The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-06
AN AMUSING INCIDENT.

The Chattanooga News has consis
tently supported the fight for woman
suffrage in the Tennessee Legislature
and has the following strong editorial
expression on the recent action in the
house:
IF it weren't for the fact that yes
terdays action in the house of repre-
sentatives in Tennessee will perhaps
cause a wrong impression to go abroad
and bring discredit on Tennessee for
! what seems to be vacillation and in
decision. as well as a disregard for
the grave interests of the country, 1t
would be more amusing than anything
else.
"F'orty- seven members-three less
than a constitutional majority-have
taken advantage of the temporary abb
sence of several suffragist members
and have attempted to undo what is
already an accomplished fact. They
have passed a resolution expunging
from the journal record which is now
on file with a higher authority than
themselves, and have voted to recon
slider and table a resolution which is
no longer before them, but which, in
it's original form, has been certified
to the state senate as having been
adopted, and is still in the possession
of the senate.
''All this has been done in the face of
the fact that the states attorney gen
eral, Hon. Frank NJ. Thompson, has
rendered an opinion to Governor Rob-
erts that the resolution ratifying the
Nineteenth amendment had been le-
gally adopted and a motion to recon
slider legally voted down, and the gov
ernor, in pursuance with his sworn
duty under the constitution has GER
titled to the act of the Tennessee leg
islature in ratifying, and the event has
been proclaimed to the United States
and the Nineteenth amndment de-
clared a part of the Constitution by
Secretary of State Colby.
IF anything were needed to show
the desperate ends to which this law
less minority would resort, this would
be the climax. They broke quorum
IN order to defeat the reconsideration
of the ratification, thus being guilty
of felony. They were transported out
of Tennessee and maintained for ten
days or more. They were held togeth-
er by some unseen force. They re-
turned as so many puppets and did
the bidding of their masters,
Some interest certainly are deeply
concerned to throw doubt on the
amendment
IF the suffra gists had shown as lit
tie regard for decency and order, they
would have refused to make a quorum
for this browning act of infamy. They
had remained in attendance on the
session for the constitutional twenty
days, and there was nothing legally or
morally to bind them to stay
They reassembled in Nashville after
when the period for which they were
paid had expired, and after the power
to compel them to attend had expired,
for the purpose of aiding Governor
Roberts in his program of legislation.
The political consequence will al
most certainly be that the republicans
unwilling to risk a presidential elce-
ton with such involved consequences,
will induce the governors of Connect
cut and Vermont to call extra sessions
These will certainly ratify the amend
ment, and Tennessee may lose some of
its prestige.
Attorney General Thompson, Gov
eTnOT hODerLS, GeneTal Rates ana many
other of the state leaders who are
learned in the law have thoroughly
studied this question, and they are
confident that when the two houses of
Tennessee cast majorities in favor of
ratifying the Nineteenth amendment
that ended the matter. The resolu-
ton then became part of the Consti- |
tuition of the United tates. The state
cannot rescind. That has been held
Otherwise there would be endless con-
fusion.
However, if it should be held that
the motion to reconsider had to be
acted on, as would be the case with
an ordinary resolution, then General
Thompson and the others are confident
that the vote of so, or more than a |
majority, cast for it on August 81 end |
ed the matter. Under the rules of the |
house, Also the period in which Speak
er Walker could call it up had expired, |
and under the rules the governor was |
to sign.
THE facts as to the passage of the ;
resolution were certified by the gov
ernor to Secretary Colby, and were |
found sufficient on which to issue his !
proclamation. The certification cannot |
be expunged."