Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-05
HARDING REFUSES
AID To SUFFRAGE
Tells Party Men in Tennesses He
Cannot Urge Legislators to
Ratify.
Snecial TO New York Times

legislative session, beginning next Mon
dav. His refusal is in spite of an appea
from the Harding and Coolidge League o.
the District of Columbia.
The local Harding and Coolidge League
telegraphed the nominee that the he
publican situation IN Tennessee was ere,
at;np an unpleasant atmosphere, but all
that Senator Harding sand IN reply was
Non can understand why cannot con-
.;stentlv urge Tennessee legislators to
vote for ratification without knowing
their reasons for such commitment ms
they have made The situation is beng
reported to national headquarters, where
II will be given attention at once.
The telegram from the Harding and
Coolidge League follows:
The Harding and Coolidge Republican
League has taken telegraphlc poll oil the
Rennblican members of the Tennessee
legislature on the woman suffrage amend
ment. Ii docs not look good. Suggest that
q persopal telegram from you to each
Republican member of the legislature
will undoubtedly result in all voting for
the woman suffrage amendment when
legislature meets August 9.
Do not believe that anything else Will
result in solid Republican support OF the
amendment. Republicans here think 1t
most necessary TO give good Repubhcan
sunport for ratification in Tennessee, be-
cause if Tennessee is lost we will have
women attacking us to get Vermont and
Connecticut.
Winfield Jones,
Chairman Executive Committee.
An ANALYSIS Of the Tennessee legislative
situation shows that the Republicans
have about quarter OF the membership
of each house There are seven hepuDhcah
members of the Senate, four oil WhoIn are
pledged TO vote for ratification OF suffrage
one is non-commttal, one opposed ana
one has not been heard from.
There are twenty-eight Republican
members in the House eleven of whom are
nledred to vote for ratification, five are
non-committal, two opposed and ten
have not been heard from.
OF the Republicans who are non-com-
INITIAL and opposed in both houses, five
are suffragists, as shown by the fact that
last wear thev voted for the Presidential
suffrage bill. Republicans who gave their
pledges to vote for ratification are report
cd hv suffragists as beginning to hesitate
and as saving that they are non-committal:
Parley II. Christensen, Presidential
nominee Of the Farmer-LabOr party, tele-
phoned today from New York offering his
serx-icas 10 the National Woman's party
~ assist in the campaign in Tennessee.
Mr.. Christensen stated that he made his
offer in accord with the strong suffrage
plank in his party's platform and with hls
own long-standing convictions.
According TO present plans Mr.. Chris
tensen will arrive in Nashville Sunday and
sneak before the Central Labor conference
of that city. From there he Will go to
O, her cities throughout the State address
ing labor and farmer organizations.
Nashville. Tenn, Aug 5.-Suffrage
leaders are spending the week preceding
the assembling of the State Legislature
Monday in canvassing the three grand
divisions of Tennessee and trying to
pledge a majority of the members to vote
for ratification of the Federal suffrage
amendment.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait is in East
Tennessee. She has delivered speeches at
Chattanooga and knoxville, and has con-
ferrrd with many members of the legis-
latllre. Miss Anita Politzer, of the Ma
tional Woman's party also Is campaigning
in east Tennessee for signed pledges for
ratification.
Mrs. Gait has made several speeches
in the western division of Tennessee,
priricipallv at Memphis and jackson.
Miss Betty Gram, one of the militant
slffragists, Is now IN that section. She
Will visit several counties and try TO secure
the signature of legislators for ratification.
Meanwhile State headquarters of the
Tennessee League of Women Voters Is
putting great pressure upon recalcitrant
legislators through its Congressional dis
trlct chairmen and workers. The women
are very active, and through an extensive
card system they have a complete record
OF each mans inclination.
Indications point to the constitutional
question as being vital issue in the fight.
The anti-suffragists will not base their
arguments against the measure along the
usual lines. but will base their attack al
most solely on the ground that under the
State constitution legislator will violate
his oath of Office if he votes for an amend
ment at the same term OF the legislature at
which il is submitted.
Anti-suffrage forces are gathering under
The banner of the Tennessee Constitutional
League. which has a large number of
letter of the league sent out to each mem |
Der of the legislature reads:
"Our State constitution clearly forbids
the present legislature to act in this mat
ter. Every one admits this. Accordingly, !
YOU haven't the right, without violation of
vour oath of office, to act unless this pro-
vision Of our constitution is Illegal and in
valid
Mrs. Gait. who is leading the fight of
the suffragists, has fortified herself with
opinions by Charles f. Hughes Of New
York. Solicitor General William L. Frier-
son and State Attorney-General Frank
Thompson, that ratification by the legis-
ature will be valid under the Federal
Constitution.
Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 5.-Governor
Cox is likely to be between two fires on
the subject of Tennessee's threatened
ratification of the woman's suffrage
amendment, Judging by developments to-
day.
Miss Sue s White, Tennessee chair
man OF the TINT" or militant wing
Of the sufiragists, said that, unless to-
norrOws primary election produces a
decided break toward suffrage Gov
srnor Cox probably would be asked to
some here in person to help the fight
iuring the session Of the legislature.
Almost az the same time that this an
lounoement was made the new Ten
lessee Constitutional League, including
about 200 Of the citizens Of the State
sapitsil, held its organization meeting and
decided % request Governor Cox. Sena-
,or Harding, Will III. Hays and other
aaiional political leaders 70 keep ''hands
oh the Tennessee fight.