Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-19

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. 18.-Ten-
nessee, the thirty-sixth state, rati-
fed the federal woman suffrage
amendment today, the house by a
vote of so to 46 concurring in the
action of the senate, which voted
favorably last week
The constitutional change thus
will become effective in time for the
100000 women of the country to
vote in the presidential election in
November unless the lower house Of
the assembly rescinds it's action.
Speaker Walker, leader of the anti
suffragists, put opponents in a posi-
ton to demand reconsideration by
changing his vote from nay to aye
and moving to reconsider. The house
adjourned until 10 O'Clock tomorrow,
when the speakers motion will have
the right of way. Suffrage and anti
suffrage forces frightened their lines
this afternoon for the final fight and
both sides we're claiming victory.
For a few moments just before
vote was ordered on the resolu-
ton to concur in the senate action
many leaders of both sides, includ-
ing Speaker Walker, were certain the
amendment had been rejected. This
came on motion to table the resolu-
ton which Mr. Walker offered unex-
pectedly.
At the conclusion of the roll call
leaders who were checking ballots
! as the members voted had a total
OF AZ in favor of tabling and AZ IN
the negative. The clerk of the house
announced his ballot showed q tie of
AZ to 48. The house was in an I'M
roar and it was several minutes be-
fore the speaker pro tenn was able
to order another ballot. The second
ballot was tie, 48 to 48, and the
| motion was lost.
A vote on the motion to concur
with the senate was ordered imn,e.
d1ately, the opposition EXPECTING .
Tie vote, in which event the motion
would have been lost and ratiflcaation
would have been rejected. There W u;
break in the ranks Of the sr34r
however, one Of them voting WITTY,
the su1rras1sts, and the motion car.
rled, 49 to At. With announcement
OF the result, Speaker Walker
changed his vote to AYE" in order
10 nave it entered on the iourna,
giving him the privilege of mov,no
Tor reconsideration, and the corn,
stood SO to 46.
For minute after the vote u,.
called it looked as if it was a tic
1t would have been, but Represents
tive Harry Burns, of McMinn coun-
ty, Immediately announced bo
changed his vote from mo" to ave"
inns gave victory for the resolution
or ratification. Mr.. Burns is tho
youngest representative in the house
Any attempt Mr.. Walker may mako
to nave the action reconsidered must
be made within the next two days.
Legality Questioned
Legality of ratification is question
ed by many legal authorities and
leaders of the anti-suffragists have
announced repeatedly that should
tennessee ratify, an appeal to the
courts would be made immediately
on the ground that the legislature
elected prior to submission of tina
amendment OF the states by congress,
had no right to act because of a state
constitutional inhibition. The con-
st1tution provides that no legislature
shall pass upon an amendment I'M
less it should have been elected after
submission.
Others contend that a decision Of
the supreme court of the United
| States holding void a clause OF rtsn
Ohio constitution relating to referen-
dums on amendments also nualifies
lation in question. The fight of the
anti-suffrage element throughout the
contest was based largely on the con-
tention that action by this legisla-
ture would be in violation of the
state constitution.
Speaker Walkers action in chang
ing his vote to AYE" giving suf-
frage the constitutional majority of
fifty, removes the possibility of an
attack on legality of ratification on
this issue had the suffrasists polled
majority of less than fifty Votes.
The state attorney general had
ruled that majority of the members
present, and not the constitutional
majority, was sufficient for ratifca-
ton or rejection.
The anti-suffragists Immediately
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