Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-23
Ants Certain to Appeal
if Injunction Case Fails;
! Statements Are Issued

NASHVILLE. Tenn. August % Thy
the Associated Press).-Setting of
date for a hearing on the temporary
Injunction restraining Gov. Roberts.
Secretary of State Stevens and Speak
ers Andrew Todd and Seth Walker of
the Tennessee senate and house. re-
spectively. from taking any action
toward certifying to Washington was
regarded as probable among today's
Developments in the fight over rati-
hcation OF the woman suffrage amend
ment.
The writ was issued Saturday and
was made returnable at any time
within five days agreeable to the
parties to the action.
Suffrage leaders said the hearing
probably would be set for Wednes-
day or Thursday.
The Observation-Disclosures declared
they would appeal if the temporary
order should be dissolved.
To forestall any attempt on the part
OF the governor or the secretary of
state to telegraph certifeation to
Secretary Colby before they could
take this step. it was said attorneys
for the ants would be prepared TO
note an appeal during the reading of
the opinion of the court. should the
language of the ruling indicate the
Injunction was to be dissolved.
"Out of Hands of LeEislature.''
Gov. Roberts and the Attorney Gem
eral declare ratification by Tennes-
see is legal. that the matter is out of
the hands of the legislature and that
only the restraining order stands in
the way of certitication.
Meanwhile. more than thirty mem
hers of the house. opposed to ratifica-
ton, are soJourning at Decatur Ala
having successfully broken quorum
of the house so far as transacting
legislative business of the state in
concerned.
They hold that action of the suf-
fragist majority Saturday, in taking
from the journal and defeating a mo-
ton to reconsider ratification in
spite of the fact that the legislative
quorum of sixty-siN members was not
present, was Illegal and would not
stand.
The suffragists acted on the general
ground that ratification was federal
matter. that the state laws govern
ing the quorum did not apply. and
that parliamentary law provided that
the will of the majority should pre-
vail.
So far as could be learned here early
today. the boiling members intend to
remain in Ala ALBANIA until somethinS
favorable to their cause has occurred
or until the expiration of the twenty
legislative days for which the special
After that period their compensat 10
as members ceases and the state has
no power to compel their attendance.
May Go to Highest Court.
The suit was brought by the Ten
nessee Constitutional League on the
grounds that the legislature under
the state constitution. had no right to
ratify the suffrage amendment. and
has announced ii will carry its fight
if necessary. to the United States
Supreme Court.
Officials of the league predict the in
junction will prevent women of the
nation from voting for at least eight :
cen months.
Suffragists today expressed the be-
lief that litigation would not be pro-
tracted and that ratification by Ten
nessee would be upheld by the courts
in time for women 10 vote in NoVem-
Der.
Message to Governors.
A message addressed to the gov
ernors of Vermont, Connecticut
Florida. Alabama. Louisiana. Della
ware and South Carolina. declaring
Tennessee had not ratified the amend
nent, has been made public by the
Constitutional League. The messag e
follows:
Tennessee has not ratified the suf-
fFage amendment. The resolution has
not legally passed the house. The mo-
ton to reconsider was defeated by
ernor and other state officials have
been enjoined against attempting to
certify its ratification.
mo women will vote for a year and
a half at least on account of Ten
nesees action. as the injunction will