The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-08-27
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
NOW PROCLAIMED
COLBY ACTS TO GIVE WOMEN
OF THE UNITED STATES THE
VOTE. SECRETARY SIGNS TIE
PROCLAMATION AT HIS
HOME THURSDAY MORNING.
ACTION FOLLOWS TENNES-
SEES CERTIFICATION.


Cooper told suffrage leaders here
today that he would this week issue
a proclamation to the effect that
women of South Carolina are now
qualified voters under the constitu-
tional amendment today proclaimed
by Secretary of State Colby at
Washington. The governor will in
struct registration officials of the
state to allow the women to register
for the general election this fall.
Registration begins Monday. The
women have given up the idea of
voting in the primary.
Washington, Aug. 27.-Suffrage
for women became an actuality
when Secretary Colby signed a pro-
clamation of the Nineteenth
Amendment to the constitution of
the UnitU States.
The proclamation followed re-
ceipts of a certificate of ratifica-
tion of the amendment by the Ten
nessee Legislature, and brought to
a conclusion one of the longest and
most bitter legislative fights in the
history of the United States.
Secretary Colby, arriving at the
State Department just before 10
o'clock announced he had signed
the suffrage proclamation at o.
clock Thursday morning at his
home.
Signed In Private
A delegation of suffrage leaders
was waiting at the State Depart
ment when. Secretary Colby arrived.
The secretary Immediately inform
ed the delegation that the suffrage
proclamation had been signed, and
tie: enthusiasm was somewhat
Gampened by the fact that they had
not been permitted to be present at
the signing.
Secretary Colby announced that
the Tennessee certificate had been
delivered to him at his home at :,
o'clock Thursday morning and that
he had Immediately turned it over
to Solicitor Fred X. Nielsen of the
State Department for examination.
Solicitor Nelson returned the cer-
tificate anil the proclamation and at
s o'clock. in the presence of Solici-
tor Nelson and Charles Cook of the
Diplomatic Bureau of the State De-
partment, the proclamation has been
signed. Secretary Colby said he had
promised he would sign the proc,
lamation as soon as possible after
receipt of the Tennessee certificate
and for that reason he had affixed
his signature at his home before 60
ing to his Office.
Dodged Ceremonies
1t was generally believed thai
Secretary Colby had acted to save
embarrassment by signing the proc-
lamation at his home, as there had
been some evident conflict between
suffrage leaders as to who should
arrange for the ceremonies.
~ think it a very great pity that
on an occasion so momentous to ?lil-
lions of American women, no wo-
man should have been with Sccre-
tary Colby when he signed this
proclamation" said Mrs. Abby
Scott Baker of the National Wo.
mans Party. Representatives of
all the suffrage groups should have
been present"
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, who
was due to have arrived in Washing
ton Thursday morning was not
even at the State Department when
Secretary Colby announced his sig
nature.
1--WE are confident the signature
of Secretary Colby completes the
suffrage struggle" said Miss Alice
Ia. following announcement of
=. signature of the proclamation.
nashville, Tenn, Aug. 26.-De-