The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-08-23
TENNESSEE NOT.
FOR SUFF RACE,
SAY Boil TIERS
Absent Legislators Tell Why
They Broke Quorum
MAKE PUBLIC STATEMENT
Ratification Would Have Been Sur
render Of Sovereign Rights of
the State.

the Tennessee house of representatives
here today issued formal statement
addressed to the people of Tennessee
and setting forth their reasons for
breaking quorum in the house by
leaving the state.
IN enumerating their reasons for
breaking a quorum for the purpose OF
preventing ratification of the federal
suffrage amendment, the statement
says that the methods adopted TO Sc
cure passage of the ratification reso.
luton were improper and not justi-
ned, that the majority of people In
tennessee do not favor ratification
and that to have ratified would have
Deen to surrender the sovereign rights
Oh the state on the suffrage question.
Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 22.-From
the snarl OF legal and legislative tech.
h.callties that have enmeshed Ten
nessees ratification OF the federal
suffrage amendment tonight came the
prediction OF he Tennessee Constit,,.
tlonal League that the Injunction
against certification of the ratification
obtained yesterday, would prevent en-.
iranchlsement OF the women of the
Ma on for at least year and a half.
me Constitutional League, which
mas been lighting ratification in Ten
hessee on the ground that the state
constitution prohibi ed the present
legislature from acting en- the suf-
rage amendment. and which claims
TO include both suffrage opponents
ana adherents in its membership.
made lis prediction in message ad.
dressed to the Governors OF Vermont
Connecticut Florida, Alabama, Louis
ana, Delaware and South Carolina.
The league's message declared that
tennessee had not ratified suffrage
ana served notice that any state Off.
cial who attempted ceruficat,on
would be attacked for con empt of
court under the injunction which the
league announced would IL necessary
be carried to the Supreme Court of
The United States.
Suffrage advocates, however. con.
tinued to characterize the 81 uation as
satisfactory. They reiterated their
contention that the acton OF fhe
House yesterday in calling up the
Walker reconsidera ion motion, In de.
reating it, and in ordering the Sen.
ate joint resolution of ratification
transmitted to the Senate for en-.
gross ng was justified and unassail.
able despite the lack of a legislative
quorum
The hlrty or more anti.suffrage
members of the House who went to
Decatur, Ala, early yesterday in order
20 prevent the quorum, still We're in
Alabama today and, according to re-
ports received here, were determined
to remain there at least during the
mex few days. Being outside the
state they cannot be arrested and
compelled to attend sessions of the
House. . ,5l
Suffrage advocates who participant
ed in Yesterdays coup in the House.
asserted today that ac ion on the
Walker reconsideration motion will ba
Upheld masmuch as state constitution
al provisions did not apply as the
House was acting as an agent of the
governor.
No date has been fixed tonighf for
che hearing on the temporary writ of
Injunction issued yesterday by judge
Langford, restraining the Governor
Secretary of State, and the Speakers
OF the Senate and House from certify
ing ra 1iication to the Secretary OF
state at Washington. In some quart
ers 1t was believed that the hearing
would be held tomorrow or Tuesday.
The writ is returnabe any time with.
IN five days upon agreement of the
parties to he action.
The message of the Constitutional
League was sent out yesterday and
was made public tonight as follows:
Tennessee has not ratified the
suffrage amendment The reso-
lugion has not legally passed
the House The motion to re.
consider today was defeated by
less than the legal quorum. The
Governor and other state officials
have been enjoned against at
tempting to certify its ratiAca-
tion. No women will vote for a
year and half at least on ac.
count of Tennessees action to.
day as the injunction will be car
ried to the highest court.
NEW SOLUTION FoR b. c. /.