New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-25

court Sour held that any provision Of the
OHIO constitution which in any way
changed or impaired the methods of
!atlneation laid down by the Federal
instrument was null, void and inopera-
tive.
tennessee suffragists Immediately
saw the applicability Of the decision
OF the Legislature of their state. and
oeileved that the state constitution
provision would be nullifed by the Fed
eral Constitution.
Presidents Telegram
The Presidents telegram was sent
June "a. The following day Solicitor
GENERAL William Frierson of the De-
partment of Justice, himself native
of Chattanooga. announced that in his
opinion ratification by special
session of the Tennessee Legislature
would be legal. Almost coincident with
the Frlerson opinion came that of
States Attorney General Thompson,
holding the same, and additionally de-
claring that an inclusion of the SUBJ
Ject of ratification in the Governors
call was unnecessary and that the Gov
ernor's signature on or veto of rati-
fication resolution would be of no
weight one way or the other.
mo SiSdIcQ the way. governor
Roberts announced that he would have
ratification of the Susan B. Anthony
amendment in his call. He yet had
failed to set date FOR the session,
however. The. Tennessee primary and
county election was to be held August
s. 1t was thought that the Governor
did not wish to give up campaigning
to hold the extra session. If the
amendment was not ratified before Au-
gust l it would mean that several
hundred thousand women throughout
the nation would be deprived of their
ballot in primaries. In Alabama,
where there is no registration between
August and November, it would mean
that the women of that state could not
vote in November at all. But the Gov
ernor was obdurate, refused an offer
OF his opponent for the Democratic
nomination, W. r. Crabtree, that he
would stop campaigning while his OPP
ponent was holding the session of the
Legislature and set the date of the
extra session for August 9, four days
after the primary.
Both suffrage and anti-suffrage
forces at once got busy Polls of the
legislators were taken by several
sources; in each instance they turned
out we'll for the suffragists. Leaders
OF both national parties also became
active. kilograms of appreciation of
Governor Roberts action were sent
him by President Wilson, the national
committee, the San Francisco conven-
ton and many prominent Democrats,
who were highly elated at the prospect
complete the ratification and give the
Democratic party credit for Federal
suffrage
The Republicans in the state, how
ever, do not intend to be put in the
position of opposing suffrage ratifca-
ton. They intend to vote, with about
two exceptions, for ratification, and
thus put any onus of defeat, if that
should come, on the Democrats. Rep
resentative Charles Lynn, of Hamilton
County, a Republican floor leader, has
declared that "the Republican legisla-
tors of the state are ardently for rati-
fcation and intend to vote for it,
The mllitants, who are rather in dis
.repute among Tennessee suffragists
and Democrats here generally, have al
ready interviewed Governor Cox and
secured from him a promise to help
in urging Tennessee solons to ratify.
An attempt by the American Consti-
tutional League to block Tennessee
ratification by court action failed when
the District of Columbia Supreme
SVulI ie4uSSO 10 luLeTVoNcj no OCNer
legal action by the "ahtis" is expected.
1t will be an out and out political
fight, with the odds on the suffragists.
The present indications are that Ten
nessee will ratify without much delay.
The ants, on the other hand, are
also hard at work. Miss Charlotte Rowe,
field secretary of the National Associa-
ton Opposed to Woman Suffrage, has
been in the state some time laying plans
to block a ratification by Tennessee.
The usual anti-suffrage methods of cir
culars, letters and newspapers are being
used.
The chief attempt of the anti-sufEa-
gists SO far in influencing public opinion
has been to publish broadside of gar
bled quotations from recognized suffrage
leaders, attempting to attribute to them
sentiments against the marriage tie, the
home and so on. These stock stories
have been used in every state in which
suffrage has been an issue.