Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-10
BOTH TENNESSEE
HOUSES RECEIVE
SUFFRAGE BILLS
Gov. Cox Sends Message to
Democrats Asking Votes
for Ratification.
By the Associated Press.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. August 10.-A
joint resolution providing for ratln
cation of the federal woman SuHraee
amendment was introduced tooay III
both houses of the Tennessee legls-
lature. Speaker Todd offered the res
olution in the senate. and the Shelby
county delegation. which is declared
solidly for ratification, presented II
in the lower house.
Under the rules the resolution went
on the table until tomorrow. when
it will be brought up for discussion.
The tentative program. leaders stat
ed, is to refer it to the two Judiciary
committees. which are expected to
conduct a joint hearing later in the
week
The suffragists were greatly en-
couraged over the prospects of
successful outcome of the contest as
the result of telegram from Gov.
Cox, democratic presidential nomi-
nee, to Miss Charl Williams of Mem
phis, vice chairman of the democrat
of the woman's general ratification
committee. which Miss Williams made
public today.
On Party Grounds.
Il sincerely hope the Tennessee leg
lSlature may ratify the suffrage
amendment at once" the governor
telegraphed. 1T is not only a mat
ter of justice and right. but 1 be-
lieye one of utmost benefit to the demo-
nEAtic party, because the great issue
HPon which the campaign will be de-
cided will find it's response to the
democratic appeal in the hearts of
American women"
Miss Williams declared the nominees
message was expected to have much
weight in bringing about victory, and
said that several members of the as
HI
Vised of its contents expressed the
opinion that ratification was almost GER
tain.
Two legislators favorable to suf-
frage, and whose health was such
that they were unable to come to
Nashville alone, arrived last night to
vote for ratification.
Senator S. C. Collins, republican, of
Elizabethton is very old. and for many
months has been i'll, but the length Of
the journey from the far eastern end
Of the state did not deter him from
making the trip.
Representative r. L. Dowlen, DEM
was discharged from a. hospit al, was
brought to Nashville in an automobile
by friende.
"If 1--we I'm going to be up there
to vote for that amendment" he said,
as he was lifted from the. car apd car
quarters within a stones throw OF the
capitol, in order that he might be
taken to his seat with little incon-
venience. sF
MessnEe FroH GovernSY
The senate and hoyse.zwhfeb Were
called into special session yesterday
to act on the suffrage amendment,
were in session only an hour, ad-
journing after hearing the message of
Gov. Roberts, which urged ratifica-
ton.
Republican members of both houses
caucused, but are said to have reached
no agreement on proposal that they
vote as unit on the ratification
question. No effort was made at the
caucus, it was said. to get Legislators
to pledge that they would support
the resolution.
Gov Roberts. in. his message, de-
clared ratification should be voted
promptly in order that the women of
the country might share in shaping
the destiny of the republic"
Citing declarations of the repub-
lican and democratic national and
state platforms in favor of woman
suffrage and; declaring that platforms
adopted are accepted as party law
and are SO regarded as sacred pledges
by members of those parties elected
upon such Platforms" the governor
said that mo party man is without
party law to support his action in
voting favOrably on this amendme mt :"