New Britain herald., 1920-08-26
COLBY SIGNS SUFF RATIFICATION TODAY
Amendment to U. s. Constitution Legalized With State Dept. 0. K.
ANTS WANT COURT DECISION
May Attempt to Have Supreme Court Act on Legality of Tennesscc's Rati- fication-womcn Planning Jollifca- tion Meeting Tonight.

fication-Womcn Planning Jollifica- ton Meeting Tonight.
 ] Washington, Aug. 26.-The procla-
 nation announcing officially that the : suffrage amendment to the constitu- | tion has been ratified was signed
 today by Secretary of State Colby. Signed at O'Clock. The document was signed at 8 ! o'clock this morning at MT. Colby's : home when the certificate from Cover 1 nor Roberts that the Tennessee legis- ] lature had ratified the amendment
 was received. Secretary Colby an- , nounced his action on his arrival at | his office later.
 Workers Disappointed. The announcement disappointed | group of suffrage workers who had , gathered at the state department hoping to be present when MT. Colby l signed. Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the National woman's party, was among them.
 1 We are confident that the sigma turc of Secretary Colby completes the suffrage struggle in this country"
 
 not relax its vigilance, however. until it Is satisfied that no further at tempts will be made to wrest from the women of the United States the political equality which they have won."
 Anus Active. Anti-suffra gists who yesterday failed in their attempt to have the District of Columbia supreme court issue an order to restrain Secretary Colby from proclaiming the amend ment, said that efforts would be made to have the United States su- i preme court pass on the legality of Tennessee on the suffrage amendment ioliification will be held tonight in a theater.
 Colby Prepares Statement.
 Secretary Colby had prepared a statement regarding ratification of the suffrage amendment which he planned to read to the officials of the National women's party had they accepted the invitation. The officials and mem- bers of the National American Woman Suffrage association listened to it.
 Secretary Colby's statement fol- lows:
 ''The certified record of the action of the legislature of the state Of Tennessee on the suffrage mendment was received by mail this morning. Immediately on its receipt the record was brought to my house. This was in compliance with my directions and in accordance with numerous requests for prompt action. thereupon signed tho certificate required of the secretary of state this morpng at o'clock in the presence of Mir. F. K. Nelson, the solicitor of the state de- partment and MT. 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 constitution. It was decided not to accompany the simple ministerial action on my part with any ceremony or setting. This secondary aspect of the subject has. regretfully, been the source or con- siderable contention as to who shall participate in it and who shall not. In as much as I am not interested in the aftermath of any of the frictions or collisions which may have been developed in the long struggle for the ratification of the amendment. I contented myself with the perform ance in tho simplest manner of the duties devolvcd upon mo under tho law.
 Congratulatcs Women. "I 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 10 the achievement of that great object.
 The day marks the day Of the opening of great and new era iI tho political life of the nation. I conf dently believe that every saIuta ry, forward and upward force in our public life will receive fresh vigor and reinforcement from the enfranchise- ment of the women Of the country. ITO the leaders of this great move ment, I tender my sincere congratula- tions. To every one, from the presi- dent. who uttered the call to duty whenever the cause seemed to falter to the humblcst worker in this great | reform. the praise not only of this generation. but of posterity will be | freely given"
 The proclamation recounts the pro cess by which the new article l9 of 1 the constitution was presented and ratified. naming the ratifying states. and continues: Signs Ratification. NOW therefore ba it known, that !, 1 l Bainbridge Colby. secretary of state of inc United States by virtue and in !