Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-16
FATE OF SUFFRAGE .
HANGS IN DOUBT As
VOTE DRAWsNEAR
Result Of Fight in Tennessee
Legislature May Be De-
cined Tomorrow.
BY the Associated Press.

A'' '"'1 Associated PreSS.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. August T6.-The
Tennessee legislature met today after
Che week end recess with every indi
cation that a vote on the woman suf-
frage amendment would be reached
tomorrow in the house. The amend
ment was ratified by the senate last
Friday. Plans of suffrage leaders.
who still counted on a majority, were
for consideration of the ratification
resolution tonight by committee. a re-
Port to the house tomorrow morning
and a vote during the day. The oppo-
sition appeared to be confident of vic
tory and was disposed to go to the
mat with the suffragists without fur
ther delay.
With a settlement of the issue in
sight. hotel corridors were .seething
with excitement until midnight and
conferences of leaders of the opposing
factions were in progress until early
today. Reports of defections from
the ranks of the suffragists were en-
countered in various quarters and one
person was quoted as having stated
that she knew of six representatives
who had Topped to the antis On the
other hand. accessions to the suffrage
ranks were claimed by ratification
leaders. Whether there was any truth
to such reports could not be con-
firmed. but 1t was noticeable Sunday
that both factions were bending every
effort to keep their lineup intact.
Doubt Quorum Will Answer.
There was speculation today among
legislators whether a quorum would
be present when the house was called
to order this afternoon. The opposi-
ton was waging an active campaign
to bring pressure to bear upon mem
bers who had pledged themselves to
support suffrage and during the week
end recess antis were busy in various
parts of the state. Some of them, 1t
was said, might not be on hand until
suffrage leaders late yesterday began
Itelegraphing favorable members who
had gone to their shomessto return to
Nashville at the earliest possible mo-
ment - ~ +;
Attorney General Thompson ruling
last week that majority Of the MEM
bers present, II there was a quorum
would be sufficient for ratification, and
not the constitutional majority Of fifty
as generally believed. also entered into
the discussion of possibilities today.
Basing his ruling on a-decision of the
Tennessee supreme court, the attorney
general held that passing on the rati-
hcation resolution was political, not a
legislative, act, since the governors sig
nature was not required.
AcducTS VI tue opposing IaCltOnS were
wondering what would happen II, after
quorum had answered roll CALL either
side, finding itself in ma jority, should
attempt to call the resolution out Of
committee and force a vote.
Expect Two Separate Reports.
The committee on constitutional con-
ventions and amendments, to which was
referred the ratification resolution, will
meet tonight to discuss the measure
Majority and minority reports were re-
garded as a foregone conclusion, and
if the majority report should recon-
mend ratification a point of order that
this legislature had no authority to act
because of state constitutional limita-
tionS was expected from the opposition
Vote on an appeal from the ruling OF
the speaker would afford the first def
mite indication of the strength of the
opposing forces. Motion, to adopt the
majority report also was expected to
be followed by motion for adoption of
the minority report as a substitute and
roll call at this juncture would still
more clearly define the lineup. Whether
the majority report would recommend
ratification or rejection was regarded as
Of little Importance.
Many leaders of both factions were
confident vote on ratification would be
reached Tuesday, and suffrage leaders,
claiming a majority. said the suffragists
would force night session IL necessary
To make the debate as prief as pos
sible. however. efforts were being made
to dissuade from speaking various mem
bers who had announced their intention
of doing so