The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-02
GOVERNOR WILL
AWAIT NOTICE
Delays Instructions to Registra
tiOn Officers Until Official
Paper Arrives.
THINKS AMENDMENT SAFE
Governor Does Not Expect Ac-
tiOn of Ants to Affect Rati-
ficatiOn of Suffrage.

Tallahassee, Sept. Especial. y
Governor Cats today gave his views
| concerning the suffrage amendment in
the following statement: Since the
ratification by the state of Tennessee
of the 18th amendment TO the Consti-
tuition of the United States, the effect
of which was to grant the right of
suffrage to the good women of our
country, 4 have mad a great many in
quiries to ascertain whether or not an
extra session of the legislature would
be necessary to provide for woman
suffrage in Florida, and, if not, how
e&hould the women of our state proceed
81 Aregister and qualify to vote in the
s1eetion-frr November.
IN 5zeler that all our people may be
fsiff5 AdVsed as to the exact statues
OF this situation. / submit herewith the
facts, with my views affecting the
matter:
81 am this date in receipt of the
following telegram from Hon. Seth NJ.
Walker of the Tennessee house of
Representatives
" Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 81, 1920.
ITO Governor of Florida, Tallahassee,
Fla:
Tennessee House of Representa-
tives today on motion to reconsider,
heretofore duly entered on its journal.
votes against ratification of proposed
10Th amendment. Tennessee, therefore.
has rejected said amendment. of which
fact am officially, through you, noti-
flying your state. Signed Seth NJ.
Walker, Speaker of Tennessee House
of Representatives ,"
Article of the Constitution of the
United States, after providing how
amendments to that instrument shall
be proposed, provides that such
amendments shall be valid to all in
tents and purposes when ratification
by the legislatures of three-fourths of
the several states.
I'm my judgment, the 18th amend
ment if properly and regularly ratified
by the Legislature of Tennessee be-
came instanter effective as a part of
the Constitution of the United States.
but under the law the ratification by
Tennessee must be certified to the
secretary of state of the United States
whose duty it is to promulgate the
same and in turn certify such results
to the governors of the various states
This last certlfication being official
notice to the people that the 19 tn
amendment has become a part of the
federal constitution.
I'VE all noticed through the press
some weeks ago that the 18th amend
ment as adopted by the state of Ten
nessee, had been properly certified by
Governor Roberts of that state 10 Sec
retary OF State Colby of the United
States, who in turn had signed the or
der promulgating and declaring the
amendment as ratified a part of the
Constitution of the United States.
Il have made several attempts to
get official notice from Mr.. Colby to
this effect but I have had no word
ficially notified it would not be proper
for the governor to take any definite
steps in the premises. In regard to the
action of the Tennessee house of rep
resentatives as outlined in the tele-
gram from Hon. Seth NJ. Walker, IL
will state that, in my opinion, If the
18th amendment was regularly ratified
by the Tennessee house and has been
in fact duly certified by Governor Rob |
erts to Secretary Colby and he CCoI-
by) has promulgated the same, it has
been from such ratification a part OF
the Constitution of the United States !
and cannot be changed by any action
Of the Tennessee house Of representa- /
tives or by any other power. except /
the people Of the United States.
Il will not, therefore, give any con-
alteration to the late action of the /
Tennessee house of representatives in /
this matter. but as soon as 1 am Off /
cially notified by Secretary Coiby
that the 18th amendment has become /
a part Of the fundamental law Of our /
land. I will promptly advise the peo- |
pie OF Florida and take such steps as
the law provides TO see that the women /
Of our state are registered and quail 1