn until 3 o'clock Mon
day afternoon. The suffragists pro-
tested and demanded a session to-mor-
row. The Speaker would not hear the
amendment and d roll call was de-
handed.
Women Cheer Governor
When each man who had voted to
ratlfy cast ringing aye against the
ants plan to adjourn until Monday
the suftraglsts began to sing "Ameri
ca. Then the women almost in
body swept into the Office of Governor
Roberts, to give him three rousing
cheers for the victory which now seems
assured. His tired face beamed with
genuine appreciation as he received
the visitors, and he assured them tina.
to him alone the victory was not due
The women cheered Albert Williams,
superintendent of Public Instruction,
VINO has not had over five hours sleep
night for the last week. They shook
hands with each of the forty nine who
nave stuck through thick and thln,
again and again. 1t was time of
tremendous JOY. for this morning had
been the time of deepest apprehension.
The tension of the days preceding
the vote in the House was nothing
compared to that of last night. The
ants had staged a tremendous mass
meeting at the Ryman Auditorium
They had read letter from Governor
.oX. Speaker Walker had, with the
luli power Of his strong voice, an
nounced:
We have them beaten. I have the
Consideration, and we have three more
With US tonight"
The ants lifted the roof Speaker
alter. speaker talked of state rights
me negro problem, the "Woman's
bible,' woman in politics, and other
stock anti arguments.
80 to-day there was great anxiety.
Continued on page three)