Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-26
so Year Struggle
Ends in Victory
for Women
NO CEREMONY
IN FINAL ACTION
Secretary Felicitates
Leaders; Halls
New Era.

amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, granting suffrage to
women. was proclaimed officially to-
day by Secretary Colby of the State
Department.
The proclamation was signed by
Secretary Colby at o'clock this
morning at his home. wnen the certi-
ficate showing that the Tennessee
legislature had ratified the amend
nent was received from Gov. Roberts
of Tennessee.
None of the leaders of the suffrage
movement was present when the
proclamation was signed. bringing to
a conclusion the f1fty-year struggle
for woman suffrage in this country.
This was a source of grave disap-
pointment to some of the women.
Secretary Explains.
Secretary Colby issued statement
regarding his signing of the procia-
nation later at the State Depart
ment. In it he gave his reasons for
not making ceremony of the event
and opening the doors to the women.
He said:
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. I'm
mediately on it's receipt the record
was brought to my house. This was
in compliance with my directions and
in accordance with numerous requests
for the promptest action.
Il thereupon signed the certihcate
required of the Secretary Of State this
morning at 8 o'clock in the presence
of Mr.. F. K. Nielsen, the solicitor of
the State Department, and Mr.. Charles
L. Cooke. also of the State Depart
ment. The seal of the United States
and the suffrage amendment is now
the nineteenth amendment of the
Constitution of the United States.
ssAets In Sfmplest Way.
1T was decided not to accompany
this simple ministerial action on my
part with any ceremony or setting
This secondary aspect of the subject
considerable contention as to who
shall participate IN it and who shall
not Inasmuch as am not interested
in the aftermath of any of the fric-
tions or collisions which may have
been developed in the long struggle
for the ratification Of the amendment,
I have contented myself with the per-
formance in the simplest manner Of
the duty devolved upon me under the
Law.
country upon the successful culmina-
tion of their efforts. which have be en-
sustained in the face of many dis
couragements and which have now
conducted them to the achievement of
their great object.
New Era In Political Life. s
The day marks the opening of
great and new era in the political
life of the nation. / confidently be-
lieve that every salutary, forward and
upward force in our public life will
receive fresh vigor and reinforcement
from the enfranchisement OF The
women of America.
To the leaders in this great move
ment 1 tender my sincere congratu-'
lationS. To every one, from the Presl-
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
generation but of posterity will be
freely given"
Night Vigil by Women.
Leaders of the branches Of the suf-
frage party, the. so-called conserva-
tive branch and the militant branch,
visited the State Department today. In
fact, Miss Alice Paul of the national
woman's party and other leaders of
the militant branch had been on the
watch practically all night for the ar
rival of the certificate from Tennes-
see. anu were carly SiSAtOIo az TIC
department They declared that they
had information the certificate had ar.
rived from Tennessee. They preceded
the Secretary to the department.. ex-
pecting to be present when Secretary
Colby signed the proclamation.
Then came the news that he had
signed at his home. Much disappoint-
ed, the women retired to their head
quarters fronting Lafayette Square.
Arrivals From Tennessee.
In the meantime Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait, president of the National
American Woman Suffrage Associa-
ton, accompanied by Mrs. Harriet
Taylor Upton of Ohio. vice chairman
of the national republican campaign
committee; Miss Charl Williams of
Tennessee. vice chairman of the ma
tional democratic committee, and
Miss Marjorie Shuler. arrived in
Washington from the recent battle
ground in Tennessee.
Accompanied by Mrs. Helen Garde-
ner civil service commissioner and a
vice president of the National Amer
lean Woman Suffrage Association,
They were told that Secretary
Colby had prepared a statement in
regard to the proclamation, and that
he was prepared to receive them and
to read them the proclamation. They
acquiesced in the plan and were i'm
mediately ushered into the Secre-
tary's ONCE.
In the meantime word was again
sent to Miss Paul at the headQuar-
ters of the national woman's party.
There was a report that the Secre-
tary was to pose with the women
for a photograph, apparently in the
act of signing the proclamation.
Invitation Is Accepted.
At first it was reported that Miss
Paul had said the women who had
expected to be present at the cere-
monies had scattered, and that she
herself was preparing to go to New
York and the invitation could not be
accepted. Finally. however. Miss Paul,
accompanied by Mrs. Abby Scott
Baker. political chairman. Mrs. Flor
-snce Brewer BeeckeI, editor of the
Suffragist, and others returned to the
State Department.
They arrived in the corridor out
side of the Secretary's Office Just as
Mrs Cats party was leaving. The
national woman's party women drew
to one side and no greeting was ex-
changed between the groups.
When Miss Paul learned again there
was to be no photograph made and
no ceremony she and her friends left
the department.
WOmen's Comments.
Miss Paul expressed the opinion