Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-26
COLBY SIGNS
RATIFICATION
Women Declare This Ends the
Fight for Women to Vote
in the United States.
BY The Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. A

BY The Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26-The
proclamation announcing officially
that the suffrage amendment had
been ratified was signed by Secretary
Colby of the state department.
The document was signed at 8
o'clock this morning at the home of
Mr.. Colby. when the certificate that
the Tennessee legislature had rati-
fed the amendment was received.
Secretary Colby announced his ac-
ton on his arrival at his office later.
The announcement disappointed a
group of suffrage workers from
headquarters, who had gathered at
the state department hoping to be
present when Mr.. Colby attached his
signature. Miss Alice Paul, chair
man of the party. was among the
number ~
I'VE are confident that the sigma
ture of Secretary Colby completes
the suffrage struggle in this country.
In spite of every obstacle that our
opponents could put in our way. wo-
men have won the right in the equal
voice in the affairs of this govern
ment. The womaifs party will not
relax its vigilance until it Is satis-
fed that no further attempts will be
made to wrest from the women of
the United States the political
equality which they have won." she
said.
Miss Paul planned to go to New
York today to call a meeting of the
executive committee of the party. at
which the date for the national con-
vention to fix future policies viii be
decided.
Secretary Colby later sent word to
\. =. ~.
he would see the suffrage leaders at
his office if they desired. Word was
sent back that Miss Paul was pre-
pairing to leave for New York; that
the other leaders have already re-
turned to their homes and the invi-
tation could not be accepted.
No Special Plans Here as Yet
City Clerk Arthur e. Graham is
not making any special arrange
ments for the primary elections as
result of the women being admit
ted to the polls as he is still wait
ing for a reply to a query to Secre-
tary of State Martin which request
ed full instructions. Just how many
women voters will be added to the
voting registration in this city is not
known, as 1t Is the general belief
kAtHb GIL WIZ AOt A0hC az Fdhto6r oA
the chance given them to vote, at
least not until the novelty" wears
off.
At present Mr.. Graham is going
ahead with his preparations as
though this years primary and
election were. the same as in the
former years without the women
voting. The question of making
additional polls in the city. owing
to the increased number of voters,
may arise before the matter is dis
posed of.
1t was at first thought that 1t
would be necessary to obtain the
ratification of the state senate be-
fore the women of the state could
vote for other than national candi-
dates but in answer to an inquiry by
this effect to Attorney General
Thomas F. McCran by the Secretary
of State, Tuesday, the attorney gen.
eral said the state constitution will
be automatically changed in this
matter just the same as the nation
al one was.
The attorney general, quoting
from decisions of the United States
supreme court, showed that the
fifteenth amendment and all future
amendments were to be paramount
to the state law and that they an
nulled such discriminating words as
white" citizens and male" citizens
found in state constitutions.