Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-09

except by court decisions on the question
as to whether or not the Legislature OF
Tennessee actually ratified the 10Th
amendment
There Is precedent for the attitude
assumed by Secretary Colby. The 18th
amendment to the Constitution was rati-
hed by the New York Legislature April
IA, 1862 but January 5, 1870, the Legisla-
ture passed resolution withdrawing its
assent However on March 30. 1870 the
secretary of state issued a proclamation
declaring that this amendment had been
ratified by the necessary number of States.
including New York.
WOMEN NOT TO SEEK 9TH
The National Woman's party announced
this afternoon that no efforts will be
made to obtain ratification by the 9th
state in order to make assurances doubly
sure. The opinions of many legal authori
ties nave been obtained, all agreeing that
a legislature cannot legally rescind its
action on federal amendment after
proclamation.
In statement by telephone from New
York Miss Paul said:
Legality of Tennessec's ratification
cannot be questioned and the action of
the House yesterday can only be con-
sidered ineffective"
Former Gov. Folk of Missouri was
among those consulted by the suffra-
gists to-day. He said:
When the Legislature of a state has
lawfully testified constitutional
amendment and the secretary of the
said State has proclaimed the adop-
ton of the amendment as part of the
Constitution the Legislature by chang
ing It's vote cannot undo what has been
done or change tho federal Constitution
as amended. This is the law generally
speaking. There are specific questions
in the Tennessee case, however. which
apparently complicate the situation and
concerning which no off-hand opinion
could satisfactorily be given.
ANTS WITHDRAW SUIT
The suit brought by the anti-suf-
fraEists to restrain Secretary Colby
| from issuing his proclamation of rati-
fication was withdrawn to-day. The
suit was brought by Charles s. Fair
child of New York. His counsel. AL
fred j Smith, said Mr. Farchild was
convinced that the former suit. brought
before the necessary number of States
had ratified the amendment raised all
the points necessary to sustain their
! contention. This suit was dismissed by
Justice Bulley and an appeal noted to
to the court of appeals. Counsel say
they will ask the appellate court TO re-
fer the case to the United States Su-
| preme Court.
| inc national non-partisan political
campaign committee of the American
Federation of Labor sent out a letter
to all local committees of organized
! labor. giving ,ool, =
special appeals to the women to aid
them In November. The letter makes II
plain that women are expected to sun
port organized labor in repayment OF
benefits already received. The letter
follows:
In view of the fact that the Ameri.
can Federation of Labor Endorsed the
demand of the women of the country
for the right to voice and vote on
what shall be the political policies of our
country. even at the time when the
proponents of women's suffrage were
seemingly n hopeless minority as evi.
dcnced by the fact that the attitude OF
legislators on women's enfranchisement
has long been and is now one of the test
votes in the records issued by the Ameri
can Federation of Labor we consider We
have the right to expect the support OF
W
"Outside of the fact that we have aided
in bringing about recognition of women.
rights as citizens. we believe that labor.
record In conserving the playtirne of tn,
child, in demanding and securing legsa
ton restricting hours and demanding
sanitary surroundings for women in IN
dustry; initiating the public school sys
tenn and always in the forefront for i'm
provements in the educational depart
ments of the government. better remunera
ton for teachers, and better schoo
houses, will appeal to the women voter
when properly presented.
I'VE suggest that local speakers SHOULD
make a special effort to present to thu
women of the country the fact that labor
political program is for the better home
the well fed and happy child and tn
elimination of exploitation of child labo
for profit"