The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-23
A Clouded Title.

The statement Representative Rid
dick made on the floor of the house OF
representatives in which he said I'VE
are not acting as members Of the legis-
iature but as federal agents" might
have a sinister Significance II we did
not know Mr.. Riddick well enough to
attribute II to his enthusiasm for the
suffrage resolution rather than to his
exceedingly sound judgment. OF which
he has hountifui supply.
We have not believed that In order
10 be "A suffragist one must repudiate
the state constitution or tear the fed
eral constitution into shreds, as advo-
Gated by Mrs. Gait.
Regardless Of what the sentiment OF
the people may he toward ratification
of the Nineteenth amendment. 1t must
be apparent to everyone that the flight
of sufficient number Of members Of
the house to Alabama has, at least for
the time being, successfully defeated
ratification.
Mr.. Riddiok's contention that as fed
eral agents a quorum is not necessary
in order for the house to proceed, and
a favorable vote Of a majority Of the
members Of the house Is not necessary
10 ratify, is not In accordance with
either law or precedent
There have been so many filibusters
and quorum breakers In the Tennessee
legislature within recent years that
even the layman knows what the legis-
lature can do and what 1t can not do
in the circumstances. The supreme
court has held that 1t has a right to
look behind the journal OF the house
II there is a suggestion SAat II pro-
ceeded without a constitutional quorum
In the transaction of business,
The conduct of the house in taking
up and tabling the resolution to recon
slider the adoption Of the suffrage
amendment without the presence of
quorum Is a question that has been
settled by the supreme court in re-
cent years.
On the motion to adopt the resolu-
ton OF ratification there were forty
nine favorable votes, or one less than
a constitutional majority. Speaker
Walker changed his vote in favor of
the resolution, making it fifty and CIV
ing It the required majority. He then
entered a motion to reconsider. For two
days this resolution was in his pos
session. At the end OF that time, as
moi ~ hR 10
reconsider became the property OF the
house and any member had the right
20 call It up, In parliamentary prac-
tice and In the legislature, without ex-
cepti0n. Il has been the custom to table
all motions to reconsider as Il final act
In the passage Of any bin or the adop-
ton Of any resolution. untii the mo-
tion to reconsider is disposed OF, the
passage is not complete
A sufficient number Of members have
declared their intention not to return
TO the capitol to prevent final ratifi-
cation. The disposal of motion to
reconsider may be considered a techni
cality, but there are many seeming
technicalities that the courts have held
must be observed.
II Is evident that We are in line for
u long season OF litigation requiring
from year to a year ana "A half to set
tie. Perhaps one OF the remaining
three or four states that have not acted
on the suffrage amendment will ratfy
It. In the meantime there is more than
q shadow OF doubt that Tennessee
viii have the honor Of being the thirty
sixth and final state to ratify the Susan
B. Anthony amendment.