Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-18

Speakers Maneuver.
Speaker Walker. leader of the anti
suffragiSts, put opponents IN posi-
tion to demand reconsideration by
changing his vote from nay to yea
and moving to reconsider. The house
adjourned until 10 O'Clock tomorrow.
when the speakers motion will have
the right of way. Suffrage anu anti
suffrage forces frightened their lines
This afternoon for the final fight and
both sides were claiming victory.
Sunragists Have Advantage.
The suffragists. however. had the
advantage of today's victory and ex-
pressed confidence that Speaker
Walkers motion would be voted
down tomorrow. The next step in
ratification would be the certifying
of the action of the Tennessee assem-
bly, to the Secretary of State of the
United States, who, upon its receipt,
would issue a proclamation declaring
the amendment ratified.
The Tennessee senate ratihed the
amendment last Friday by a vote of
% to 4. -
Suffrage leaders declare they will
not slacken their efforts. as they de-
sire to have at least one other state
ratify before the November elections.
as they expect fight to be made
against Tennessee'S action because
of the clause in the state constitution
which prohibits any assembly from
acting on an amendment not sub
mitted before the members were
elected
Both United States Solicitor Cen
erai F'rierson and the attorney gen.
eral of Tennessee have declared this
clause to be unconstitutional in the
light of the recent decision OF the
Supreme Court in the Ohio referen-
dunn case.
Intensive Drive Made.
Ratification by the Tennessee legis-
lature was the elimination of an in
tensive drive made by suffrage propo-
nents to have the amendment made ef-
fective in time for the women of the
country to vote in the presidential elec-
ton in November.
The drive was started when West
Virginia became the thirty-fourth state
to ratify early this year.
Washington was the thirty-hfth
state to ratify. and on the same day
il acted-March 22-Gov. Townsend of
Delaware called d special session OF
the legislature of that state to act on
the amendment. The Delaware assem-
bly, met early in May and the senate
quickly ratified, but action by the
house was delayed despite pressure
brought to bear by the leaders of both
great political parties and by President
Wilson. Finally, on June ,, the lesis-
lature adjourned with the ratification
resolution still in the house committee
OF the whole
Meantime the Louisiana legisla ture
met and efforts were made TO have it
act favorably. , President Wilson ap-
peaIed to Gov. Parker to recommend
ratification, but the governor declined
to do so. The ratification resolution
was taken up late in May and was de-
bated At intervals through the month
of June and into July.
he IptlnrrafIc nreSidep-
tiaI nominee. threw his influence on
the side of the amendment. declaring
that the democrats of the legislature
owed it to their party to ratify the
amendment. The Legislature finally
adjourned on July S, however. with
out acting.
While the Louisiana legislature was
considering the question. appeals for
planks favorable to suffrage were
made to both the republican and
democratic conventions, and the re-
publican convention was picketed by
representative of the Woman's party
Suffrage planks were inserted in both
platforms.
After the republican convention ad
iourned. the women turned their at
tention to Vermont, making an effort
TO have Gov. Clement call a special
session of the legislature. An appea
was made to Senator Harding to use
his influence with the governor. but
The senator declined. saying he could
not interfere with the executive.
Shortly afterward President Wilson
appealed to Gov. Beckett of North
Carolina and Gov. Roberts of Ten
nessee to call special sessions of thei,
state legislatures, and they consented
GOV. Roberts acting after Solicitor
General FrierSon had ruled that the
Supreme Court decision on the Ohio
referendum case set at naught a pro-
vision in the Tennessee constitution
that a Legislature could not act on q
federal amendment unless the mem
hers We're elected after the amend.
ment was submitted.
While this was going on Gov. Clemen,
went to Washington TO confer with Sen.
s.tor Harding and hopes ran high in suf-
fr2ge quarters that after all a specia
session of the Vermont legislature would
be called
inbou his return to his home how.
ever, Gov Clement announced that HI
WoHid not call a special session and pro