The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-09-15
SUFFRAGE RATIFIED
IN CONNECTICUT
Legislature pefles Governor HoIcomb
and Adopts Resolution in
Special Session.

Hartford, Ct Sept 14.-In def
ance OF Gov Marcus III. Holcomb,
who In message had said the Con
necticut General Assembly might not
pass any measures save those which
it had been specifically called to con
slider that body in special session to-
day, adopted a resolution rat.fying
the 18th amendment to the United
States constitution. Still in defiance
it adopted, in concurrence two pieces
of general legislation, although the
governor had given warning that he
would pocket any measures so
made.
The governor taking the position
that the right Of women to vote legal
ly at the November election may be
ieopardized by decision in Tennes.
see which would nullify ratification
by that state-the 36th-personally
gave notice to members. by a proc
lamation read by him after his mes
sage to the session which had just
opened, of special session TO be
held next Tuesday to act specifically
upon the 18th amendment.
Although the Legislature today
ratified the amendment, the coming
special session will again do this.
Today S ratified on a resolution Of
fered by republican House Leader
King, Immediately after a conference
of several leaders with Gov Holccmb
who declined to sanction action to-
day Tuesday the governor will send
in the communication which he re.
ceived from Secretary OF State Colby
and which embod es the proclamation
declaring the 18th amendment to be
in force This will be the only busi-
ness to come before that session To
days special session stands adjourn
ed until next Tue3day an hour be-
fore the other session. and it will
then adopt changes in election laws
which it was called upon by the gov,
ernor to do today.
Gov Ho!comb surprised all by his
calling another special session. In his
message he said he had called the
members into session to amend the
election laws so that no woman would
be deprived of her right to vote. He
added that constitutionally the Legi>
lature today could do nothing else,
and it had not power to act upon gen
eral legislation In his proclamation
the governor sad in part
Whereas, il it shall be hereafter
Ia nsrtp
nessee did not ratify the amendment
and the same was not in force, and If
in the meantime the November cleo
tions shall have been held and women
shall have voted at said elections,
and 1t shall be decided that women in
those states where women did not
have the full suffrage right voted il,
legally. il would throw doubt and un-
certainty upon the election OF presi-
dent and vice-president OF the United
States; United States senators and
congressman in several states, includ
ing Connecticut, which would be dis
astrous to the business and indus
trial interests of the country, and
add to the present unrest, and result
in serious controversies and compli-
cations, all of which should be
avoided If possible. The possibility,
if not probability, of such cond ton
creates very serious special emer-
gency which it is the duty of Con-
necticut to meet in the same patrio-
tic spirit it has met every crisis
which has threatened the welfare Of
our country and state"
After the joint convention dissolved
members, with few exceptions, de.
manded that resolution of ratiiica-
tion be introduced. Two senators and
two representatives went to the gov
ernors Office. The mission was to see
IL the governor would recede from
his attitude in opposition to ratifica-
tion today. He refused, The confer
ees returned and the House had its
own resolution, which was adopted
216 to II, sent under suspension of
the rules, to the Senate, which con-
Cured by unanimous vote,