Evening journal., 1920-08-24
SAY SUFFRAGE
f---=
ttI ~
! ]: ] ! ACTION Valid
....
leaders in Washington Get
View of High Federal
Legal Officer
CLAIM NOTICE FROM
TENN. NOT NEEDED

WASHINGTON. d. c., Aug. 24.-After
-. s5ekeral days Of gloom over impending
legal arrangements which threaten
1d 10 delay The oonsummation Of ratl-
hhas0n Indefinitely, sufrage leaders
in Washington were enthused today
IF hy the receipt Of an unofficial and
confidential opinion from high legal
officers of the government That -ratlil-
cation OF the Nineteenth Amendment
is an accomplished fact.
Strictly speaking, the question at
issue Is not officially before the legal
iauhOrihes here and the informal
rullne is merely antlctpatory and for
The purpose OF clearing the Amos
nhero OF the confusion arising out or
developments in Tennessee.
IN support OF the viewpoint that OF
ncial ccrlilcation from the Secretary
iof State Of Tennessee. would be con.
oession OF custom and practice and not
required by law, Article . OF The Con-
sttuiiOn is cited as follows.
THE Congress, whenever twO-thirds
Of both Houses shall deem f neoes-
sary. shall propose amendments TO
the Constitution or, on the applNa-
.tlOn OF the Legislatures OF tvO-thlrds
OF The several States, shall call a con-
Ventlon for proposing amendments
which IN either case, shall be valid 10
an intents and purposes as part OF
this Constitution when ratified by the
iLecislaiurcs OF three-fOurths OF the
several States, or by conventions In
ihroe-fOurths thereof as the one or
NE other mode Of ratification may be
proposed by Congress, provided,
thai no amendment which may be
made prior 10 the year one thousand
eight hundred and eight shall In any
manner affect The FIRST and fourth
clauses IN the ninth section OF the
frst article; and that no state, with.
Out the consent, shall be deprived oi
It's equal suffrage In the senate
70 Is not likely that Secretary OF
Fl Stale Colby vii ltake official cognlz-
ance Of mere newspaper reports ihal
Tennessee has. by action of It's Lcris-
ilatnre. become the lhirtv.siXth State
bui N he receives modification from
Governor Roberts, If ID be only let
lllen or telegram. under The ruling cited
hey .may legally issue his proclamation
ihal The necessary 36 states have
lNacicd aillrmaiNcly. 10 Will be recalled
iihqf the forces opposed 90 suffrage
f ATTEMPTED 90 get a restraining order
Nfrom The District OF Columbia Courts
cVen before the Tennessee Legislature
|mat 90 prevent q proclamation on Ten.
iuosscc's action. In the petition seek
~ Ing Injunction. 'he so-calhd refer
en0um clause In the State Consiilu-
ton was cited. The Federal Cour
dismissed this petition, although an
Iappeal was taken. and IL is felt th'
r0ad Is now clear for the long-await
ed proclamation.
H Legal authorities Of tho government
l|Who have kent un with the many
Nmbncuvers OF ihe "anlls" IN Tcnncsso
saf that most OF their proceeding
ARE obviously based on misapprehcn
.sion of the law. As a matter OF fac
Ilhese legal officers hold, G0vcrno
rR0berls can take the question dlrectl
Ito, Ole United states supreme Cour
lIif nereSary, as 70 Is purely a Fedora
NquestlOn and not one TO be settled b
tStble Courts
M As The result OF This opinion fror
the -highest authority suffrage lead
erS IN Washington said that for N
''iflrsf time they feel they are entlrel
N"0tt OF he woods" From now o
they expect 30 have only a passlv
Hlntarest IN The various legal maneuver
H0fi the "anis' at Nashville.