Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-19
Speaker Walker, Anti-Suf.
fragiSt Leader. Changes
His Vote From Nay to Aye
and Moves to Reconsider.
ADJOURNMENT TAKEN
TILL THIS FORENOON
Suffrage Supporters and
Opponents Tighten Lines
For Final Battle, Which
Is Expected To Be Hot.

Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 1S.--The
amendment extending equal suf-
frage to American women was rati-
fled today for inclusion in the fed
eral constitution, the Tennessee
house voting. so to 4G TO concur in
the senate resolution adopted Fri4
day. rs to 4,
The action made Tennessee the
thirty-siXth state to approve the
amendment which lacked tonight
only formal certification by Sec
retary of State Colby to compete
its acceptance.
There is still possibility that the
house may rescind its action. AT
the last moment Speaker Walker,
anti-suffrage leader, changed his
vote from may to aye" paving
the way for a motion to reconsider.
Under house rules he can present
such a motion within the next two
Legislative days.
Should today's vote be confirmed
or the house fail to take further
action before adjournment Friday,
millions of women Will be free to
vote in the presidential election,
only successful litigation contest
ing the legal right OF the legisla-
ture to ratify the section could pre-
vent them.
Steps for such test of the pro-
| vision of the Tennessee Constitution
| involved already have been taken
iby the Tennessee Constitutional
league.
Alignment Tie.
Nlnety-six of the ninety-nine
members of the house were pres
ent today and the alignment, until
u vote concurrence was taken, was
a tie, each faction polling fory
eight votes on motion by Mr.
Walker to table the resolution. On
the ballot for concurrence the line
up was forty mine to forty-seven
until the speaker changed his vote.
This apparently would give sufffa-
glsts an advantage of only two
votes, but their leaders declared to-
night that members in favor of suf-
frage, who were absent today.
would arrive probably tomorrow.
The motion to reconsider may be
carried by majority vote of the
members present, and since MIR.
Walker can act without moments
notice, suffrag!sts planned to be
on hand in full force the next two
| days.
Suffrage leaders said they ex-
pected no defections, but as pre-
cauton were tightening their lines
tonight, while opposition leaders
were Waging an active campa gn to
increase their strength.
UN,I Iantn AnlhnfllV
The end came suddenly. Debate
on the motion to concur had been
in progress little more than an
hour and there was no indication
n vote was imminent, when Speaker
Walker called Representative over
ton to the chair and took the floor
to reply to suffragist who had
charged special interests were at
work to defeat ratification.
"The battle has been won anu
the measure has been defeated
Mr.. Walker said. II resent the :
iniouitous remarks that SPECIAL m
terests are here alone against TINS
measure. | resent this on behalf or
the womanhood that is both for and
against suffrage.
II move that this measure go
where 1t belongs, to the table.
Instantly the chamber was IN
uproar. Suffragists clamored Tor
recognition while chorus OF sec
ond the motion" came from the
antis. Mr.. Overton, however, re-
fused to reeognize ANYONE ana or Or
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