The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-08-21
STILL DANGER
FOR SUFFRAGE
Tennessee House May Reconsider
Vote at Any Time During Present
Session and Vote the
Other Way.


definite end to the efforts of their
opponents to undo ratification OF the
nineteenth amendment.
Their scheme was TO call up the
motion to reconsider the resolution
of ratification and table it, where it
would have 10 remain under the rules.
i However opinions differ on the
exact status of the motion to recon
slider Some hold it died automati-
!caily when Speaker Seth NJ. Walker
ibid not bring it UP Thursday or Fri
day. The privilege to bring 1t up
during those two days was exclusively
Walkers. This group believes that
ratification is now an accomplished
fact and that nothing further need
be done to insure against change OF
vote.
Others contend that anyone who
voted affirmatiyely may now call up
the motion to reconsider.
Adherents to this view argue that
UNLESS the motion is tabled, there is
danger it may be voted on at any
time during the remainder of the
session.
To be sure their victory is perma-
nent, suffrage leaders expected to
table the motion which would settle
the question beyond doubt since the
rules state there can be no recon
sideration of request for reconsider
alton" If the motion is on the table
or the house votes not to reconsider,
it is dead.
Speaker Todd. of the senate, con
sidered n well informed parliament
tartan holds the view that possibility
Iof reconsidering no longer exists. He
argued that when Walkers two days
expired suffrage was established and
the only further step needed is 10
verify the ratification to the secre-
tary of state at Washington. The
resolution of ratification it is under
stood had gone to the engrossing
clerk and will be signed by Todd to-
day.
Reports that thirty-seveR represen-
tatives opposed to suffrage had left
town during the night to break
Quorum in the house caused a stir.
The object in breaking quorum
would be to prevent action on suf-
,frage. The argument of the ants is
that ratification will not be completed
until the motion to reconsider is acted
upon.
ninety nine A quorum is sixty-six.
At ten o'clock the time the house
was to convene, the majority of anti
ratification members had not appear
ed. 1t was uncertain whether there
would be quorum. Suffrage leaders
believed there would be.
Representative Hanover said he
was unable to state positively 'he
10: y.nI lnft ffSxay hIyf
believed they had s.t
Some thought the ants might be
together somewhere prepared to come
at the last minute.
No Quorum Today.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. 81
When the lower house of the Tennes-
see legislature met today no business
could be transacted because there
was not quorum present.
Suffrage advocates charged that
anti-suffrage members had left town
to delay final action on motion to
ratification of the SUE
frage amendment. There were fifty
nine members present, seven less
than quorum.
The suffTagists had planned TO
make a motion today to reconsider
the ratification resolution and then to
vote to table it, thus definitely closing
the issue.
The anti-suffragists, by absentins
themselves, prevented this action
being taken and their parliamentary
ans contend that a motion for recon-
sideration can be made at any time
during the session. The "antis" evil
IDENTIFY plan to make such motion
and force quick action on it the first
time they have majority of mem
bers on the floor of the house. Suf-
fragists must keep their full strength
on hand at every meeting to prevent
the "antis" overturning ratification by
such coup.
After the roll had been called.
Speaker Walker ordered the sergeant
alarms to arrest all absent members
and bring them before the house.
The house went into recess for an
hour. There was little hope that a
quorum could be mustered.
The anti ratificationists were said
to have gone to Decatur, Alabama.
where they are not under control of
the Tennessee laws. Had they re-
manned In Tennessee, their attend
ance could be forced.
A law making it felony to break
a quorum has been declared uncon-
Suffrage supporters contend that
is now completed and re-
quires no further action. Their posi-
ton Is that the motion to reconsider
died automatically when it was not
called up during the two days follow
ing the passage of the resolution of
Suffragists plan to send certified
copies of the journals of the house
and senate to the secretary Of state
at Washington 1t was reported as
proof of ratification.
How long the flibuster will last
could not be learned. The special
session expires automatically at the
end of this month
While the house was in recess, /
Judge J. B. Newman issued an in.
junction to prevent Governor A. n :