Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 207, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1920 — WOMEN ARE LEGAL VOTERS [ARTICLE]

WOMEN ARE LEGAL VOTERS

NINETEENTH AMENDMENT GIVES THEM RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE. Washington, Aug. 25.—Suffrage for women became an actuality today when Secretary of State Colby signed a proclamation of the nineteenth amendment to the Constitution. The proclamation of the amendment, giving the vote to women, followed receipt of a certificate of ratification of the amendment by the Tennessee Legislature, and brought to a conclusion one of the longest and most bitter legislative fights in the history of the United States. Secretary of State Colby, arriving at the State Department shortly before 10 o’clock, announced that he had signed the suffrage proclamation at 8 o’clock this morning at his home, thus giving the ballot to 27,000,000 women in the United States.

Proclamation la Signed. Solicitor Niefson returned the certificate and the proclamation early this morning and at 8 o’clock in the presence of Solicitor- Neilson and Charles Cook of the diplomatic bureau of the State Department the proclamation was signed... Secretary Colby later in the morning telephoned to suffrage leaders that we would receive them and make -a statement. The National Woman’s Party declined the invitation. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, Mrs. Taylor Upton of the Republican national committe, Miss Charl O. Williams of the Democratic national committee, Mrs. Maiide Wood Parke of the League of Women Voters and Mrs. Helen Gardener, civil service commissioner, accepted. Colby Tells Procedure. certified record of the action of the Legislature of the State of Tennessee on the suffrage amendment was received by mail this morning,” Secretary Colby tola them. “Immediately it.was brought to my house. I thereupon signed the certificate required of- the Secretary of State this morning at 8 o’clock. The seal of the United States has been duly affixed and the suffrage amendment is now the nineteenth amendment of the constitution 'of the United States. “I congratulate the women of the country. The day marks the opening of a great and new era. I confidently believe that every salutary, forward and upward force m our public life will receive fresh vigor and reinforcement.” “We are confident that the signature of Secretary Colby completes the suffrage struggle,” said Miss Alice Paul, following announcement of the signature of the proclamateon. “In spite of every obstacle that dur opponents could put ,in our way, women have won the right to an equal voice in the Affairs of this government.