The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-26


later.
The announcement disappointed u
group Of suffrage workers from head
quarters of National Womans party,
who had gathered at the state depart
ment hoping to he present when Mr.,
Colby attached his signature TO the
proclamation, Miss Alice Paul chairman
OF the party, was among the number
We are confident that the signature
VI Secretary Colby completes the suf-
frage struggle in this country" she
said. In spite Of every obstacle that
our opponents could put in our way
women have won the right to an equal
voice in the affairs of this government,
The Women's party win not relax its
vigilance, however, until II is satisfied
that no further attempts will be made TO
wrest from the women OF the United
States the political equality they have
Miss Paul planned to go today to
New York to call meeting of the ex-
ecutive committee OF the party at which
the date for the national convention to
fix future policy will be decided
Efforts will be made, antisuffrage
leaders declared, to have the United
states supreme court pass on the legal
jty of Tennessees ratification. Suffrage
opponents predicted the court would
hold that the legislature had no au.
thority to act
Mrs Carrie Chapman Gait president
oI the National American Woman Suf-
Ifage association. was expected to ar
time for a suffrage joliiflcation which
VIII he held here tonight,
Antisuffrage forces received another
sseinack late Wednesday when Justics
sldoons OF the District OF coInmhis
spse,ne csi,se,, court, refused 70 issue show
preliminary to the issuance Of the inyy
junction to restrain that official from
proclalming the Nineteenth Amendment
4 law OF the land The order would
nave nave required Mr.. Colby to show cause
snna %my me , Injunction should not be is
sued; sued; The action was brought by
Sharies S. Fairehilds. an official Of
the American Constitutional league. on
Dehalt of himself and the organization,
~ me me action OF Justice siddons today
PRst,a1.,eied Ra,1a, N a measure that OF Justice
axca,s, ~ the same court last month,
e..ASSept that Justice Bailey granted n
snow snow cause" order against senretnr 70 %
IulDy 70 a similar bin filed by the
same plaintiffs. but after hearings ds-
cnned TO issue. the injunction asked on
snSun; sr9Sunas of lack OF jurisdiction and In
BIN today Jusice sIddons ID ossmisslas saIs tsat sst
ne did not wish to review Justice Bal
iey action in similar case and that
70 issue the show cause order would
DC an unwarranted interference with
purely ministerial action 81 the sec.
retary OF state"
| Mr smith said that he still bonad !,
ouutaih u.ih q qecision before the Nnve,nbeI
elections, II, however. the appeai sbn,,fd
ge,,led pe carried through the District oi
vuoia nrss,a so,'s sourt OF appeals TO the SUI
pTsne court 1t could not be argued
until after the regular meeting az fhe
court N october with little likelihood
that 2 decision would be reached before
election day, November 2. In that event
was pointed out, the women OF the
vote with the result that should the
supreme court later decide against the
legality Of the Tennessee ratification.
the validity OF the entire national cleo
ton would be In question.
me antisuffrage forces are also
Shaithglhg the legality Of ratifica fIon
IN Missouri. West Virginia and Ohio
Secretary Colby later sent word N
the Womans party Headquarters tha
ne would see the suffrage leaders m
ms Office Il they desired. Word was
sent back that Miss Paul was nreta -
ing TO leave for New York, thai The
other leaders already had returned 10
| their homes and the invitation could
not be accepted.
Another party Of suffrage leaders an
peafed headed by Mrs Carrie Chapman
Catt, OF the National American Woman
Suffrage association They accented
an invitation TO hear n statement. which
secretary Colby had planned 10 read
TO the womans party delegation.
secretary Colby's statement follows;
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. Irnne-
diately on its receipt the record was
brought to my house. This was in COM
pIance with my directions and I'm ac-
COTQanpp with
prompt action. | thereupon signed the
certificate required Of the secretary OF
state this morning at S O'clock in the
presence OF Mr.. +. X. Nielsen, the So
iicitor of the state department, and
Mr., Charles l.. Cook. also of the state
department. The seal of the United
States has been duly affixed TO the
certificate and the suffrage amend
ment is now the Nineteenth amendment
OF the constitution Of the United
States.
1T 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 OF consid-
erable contention as to who shall par
ticipate in 1t and who shall not In
asmuch as ! am not interested in the
aftermath of any of the frctions or
collisions which may have been de-
veloped in the long struggle for the rati-
ftcation Of the amendment / contented
myself with the performance in the
simplest manner of the duties devolved
uIon me under the law
Il congratulate the women OF the
country upon the successful culmina- =
tion OF their efforts which have been
sustained in the face Of many discour-
agements and which have now conduct
ed them to the achievement Of that
great object.
1.-THE day marks the day OF the
opening Of Il great and new era in the
political life Of the nation. conf
IDENTIFY believe that every salutary for
life viii receive fresh vigor and REIN
forcement from the enfranchisement OF
the women of the country.
ITO the leaders Of this great move
ment, ] 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 humblest worker in this great
reform, the praise not only Of this gem
Grafton, but Of posterity viii be freely
given"
The proclamation recounts the process
by which the new article 10 Of the con-
stitution was presented and ratified
naming the ratifying states and con-
tinues.
Cambridge Colby. secretary of state OF
the United States. by virtue and in pur-
suance OF section 205 OF the revised
statutes OF the United States, do here
by certify that the amendment aforesaid
has become valid to all intents and
purposes as part Of the constitution
OF the United States