The Washington herald., 1920-07-08

While suffragists were rejoicing
over the announcement that Gov.
James NJ. Cox. of Ohio.sthe Demo-
cratic Presidential nominee, had
urged ratification of the Nineteenth
amendment in Louisiana, foes Of
woman's suffrage took steps yester-
day to block the realization of their
hopes. Charles S. Fairchild, of New
York, president of the American
Constitutional League and Secretary
of the Treasury under President
Cleveland, instituted proceedings
in the Supreme Court of the District
Of Columbia to enjoin cambridge
Colby, Secretary of State, from de-
claring the amendment ratified.
Mr.. Fairchild is likewise seeking
to prevent Mitchell Palmer. At
torney General. from enforcing the
amendment. Both the Secretary Of
State and the Attorney General
have been called upon in a rule is
sued by Justice Bailey, to show
cause on July 13 as to why the
injunction should not be granted.
The attempt to block the ratifica-
tion of the woman's suffrage amend
ment Is not unlike the effort made
oy the wet forces to prevent the
operation OF the prohibition law.
1t is based on the grounds that the
ratlncatlon proceedings in West
virginia were illegal and that the
legislature of Tennessee has at
present no legal authority to ap-
prove of the amendment.
Lacks JurisdIction Over States.
IL is expected that the outcome
OF the present proceedings will
yield little satisfaction to the on
ponents OF woman's suffrage, for
Colby. 1t is said, has already stated
that he has no authority to inouire
into the validity of the acts of the
States in ratification. The foes of
suffrage, however, base their hone,
on the grounds that in this case
proceedings have been brought
prior to ratification by the thirtv-
sixth State. whereas in the case Of
prohibition they were brought after
the number of States necessary bad
acted favorably.
They allege that the ratification
in West Virginia was fraudulent
in so far as Senator MONTGOMERY.
an opponent of suffrage, was ex-
PEELED by a bare majority, whereas
two-thirds vote Is said to he re-
quired for such step. II is fur
ther alleged that Senator Dodson
had no right to vote because he had
removed from the territory from
which he had been elected.
The basis for claiming that rati-
fication by the present legislature
of Tennessee would not be valid
is involved in the provisions of the
State constitution. In spite of ths
decision in the Ohio referendum case
and the unofficial assurances from
the Department of Justice that tho
Tennessee legislature could legally
ratify the Nineteenth amendment.
1t Is held that unless the legisla-
ture is elected on the suffrage is
sue as provided In the constitution.
it cannot approve woman's suffrage.
Little Feared by Women.
Suffrage forces have been antici-
pating legal action against ratifica-
tion in Tennessee, but did not ex-
pect ii before the special session
in August.
They believe that the opponents
are now seeking a court opinion on
the matter. with hopes that such
action will hold up ratification.
The National Woman's party ex-
pressed satisfaction with the action
of Gov. Cox in urging ratification in
Louisiana and look now with GER
tainty to favorable action by Louisi-
ana, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
three Democratic States which have
not ratified the amendment. They
expect to send a delegation OF wom-
en- to meet with Gov. Cox in Day
ton In the near future.
Warren g. Huding, the Republic.