New-York tribune., 1920-08-27
Colby Signs
Ratification
OF Suffrage
tcontluued from page one,

and were ushered into Mr. Colby S
office.
When word reached the headquar-
ters of the National Woman's Party
that Secretary Colby was to pose for
a photograph in the act Of signing the
historic proclamation Miss Paul and
other leaders FASTENED to the depart
ment, but reached there Just as Mrs
Gait and her companions were leaving
the office of Secretary Colby. Miss
Paul and her associates drew aside as
Mrs. Catts party was leaving and no
greeting was exchanged between the
groups. Miss Paul then learned that
no ceremony or photographs were in
cluded in the State Departments plans
Mrs. Abby Scott Baker, political
chairman of the National Woman's
Party, reflected the chagrin of the
militant workers at the failure tc
mark the issuance of the proclama-
tion with some distinctive ceremony
when she said.
"lt was quite tragic. This was the
final elimination of the women's fight
and women, irrespeltivs Of factions
ent at the signing of the proclama'
tion. However, the women of America
have fought great tight and nothing
can take from them their triumph"
Text of Proclamation
The text of the suffrage proclama-
tion signed by Secretary Colby follows
"Bainbrdge Colby, Secretary of
State of the United States of Amer
ica.
"To All to Whom These Presents
Shall Come. Greeting:
Know ye, that the Congress of the
United States at the first session,
Sixty-sixth Congress, begun at
Washington on the nineteenth day
of May in the year one thousand
nine hundred and nineteen, passed
resolution as follows, to wit:
Joint RESOLUTION.
Proposing an amendment to the
Constitution extending the right Of
suffrage to women.
"'Resolved by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Con-
gress assembled (two-thirds of each
house concurring therein), that the
following article IS proposed as an
amendment to the Constitution,
which shall be valid to all intents
and purposes as part of the Consti-
tuition when ratified by the lcgis-
latures of three-fourths of the sew
eral states.
Article
"'"The right of citizens of the
United States TO vote shall not be
States or by any state on account
"'"Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate
l,gislation."
And, further, that it appears from
official documents on file in the
Department of State that the
amendment to the Constitution of
the United States proposed as afore-
said has been ratified by the legis-
latures of the states of Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Ida
no, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mon
tana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hamp-
shire. New Jersey, New Mexico,
North Dakota, New York, Ohio,
Oklahoma. Oregon, Pennsylvania,
nessee, Texas, Utah, Washington,
West Virginia, Wisconsin and
And, further, that the states
whose Legislatures have so ratified
the said proposed amendment con-
stitute three-fourths of the whole
number of states in the United
States;
"Now. therefore, be it known that
l, cambridge Colby, Secretary Of
State of the United States, by virtue
and in pursuance of Section POS Of the
Revised Statutes Of the United
States, do hereby certify that the
amendment aforesaid has become
valid to all intents and purposes as
a part of the Constitution of the
United States
ON testimony whereof have
hereunto set my hand and caused the
seal of the Department Of State to
be affixed.
Done at the City Of Washington,
this 26th day Of August, in the year
OF our Lord one thousand nine hun
dred and twenty.
Aid Awakened Colby
In reconstructing the scene at hi
homo when the final chapter in tn
story Of ratification was written, Sec
retary Colby to-day said:
The package containing the Ger
titication of the Tennessee Legislature
action came on train which reache,
Washington in the early morning
hours. | was awakened by Mr.. Cooke
one of my trusted aids in the depart
ment, at about q quarter to four
told him to bring it to me-
Did he bring it forthwith ?" tn
Secretary was asked.
about ten minutes forthwith" tn
Secretary replied, with broad smile
There were certain legal matter
connected with the ratification whic
| desired to have examined by tn
chief law officer of the department
so ] sent the papers to Mr.. Nielsor
the solicitor of the department, askin
him to return them to me at 8 O'Clock
II had received a number of mes
sages asking me to act in the matte
with instant promptitude. The fea
had been expressed that the anti-suf
fragists would be able to effect som
sort of court injunction TO prevent m
from completing the act of ratifica
tion, and while | did not think
becoming in the Secretary of State O
the department to exhibit undue eager
ness to avoid opportunity for judicia
interference, | saw no reason why
should conspicuously loiter. | felt
sort of aversion to signing it in tn
dead of night, and thought that
o'clock in the morning would be abou
the hour when ! should be presume
to function"
Drank Coffee. Then Signed
Did you take any breakfast first
he was asked.
breakfast with me-" he replied, "i
an unimportant function. l may sa
that l had time to consume about
cup and half Of coffee before