Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-20
TENNESSEE HOUSE
ADJOURNS WITHOUT
A SUFFRAGE VOTE
Failure of Walker to Move
Reconsideration Taken
as Defeat.
MOTION TO QUIT UNTIL
SATURDAY WINS EASILY
Ants Had Claimed Votes Enough
to Kill Hopes of Women
This Fall.
Sy the Associated Press.

II! 'ht Associated iresS-
NASHVILLE, Tenn. August 90
The Tennessee house today adjourned
until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning
without an attempt of the anti-suffra-
gists to force reconsideration of the
woman suffrage amendment. The mo-
ton was offered by suffrage leader
and carried by an overwhelming viva
voce vote.
Failure of Speaker Walker to move
reconsideration was taken as an indi-
cation that the opposition had not
secured enough pledges to rescind its
action in ratifying the amendment.
AS the house adjourned hundreds of
suffragists Joined in singing MY
Country. 'Tis of Thee" fairly shouting
the words. sweet land of liberty"
The air was repeated over and over.
They regarded the victory as won be-
yond question.
The suffragists are expected to
move tomorrow that ratification be
reconsidered. motion to table the
previous motion would follow. 1t
would be adopted, and other parlia-
mentary tatics to reconsider would be
impossible.
An attempt by the opposition to
adjourn until Monday was voted
down by the suffragists. 49 to Al,
the same majority polled wednesday
on ratification. 1t was apparent that
the suffrage ranks had held steadfast
for two days against the onslaughts
of the opposition in their attempt to win
additional strength at the expense of
their antagonists.
Anti-suffragists were prepared to
seek reconsideration of the vote by
h; ;nI, thA rofi 6nd hn
federal suffrage amendment. Speaker
Walker. who changed his vote from
may to yea so he would be in a po-
sition to move recopsideration. said he
would make a motion that the house
reScind it's action. His privilege to do
SO under house rules, however, has now
expired.
Both suffrage advocates and oppo-
nents. as they tighten their lines for
the final skirmish, expressed confidence
days vote of so to 46 for ratification.
suffragists predicted they not only
would hold their majority in line, but
would have the added support of two of
the three house members who were alb
sent.
TIE declaration last night of Speak
er Seth Walker. leader of the opposi-
ton, that he had signed pledges from
forty-seven members to stand to-
gether for reconsideration and rejec-
tlOn, lndL three OCueTS were 10 SlS IL
during the night and that several ad-
ditional ones were expected to Join
his forces before the house convened
this morning, increased the, interest
of both suffragists and their op-
ponents to fever heat. The suffra-
gists still declared they would be the
victors.
walker a "Boy Leader
Should Mr.. Walker muster fifty
votes and succeed in upsetting ratifi-
cation. suffragists and anti-suffra-
gistS alike were agreed that it would
have been due entirely to his efforts.
Mr.. Walker at twenty-six years of
age was speaker of the house, and
now. at twenty-eight, is the outstand-
ing leader of one of two opposing
forces in one of the most bitter legis-
lative contests the country ever has
witnessed.
BY changing his vote on ratification
from nay" to AYE" the speaker re-
served to himself for two Legislative
days the sole right to move for re-
consideration. He failed to act yes
terday. but must do so before ad-
journment today. After today any
member of the house might offer such
a motion and his failure to take ad-
vantage of the privilege would open
the way for a final settlement of the
issue if the suffragists found them
selves in majority. The motion would
be offered by suffragist another
member of their forces would move
that it would be tabled, and the suf-
frage majority would act accordingly
The Davidson county grand jury.
charged in criminal court yesterday
by Judge Debow to investigate
charges that lobbyists had attempted
to unduly influence members of the
Legislature during their consideration
OF the suffrage amendment, continued
its work today. J. S. Eichelberger of
Washington. representative of the
National Association Opposed to
Woman Suffrage and the American
Constitutional League. and in charge
of naturalization headquarters here
was summoned to appear again this
morning. He was before the jury
two hours yesterday.
Favorites @Are Cheered.
The galleries and the promenade at
the rear of the chamber. as on We'd
hesday. were crowded with suffrage
advocates and opponents an hour
before ths house convened. Enthu-
sIaSm of the spectators could not be
held in check, and as various Iegis-
lative leaders arrived cheers mingled
with applause. Speaker Walker was
accorded an ovation by the antis.
The arrival of Representatives r. X.
Riddick and Joe Hanover of Shelby
county. suffrage leaders. was the sig
nal for an outburst from the suffrage
advocates. Appearance of Repre-
sentative Harry T. Burn of McMinn
county, whose vote Wednesday for
ratification was regarded as having
carried the day for suffrage, prompted
another demonstration.
Ninety six members answered roll
call. AS the house proceeded with its
work there Were rumors the suf-
fragists would attempt to force ad-
tournament until Monday. If they sue
ceeded in doing this before Speake,
Walker offered his motion for recon.
sideration il would be regarded as ar
important advantage for suffrage
Any one could offer such motor
after today, and the suffragists b,
doing so Monday. with ma jority
present. then proceeding to table it
would end the fight so far as the
legislature was concerned
Representative Hanover later said i
Walkers motion was not offered. ant
the usual adjournment over the weel
end was moved. he would attempt IL
have carried motion to hold ses
sion Saturday.
Grand Jury Is Busy.
-Four thousand persons last night at
tended an anti-suffrage mass meetin,
at which Speaker Walker outlined plan
. "f his faction for battle over suffrag,
on the floor of the house today
Two affidavitS alleging that a suf
frage advocate had attempted to brib,
. Representative Harry T. Burn. repub
lican. McMinn county. were publis shet
Continued on Page 2, Column l.