Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-25
ASK INJUNCTION TO
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the battle over legality Of ratification, anti
| suffrage leaders declaring that the Amor
can League was prepared to
apply to the District OF Columbia Sli-
preme Court for an order restraining
Secretary Colby from issuing the proclama-
| tion. So far as court action in Tennessee Is
concerned the only thing in prospect for
the suffrage opponents is to request the
Supreme Court to rescind the individual
action of Justice Lansden. The court
meets in Knoxville September 20. Just
what effect refusal Of the court To uphold
Justice Lansden's course would have on
the general situation no one was prepared
to say.
Announcement yesterday that Justice
Lansden had issued the writ followed
later by the statement that the governor
had mailed the certifcatIon was bomb
shell in tho camp of the anti-siiffrage
forces and an agreeable surprise to the
suffragists. There had been no intimation
that such course was planned, and a
small circle of the suffrage leaders had
kept the secret well.
Attorney-GeneraI Thompson filed the
petition for the writ with Justice Iansden
at his residence Monday night on behalf of
Governor Roberts, Secretary OF State
Stevens and Speaker Andrew Todd and
Clerk W. NJ. Carter of the Senate, parties
TO the restraining order. The names of
Seth Walker, speaker Of the House and
opposition leader, and John Green, clerk
of the House, also named in the injunction,
were not on the petition presented the
Justice, and 1T was understood only
Justice Lansden, Governor Roberts and
Mr., Thompson actually knew what was
contemplated.
Mr.. Thompson argued thn case before
the Justice and the writ WIS granted. The
petition was filed with the clerk of the
Supreme Court at a.55 o'clock yesterday
morning, and 25 minutes later the GER
tlhcate of ratification was in the mails on
its way TO Washington. The petitioners
who obtained the injunction and anti
suffragists generally were amazed at the
coup, and the former in formal state
ment attacked what they termed the
"high-handed tactics and unprecedented
methods, involved in the case.
"This action was taken and the in
junction in effect dissolved without any
notice whatsoever to the complainants for
their solicitors. all Of whom live in Nash
vile and were easily accessible, the state
ment said, although the rule of law
generally and as stated by competent
t1tutltbsf anu Iiit tuft vi ftbtfsHibhffi
ethics and courtesy, always requires that
notice be given ordering counsel of the
intention to apply to an appellate Judge for
the writ of supersedees.
Lawyers who have been consulted
stated they hardly believe that such action
was taken and acted on by Governor
Roberts as it appeared to them TO be at
least, If not revolutionary I'm character, IN
such violation of established law and pro-
cedure as to seem almost incredible.
Governor Roberts would make no
statement, but suffrage leaders regarded
the battle ended so far as the Legislature
and the State are concerned, and pre-
pared to leave for their homes
There was no information available
here as to when The more than 30 House
members opposing suffrage who went to
Decatur, Ala, in order 10 break quorum
would return 10 Nashville.
The Davidson county grand jury has
still uneerl investigation charges that
lobbyists were at work preceding the final
votes, in an effort to improperly influence
members of the legislature to defeat
ratification, but the general opinion OF
anti-ratihcationsts, as we'll as MANY
suffragists was that nothing would de-
velop to warrant indictments. Conclusion
of the investigation is expected within a
few days.
Athens. Ala, Aug. 24.-Within II
miles of the Tennessee State line, the 80
members of the Tennessee House, who
left to break quorom, ate watermelon
and renewed their declaration of opposition
TO the ratification of the suffrage amend
ment.
This afternoon the legislators were the
guest Of the citizens OF Athens at water
melon feast. They were entertained to-
night at a banquet at the Athens College,
female educational institution Colonel
W. t. Saunders, national Democratic
committeeman from Athens, presided as
POSTMASTER.