The Washington times., 1920-08-26

Suffrage for women became 81;
actuality today when Secretary of
State Colby signed a proclamaticn
announcing the Nineteenth amenG
ment to the constitution.
The proclamation of the amend
ment, giving the vote to woman, fo;
lowed receipt Of a certificate of rat
ification Of the acendment by tha
Tennessee legislature and brouphe
10 a conclusion, one Of the lonpest
and most bitter legislative fights IL,
the history of the UniSsd States.
SIGNED AT HOME
Secretary of State Colby, arriving
at the, State Department shortly be-
iore ~ o'clock, announced that he had
signed the suffrage proclamation at S
o'clock this morning at his homo.
delegation of suffrage leaders
were waiting at the State Department
when Secretary Colby arrived. The
Secretary Immediately informed them
that the suffrage proclamation had
been signed. and their enthusiasm
was somewhat dampened by the fact
that they had not been permitted to
be present at the signing.
Secretary Colby announced that the
Tennessee certificate had been dehv-
cred to him at his home at 8 O'Clock
this morning, and that he had imme-
diately turned 1t over to Solicitor
Fred X. Nielsen, Of the State Depart
ment. for examination. Solicitor Mel
sen returned the certificate and the
proclamation early this morning, and
at o'clock, In the presence Of Solicit
tor Nielsen and Charles Cook, Of the
diplomatic bureau Of the State De-
fpartment the proclamation had been
signed. -, .
"The certified record Of the action
OF the legislature Of the State Of Ten
nessee on the suffrage amendment
was received by mail this morning."
Secretary Colby told the woman. @Im-
mediately on its receipt, the record
was brought to my house. This was
in compliance with my directions and
in accordance with numerous requests
for the promptest action. thereupon
signed the certificate required of the
Secretary of State this morning at .
o'clock In the presence of F. X. Nell
sen. the Solicitor Of the State Depart
ment The seal of the Unitel States
has been duly affixed to the certificate
and the suffrage amendment is now
the Nineteenth Amendment of the Con-
stitution Of the Cnitel States.
"It was decided not to accompany
this simple ministerial action on my
part with any ceremony or setting,
This secondary aspect OF the subject
has regretfully been the source OF
considerable contention as to who
shall participate in 1t and who shall
not. Inasmuch as I am not Interested
in the aftermath of any of the fric-
tions or collisions which may have
in ctr
for the ratification OF the amendment.
I have aontented myself with the per-
formance in the simplest manner of
the duty devolved upon me under the
law.
CONGRATULATEs WOMEN.
ct congratulate the women of the
country upon the successful culmina-
tion of their efforts, which have been
sustained in the face of many dis
couragements and which have now
conducted them to the achievement OF
their great object
The day marks the opening OF .
great and new era in the political
life OF the nation. confidently be-
lieve that every salutary, forward,
and upward force in our public life
will receive fresh vigor and re-en-
forcement from the enfranchisemen
OF the women OF America.
TO the leaders in this great move
ment lender my sincere congrstula-
tions. To every one, from the Presi-
dent, who uttered the call to duty
whenever the cause seemed to fslter.
TO the humblest worker in this great
reform, the praise not only OF this
generation, but OF posterity, will be
freely given"
The following national officers and
90
tional Woman's Party were to have
been present when Secretary Colby
issued the proclamation: Miss Alice
Paul, national chairman, Moorestown,
n. j.; Mrs. Abby Scott Baker. pollt.
ical chairman. Washington. n. c.:
Mrs. Florence Brewer Boeckel, editor
suffraglst. washinRto1. y. C.; Miss
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