The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-08-31
Secretary Colby Signs Proclamation
and Affixes Seal-Action Fol-
lows Tennessee Noticeshrdluu
lows Notice From Ten
nessee.

pump anu SSlCliioiiJ, oSSAS1~iJ WI
by today signed the proclamation de-
claring the woman suffrage amend
ment "to ali intents and purposes a
part of the constitution of the United
States"
The secretary's signature was af-
fixed to the proclamation at his home
at 8 o'clock this morning, few
hours after he had received from
Governor Roberts of Tennessee the
certificate that final favorable action
on the amendment had been taken
by the legislature of that state COM
pleting the required 36.
"The seal of the United States has
been duly affixed to hte certificate
and the suffrage amendment is now
the 10th amendment to the constitu-
tion," Secretary Colby announced on
reaching his office two hours after he
had placed his signature to the proc
!amation.
Mr.. Colby was awakened at 3:45
o'clock this morning by Charles L..
Cook, state department employee,
who notified him that the Tennessee
certifcation had arrived. The secre-
tary then called F. K. Nelson, de-
partment solicitor, to examine the
Tennessee papers,, also instructing
the solicitor to bring the proclama-
tion to the secretary's home at .
o'clock.
Undue Eagerness Avoided.
"While it was my thought the
secretary explained later, 'to avoiC
undue eagerness in signing the proc
lamation l found no reason to con-
spicuously loiter. l had an advcrs-
ion to sign in the wee small hours of
the night, and a. m. thought was
the earliest regular hour l should be-
gin to function.
Observing that "the great end OF
the enfranchisement of women IS
too important thing to be treated
with levity," the secretary explained
that he had refused to repeat the act
of signing upon his arrival at the
state department.
When he reached the department
the secretary found several men,
bers of the national woman's party,
headed by it's chairman, Alice Paul,
awaiting to witness the signing. This
disappointment was not concealed
when it was learned that he had
acted, and the secretary's later IN
vitation that they hear statement
was declined. Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Gait, president of the National Wo-
mans Suffrage association, and some
other suffrage workers, however, ac-
cepted the invitation. In this formal
statement, Mr.. Colby said:
tsThe certified record Of the action
of the legislature Of the state OF
Tennessee on the suffrage amend
ment was received by mail this morn
ing. Immediately on it's receipt the
record was brought to my house.
This was in compliance with my dl-
rections and in accordance with nu-
merous requests for prompt action.
I thereupon signed the certificate re-
quested of the secretary of state this
morning at 8 o'clock in the presence
of F. K. Nelson, the solicitor of the
state department, and Charles l..
Cook, also of the state department.
The seal of the United States has
been duly affixed to the certificate
and the suffrage amendment is now
the 18th amendment of the Constl-
tuition of the United States.
81 congratulate the women OF the
country upon the successful culml-
nation of their efforts which have
been sustained in the face of many
discouragements and which have now
conducted them to the achievement
of that great object.
"The day marks the day of the
opening of great and new era in the
political life of the nation.
Fresh Vigor to Come.
''I confidently believe that every
salutary, forward and upward force
in our public life will receive fresh
vigor and reinforcement from the en-
reimbursement of the women of the
country"
The proclamation recounts the
process by which the new article 19
of the constitution was presented