The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-08-02

other authorities that action by the
special session on ratification OF the
Suffrage amendment is legal will be In
terested In q supplementary opinion by
Mr.. Thompson on the fine point that
there Is no violation OF oath involved.
Writes Mrs. Gait.
Atty. Gen. Thompson has written TO
| Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, president OF
the National American Woman Suffrage
association under date OF July 80. that
the argument and conclusion con-
tanned In my opinion Of June ~ TO the
member would not in so doing violate
his oath" And further, "the act Of
| ratification or rejection OF a proposed
amendment is not legislative act con-
trolled by the constitution OF the state
Of Tennessee, but the same is a politi-
cal act controlled by he federal consti-
tuition. The power and right OF Ten
nessee legislator to perform this po-
liticai act is given to him by the fed
eral constitution and not by the state
constitution. Each legislator takes an
oath to support the federal constitution
with full knowledge that It commits to
him the power and duty OF ratifying or
rejecting not only this but any other
amendment that may be submitted by
congress and also with dull knowledge
that II is the supreme law of the land
and superior to the state constitution
There is therefore, then, no conflict
In the two oaths which he takes, one to
support the federal constitution and the
other to support the state constitution,
because, first. the stae constitution con-
flicts with the federal constitution and
must yield on this point and. second,
his power to act at all on ratification
or on rejection is derived from the fed
eral constitution"
From all over the state are coming
opinions from leading lawyers who hold
that the legislature in special session
is entitled to act upon ratification OF
the federal amendment. 7. X. Rid
dicks, William H. Fitzhugh, J. w.
Canada, Walter p. Armstrong and r.
G. Brown. of Memphis have signed the
following; We have carefully looked ssd
present legislature Of Tennessee can
lawfully ratify the nineteenth amend
ment Of the federal constitution giving
suffrage to women and we are decidedly
of the opinion the present legislature
has this right and power We base this
opinion upon the decision. OF the su-
preme court In the very recent case OF
Haske against Smith, secretary Of
state, in which the supreme court of
the United States decided that the
referendum provision of the Ohio con-
stitution did not apply to the action OF
the Ohio legislature ratifying the pro-
hibition amendment Notwithstanding
direct provision in the Ohio constitu-
ton that the referendum did apply to
such ratification. In substance and ef.
feet the supreme court Of the United
States held by unanimous opinion that
the actions of the various state legis-
latures In ratifying amendments to the
federal constitution are wholly con-
trolled by the provision OF that con-
stitution and that no state constitution
or statute could affect 1t at all. We
cannot understand how any disinter-
ested or impartial lawyer could read the
opinion of the supreme court Of the
United States above referred to and
question.
Full Committee.
The mems ratification committee of
which former Gov. Rye Is chairman,
has, been enlarged to contain the fol-
lowing names:
Alternately. Terry. selmer.
Aoklen. Joseph, Nashville.
Albright, DR.. ]. A, Somerville.
Alexander, Vance j., Nashville.
Amis. Reese. Nashville.
Anderson. James H., Chattanooga.
Arnold, w. F., Jackson
Aust, John r., Nashville.
Bachman. Theodore. Nashville.
Bacon, c. H., Loudon.
Bass Ed Chattanooga.
Beasley. James S. Nashville.
Berry Harry. Nashville.
Bishop, J.; w, Chattanooga.
Brock, Lee, Nashville.
Brown. ]. P. w, Nashville.
Browning, Gordon, Huntington.
Burch, DR.. Lucius, Nashville.
Burnett, J. b., clinton.
Burnett R. L., Chattanooga.
Byrns, Joe w, Nashville.
Caldwell, ]. H., Bristol.
Garden, F. S.. Chattanooga.
Carr. VIII, Nashville.
Carroll, T. B., Jackson.
Carter, F. E., Sparta.
Gates, Charles T.. Knoxville.
Chambliss, A. W., Chattanooga.
Clements, Hal Knoxville. 81
Cooke, DR.. G. W.. Bolivar.
Cook, w. B., Nashville.
Cox, Thad A., johnson City.
Crabtree. w. r.. Chattanooga.
Creighton. w. T.. Nashville.
Crump, e. H., Memphis.
Daughtry, Maj. c. L., Nashville.
Davis, Ewin L., Tullahoma.
Davis, Paul, Nashville.
Doris, Finley Nashville.
Douglas, Lee, Nashville.
Drane, John M. Newbern.
Dudley, Guilford, Nashville.
Durham, T. j., Gallatin,
Dyer. Quimby. Cookeville.
Edgerton, J. F., Lebanon.
Enioe, B. A., Nashville.
Eskew, Harry, Nashville.
Eskridge, r. w, Dresden.
Evers, C. X, Nashville.
Faircloth. f. c., Nashville.
Fisher, Hubert F., Memphis.
Fitzhugh, g. T., Memphis.
Fleming, Martin j., Chattanooga
Folk, Reau Nashville.
Fort, Dancy. Clarksville:
Foster. Edgar, Nashville.
Frazer. James. Nashville.
Frierson, w. L.. Chattanooga.
Gaines, Ambrose, Knoxville. -.
Gillespie, George r., Nashville
Goff, ]. D., Sparta.
Graham, F. j., Centreville.
draper, H. E. Lexington.
Greer, Thomas NJ, Shebyvllle.
Gupton, william, Nashville.
Gwinn, L. E., Covington
Haley, Romans, Nashville.
Handley, Dave, Nashville.
Hannah, Harvey, oliver Springs
Harbert, P. M, Savannah.
Harris, A. M, Nashville.
Haston. e. NJ. Spencer.
Heiskell, S. G.. Knoxville.
Henry. R. A., Nashville.
Henslee, Pitt, Dickson
Heron, Ed, Chattanooga.
Hibbett DIR. w. E.. Nashville
Hill, Albert E.. Nashville.
Hill, H. G.. Nashville.
Holiday. o. K, Cookevilie.
Hooper, Ben w, Newport.
Hopkins, r. S., Columbia.
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