NORTH CAROLINA 499 ratify, which was referred to the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. Within a quarter of an hour the committee re- ported favorably by 7 to i Senator Cloud. This prompt ac- tion was said to be not a tribute to Governor Bickett but to Lieutenant Governor Gardner. It was introduced into the House by minority leader H. S. Williams (Republican) and referred to the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. Senator Scales, floor leader in the Senate for ratification, and Senator Lindsay Warren, floor leader for the opposition, agreed that the resolution to ratify should come up for discussion Au- gust 17. So great was the excitement that by order of the Senate the gallery space was divided, the east wing being as- signed to the ratificationists, the west wing to the rejectionists. An impassioned debate continued about five hours, Senator Carr opening for ratification, followed by Senators Sisk, Long of Halifax, Lovell and Glidewell, with Scales closing. The oppo- sition was led by Senator Warren, followed by Senators Bed- dingfield, Thompson and Conner. When agreement to vote was reached and the prospect for ratification was favorable, Senator Warren suddenly interposed a resolution to defer action until the regular meeting of the Legislature in 1921. Senator Scales had no intimation that this move would be made until it was too late to prevent it and the vote stood 25 ayes, 23 noes. Blame for the defeat was placed to a large extent upon Senator Stacy. Had he remained true, there would have been a tie and tile- Lieutenant Governor would have voted in favor. Meanwhile it was generally understood that Representative W. W. Neal had been sent to Tennessee for a conference with the opponents in the Legislature there to arrange for the defeat of ratification by the House in each State. Speaker Seth Walker of the Tennessee House telegraphed Speaker Brummitt : "Have the amendment defeated overwhelmingly in the Lower House. are proud of our mother State of North Carolina. God grant that she stand true to her glorious tradition and history." All kinds of canards were in circulation and Governor James M. . Democratic candidate fur President, had to send a j>ersonal denying that lie ;is opposed tu the ratification. A
