The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1920-09-17
SUFFRAGE GETS 0.
X. IN Connecticut
Amendment Ratified; Ants
Doomed, Lawsuits Of
No Avail. Il

Hartford, Conn, Sept. 14.-The
Connecticut Legislature this after
noon by concurrent action ratified
the woman suffrage amendment to
the federal constitution, making Con-
necticut the 9th state to ratify.
The resolution was taken despite
Gov. Marcus r. Holcomb's message
read when the Legislature was con-
vened in special session today to
change the election law of the state
so that women would be enabled tn
become voters this fall. The gov
ernor said the Legislature had M
constitutional power to enact any
other legislation than that for which
1t was summoned to act upon.
When Republican House Leader
King read the resolution for passage
of the federal suffrage amendment in
the lower branch, Speaker Walsh
asked if there was any objection to
the resolution and there was none. T.
was ruled in order by the speaker.
EVERY legislature is a law unto
ITSELF" he said. The remark was
cheered and the roll call was begun.
The vote in the House on the reso-
luton Of ratification was: Yes, ZIG;
no, IL.
In the Senate there was no vote in
opposition.
The action of the Legislature was
in direct opposition to the attitude Of
Gov. Holcomb, who earlier in the day
called a special session for next Tues
day to act upon suffrage ratification.
$50
All doubt of the legality of Ten
nessee's recent action in ratifying the
10th amendment lost it's punch yes.
terday when news came that Gomez
ticut had ratified. The ratification
by the Legislature of Connecticut was
clean cut, without any technicalities
to bring it before court for review.
except that ratification was not in
cluded in the governors call. Even
laymen everywhere agree that con-
of an amendment, like the
election of United States senator
under the old order, is a political, not
a legislative function, and the Legis-
lature, when once assembled, acts in
its Independent capacity as co-ordi-.
nate branch of the government
News dispatches from the east
treat Connecticut's action as if it vera
in. fact, the 37th state. 1t appears
that Tennessee's ratification was coa-
sidered final everywhere but in Ten
nessee.
Now, even in Tennessee the oppc-
sition has nothing left. If Tennessee
was not the thirty-sixth state, Con-
necticut is. 1t is even probable that
he attempt made in Tennessee to en-
DIN the governor from certifying rati-
ication to Washington will not be
pushed now, since nothing could be
gained. Women have already voted in
Maine and elsewhere No suit is
pending in any of the federal courts
because of the Tennessee controversy.
In the Supreme Court of Tennessee
he writ of certiorari and super
edeas granted by Chief Justice Lans-
len is pending Chancellor Newman
# Nashville enjoined the governor
rom certifying ratification. The
hief justice superseded the order.
md Gov. Roberts certified. A few
Iours later the secretary of state at
proclaimed the amend
lent as the law of the land. The hear
ng on the chief Justices action comes
p in the supreme court this month
t Knoxville, but determination ev-
n in favor of the ants could gain
othing. Not only has the certifica-
on gone forward and the amendment
cen proclaimed, but Connecticut has
atified also.