Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-08-28
WILD SCENES In NASHVILLE
CAPITOL WHEN BIG BATTLE
Is SUDDENLY ENDED.
HOUSE VOTE is so TO 46
Republican (MemDer Leads Way t
Republican Member Leads Way to
Victory" by Changing Ballot.

Nashville, Tenn Aug. 1S--The
amendment extending equal suffrage
u American women was ratified "
uay lor inclusion iii the Federal Con
s,ilullon, the lower fIousc OF the
tennessee Legislature voting 5O to Az
t. concur III the Senate resolution
adopted Friday 20 to 4.
Action OIL me House made Tenncs
sec the tmrty-SiXth State to approve
the amendment which lacked lonlght
only formal certiIication by Secre-
tary Colby OF the State Department
to complete its acceptance by the ma
tlon.
There is still possibility that the
House may rescind It's action. At the
last moment Speaker Walker, leader
of the anti-sullrage forces, changed
his vote from no TO aye, paving the.
way for motion to reconsider. I'm
del House rules he can present such
motion within the next two legiS.
Iatlve days. ,,A.,...!I,,
Should touay's vote be confirme,lr
or the House TAIL to take further act
ion before adjournment Friday, mil
lions OF women will be free under the
amendment to vote in tho President,
ial election next November. Only sue
cessIul litigation contesting the legal
right OF this Legislature TO ratify tho
section could prevent them. Steps Tor
such test OF the provision Of tho
Tennessee Constitution involved al
ready have been taken by the Ten,
nessee Constitutional League.
Ninety-siX Of the ninety-nine mem
bers OF the House were present today
and the alignment, until vote on
concurrence was taken, was tie,
each faction polling forty-eight votes
Oh motion by Mr.. Walker to table
the resolution.
SUFFS EXPECT ACCESsIONS TO.
DAY.
On the ballot for concurrence the line
up was 40 to AZ until the Speaker
changed his vote. This apparently
would give the sufrragists an advant
age Of only two votes, but their lead
ers declared tonight that members III
favor OF suffrage who were absent t.
day would arrive probably tomorrow
morning.
The motion to reconsider may be
carried by a majority vote Of the mem
bers present and since Mr.. Walker
can act without a moments notice,
the sulfragists planned to be on hand
in full force during the next two days.
Suffrage leaders said they expect
Ell no ddefectious among their forces
but as precaution were tightening
their lines tonight, while opposition
leaders were waging an active cam
paign to increase their strength for
final effort. s,
The party lineup OH the vote on
the resolution to ratify was us fol-
lows:
Democrats, Aye IS; Nay "a, ga 1 5
sent l; Republicans, Aye 10; Nay IL;
Absent 2. In tho Senate OH Friday
the lineup was: Democrats Aye 1S;
Nay 3 Absent; Republicans, Aye z;
Nay /; Absent 49,. J.
SUDDEN END TO BATTLE.
Tho end came suddenly. Debate
on the motion to concur had been in
progress little more than an hour
and there was no indication that q
vote was imminent when Speaker
Walker called Representative Over
ton to the chair and took the floor
to reply to suffragists who had charg
ed that special interests were at work
to defeat ratification. ..
The battle, has been won and the
measure has been defeated" Mr.. Walk
er said. Il resent the iniquitous re
marks that special interests are hers
alone against this measure. I resent
this on behalf Of the Womanhood that
Is both for and against suffrage. y
Il move that this measure go where
II belongs-to the table"
Instantly the chamber was in an
uproar. Suffragists clamored for re
cognition, while chorhs Of Second
the motion" came from the ants.
MI. Overton however, refused to re-
cognition, while a chorus Of Second
called. The result VS. in doubt ON un
official tallies. An appeal to the clerk
developed that his tally als> showed
developed that his tally also showed
tie-48 to 49,
Pandemoninum reigned. Members
left their seats and crowded around
the Speakers stand, many demand
Ing another roll call.
Mr.. Overton who occupied the chair
during the remainder of the session
ordered second roll call, which show
ed tie Of 48 to As and the Speaker
declared the motion lost for want of
n majority.
Instantly the anti-suffragists de-
manded a vote On the original motion
to concur in the Senate action. If an
other tie resulted, it meant rejection
Of the amendment When the Speak
ernput the motion, hundreds Of suffra
gists regarded the battle as lost.
The vote at the outset was on par
t!san lines, but when the name of RE
preventative Harry IT, Burn, Repub.
lican, Of Mominn county, was called
he voted AYE"
The opposition then virtually con
coded defeat for Mr.. Burn had voted
with them to the table resolution and
his change gave the suffragists the