The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-03
Small Politicians
Attempt Comeback
On Suffrage Issue

National leaders in the movement to
secure ratification of the equal SUI
frage amendment that comes before
the legislature when it assemblies in
extraordinary session Aug. 9, confess
themselves frankly disappointed that
the. movement has assumed a fractional
| aspect.
Without expressing any criticism the
leaders are quietly making an effort
to convince the people of the state
that the issue is too big to suffer al
the hands OF factionalists who seem TO
| be making the most of the opportunity
TO appoint themselves and their po-
| litical friends on ratification commit
| tees"
The Tennessee League of Women
Voters ratification committee is
composed almost exclusively, SO
| Tar as the men are concerned, OF
those who were affiliated with Luke
| Lea when he was thought to be fac
tor in state politics. In almost every
| county where appointments were made
| those who were thus honored indicated
| that somebody had lost sight OF the
| fact that the world do move" and
was still harbored that Lea and Ex-
Gov. Rye were still factors in politics.
The national leaders were quick to
| scent the drift Of things. With their
| experience in many states they soon
| discovered that there was an element
1 L
ming to stage a comeback through a
manifestation of spectacular zeal in
favor Of woman suffrage. In other
words they found an excitement, with
out friends or influence in the legisla-
ture. attempting not emily to get con-
troll of the fight for ratification but us
ing every effort to prevent other friends
Of the cause from taking any part IN
the campaign.
The situation is attributable in large
1 TO- AIr5
II. Milton, OF Chattanooga, wife OF the
editor of the News, Is chairman OF the
league Mr.. Milton is one of the fore
most critics of Gov. Roberts and every
thing the state administration stands
for. Mr.. Milton is usually accused OF
being actuated by petty malice or by
direction of the politician who YIELDS
great influence over him in all things
political
Mrs. Milton was candidate for dele
gate to the national Democratic con,
vention and was decisively defeated
manly because of her husband. En-
joying the disfavor of Mr.. Milton may
be named such men as Cordell Hull.
member OF congress from the Fourth
district and member of the national
committee from Tennessee; ,
Some of the national leaders for SUI
frage admit that they are feeling the
effect OF the partisanship displayed by
the Tennessee League OF women Vo"
| tiers and are very anxious to reorgan'
lie the entire committee for the ratl.
fication of suffrage in order that II
may displace the partisan committees
the personnel of which is really oejec'
tionable to the legislators.
The ratification committees named
by Mrs. John M. Kenny. leader Of
, the faction that worked for the nomi
| nation Of Senator Lea at the time ne
was defeated, and Ex-Gov. Tom Rye
who was also defeated for the senate
were composed Of such rank faetional.
lists that the chairmeni were required
to make a statement to the pubic De
claring that they are nonpartisans. Tht
statement sent out from Nashville pur'
porting to have been signed by MRS
Kenny and Rye, Is as follows:
we, the undersigned chairmen O
ratification committees, desire to sa!
to the public, any statements to tn
contrary Notwithstanding that we ar
working and shall continue to work 10
ratification of the federal suffrag'
amendment and that our Ratification
committees take no stand on partisan
and political differences OF opinion.
In spite of the disclaimer OF MRS
. Kenny and Rye it is perfectly eviden
hat lea through the friendship of tn
J chairmen for him, will make a stronl
e attempt to capitalize his importanc
: and the Importance of his friends u
= working for ratification Of the amend
1 ment If it succeeds, when everyon
= with any political sense knows that
j the amendment were beatable the Lee
t influence with that Of Rye and Mrs
= Kenny and Mrs. Milton would Kill u
n is apparent that the amendment WI
d be ratified in spite of their support.