Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-08-19

luton and his change gave the SUI
fragists the needed majority.
The stand Of other members was un-
changed until the name Of Representa-
tive p. p, Turner Democrat, of Gibson
county. reached and he passed. In
stantly there was shout of satisfac-
ton from the ants He had voted
against the motion to table and his
failure to vote again balanced the op-
posing forces, but just before the end
Of the roll call Mr.. Turner requested
the clerk to recover him rs voting
AYE"
Mr. Turner had said repeatedly that
he would neither vote for nor against
| ratif; cation unless 1t was evident that
his vote was needed but in that event
would vote for the amendment.
UPRoARIOCs DEMONSTRATION
! Suffragist launched an uproarious dem
, onstration before the clerk announced the
vote, for there was no question that they
| had won.
Women screamed at the top of their
voices. scores placed their arms around
the necks Of those nearest them. and
| danced, so far as It was possible to do so.
| In the mass of, humanity. Hundreds of
suffrage banners were waved wildly ana
many removed the yellow flowers they
to meet similar shower from the GAL
leries
There were few tears of joy shed by the
, suffragsts. Some wiped their eyes. but
on the whole they considered it no time
for weeping. Their happiness was far be-
yond that stage.
A motion to adjourn until ten o'clock
tomorrow morning was offered after the
official vote was announced, but in the
uproar It was doubted whether any MEM
bers heard it or whether it was sounded.
The speaker put the question. called for
the Ayes" and Noes and announced
gravely that the motion had carried
unanimously
MAY BE CONSTITUTIONAL TEST
The ANNOUNCED intention to attack tht
. legality of ratification if the House failed
, to rescind its action was the subject o.
conferences tonight between the suf
, frage leaders and between leaders of thu
opposition. The clause of the TENNESSEE
constitution upon which would be baset
, the test in the courts is article two
, section 80. It follows:
mo convention or General Assembly
Of this State shall act upon any amend
ment of the Constitution of the United
States proposed by. Congress to the sew
eral States, unless such convention o
General Assembly shall have been electe
after such amendment is submitted
s The present Legislature was elected Il
3 November. 1918. and the suffrage amend
n ment was not submitted to the State unit
q months afterward.
r The article was adopted in 1870 as re
d suit of the ratification by the Tennessee
o Legislature of the 4th amendment durin
reconstruction days after the Civil Wal
= White citizens of Tennessee were no
|. | represented in that Legislature, ii is saiC
= and to prevent ratification of amend
e ments by rushing tactics as occurred ]
e that instance. adoption OF the article wa
It one of the first things effected after thei
civil rights were restored.
IL THE OHIO DECISION
The Supreme Court of the United State
in deciding recently a case originatin
J. in Ohio held void a clause In the cor
N stitution of that State relating to referer
dums of amendments. Based on opinion
y by W. L. Frierson. solicitor-general
~ the United States, and States Attorne!
20 General Thompson. Governor hooer'
- called the present Legislature IN extra
W ordinary session to act on the suftrae
q. amendment, declaring he had pee
~ assured the Supreme Courts ruling in II
'e Ohio case served to nuliify the article
the Tennessee constitution.
- Suffrage opponents in Tennessee he
" chat the two cases were not parable
that action by the present Lesislatu
- would be in violation of the State Co
" stitution and tho fight Of the opposite
81 from the beginning has centered large
4, upon this contention
"a The Tennessee Constitutional League,
:. which Judge Joseph Higgins of Nashvil
NJ is president and which has prepared
.le place the case in the hands Of the court
ia an organization of attorneys and
~ cludes in it's membership both suffra
"a advocates and opponents. according to
II statement by Judge Higgins. The pu
he pose Of the organization, Judge Higgi
en- said, ts nothing more or less than
rn uphold and protect the constitution
,o- Tennessee.