The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-04
coNFUsIoN cHIEF pANoeR.

As the st. Louis Star says: There
Ia not the slightest chance In the world
that the coup will destroy the amend
ment The danger is that II will cause
confusion"
"As to the Tennessee legislature
Itself. It's latest step Is chiefly indicative
OF lack Of dignity" continues that
paper. Members Of the house, who
forgot their duty by rushing of to Ala
bama in order to break a quorum and
tie UP Legislative business, came hur-
riedly back and put through a motion
to reconsider the suffrage ratification
before the other faction could assemble
Its forces. A minority of the house
was responsible for this act'
The Star correctly describes how Il
was done and properly indicates the
chief trouble that will come OF It. Con-
fusion may be caused.
The press OF the country IL criticising
Tennessee almost as much as It praised
our state few days ago.
We may offer this defense. What has
been done now IL not the act Of a ma
Jority, as was recorded In the ratlflca-
ton votes, but OF n minority. People
OF other states should be made to
know that tho twenty days OF the spe-
cial legislative session expired on Sat-
urday. Aug. 2S. After that time the
legislature had no power to compel the
attendance OF member. Under the
constitution members pay stopped on
that date II the suffragists had been
unmIndful OF the needs of the state as
to other legislation they would have
gone home and stayed at home. But
they desired to aid Gov. Roberts In car
rying out his program of legislation.
Nest OF them came back, A few. no
doubt, thinking tho session over. re-
NAMED away The antis, held to-
gether under severe discipline, APP
peRred in a body and took possession
OF the house. They never. however,
polled over forty-seven votes.
Gov. Roberts has finally decided that
II IN his duty to perform tho merely
ministerial act OF certifying to the Sec
rotary OF state OF the United States
that the extract OF tho journal Of the
house on tho day tho former proceed
inRs were expunged was correct
" Ia the best opinion that this will
In no way affect ratification, The anti
ratifcationists are boasting OF vic
tory, but they will find Il empty, At
tho same time this atcion may make
more certain litigation and In some
quarters It Ia regretted that the gov
ernor did not innore the demand OF
the antis.
Perhaps, however, out OF these
churllsh attacks on suffrage viii come
moro prompt inquiry by the supreme
court OF the United States. This Is
very much TO be desired, II Is evidently
the purpose Of these enemies OF women
TO create all the confusion possible and
bring about II possible, n contested
presidential election.
Furthermore, tho governor OF Vermont
now has an additional reason for call
ing an extra session. II Is not the
question Of suffrage alone involved, but
an orderly election over the country.
The Connecticut session has already
been called and Its legislature will no
doubt act, and II Ia not improbable
that Alabama may ratify under the new
circumstances.
Pride in Tennessee, however. win
cause every suftraglst TO desire that
the case involving this state shall he
promptly tried and decided. Tennes-
see 10 tho Perfect SO and win be so
known.