Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1920 — SIGNS SUFFRAGE PROCLAMATION [ARTICLE]

SIGNS SUFFRAGE PROCLAMATION

Women of United States Given Vote by Government Decree. NO CEREMONY OB SETTING Document Was Bigned at Eight O'clock In the Morning at Mr. Colby's Home—Secretary Sought to Avoid Friction. ' Washington, Aug. 27.—The proclamation announcing v officially that the suffrage amendment to the Constitution had been ratified was signed by Secretary Colby es the state department on Thursday, The document was signed at 8 a. m. at Mr. Colby’s home, when the certificate from Governor Roberts that the Tennessee legislature had ratified the amendment was received. Secretary Colby announced his action on his arrival at his office later. The announcement disappointed a a group of suffrage workers from headquarters of the National Woman’s party who had gathered at the state department, hoping to be 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 of Secretary Colby completes the suffrage struggle In this country,” she said. Women Decline Colby's Invitation. “The Women’s party will not relax Its vigilance, however, until It Is satisfied that no further "attempts will be made to wrest from the women of the United States the political equality which they have won.” Secretary Colby later sent word to the Woman’s Party headquarters that he would see the suffrage leaders at his ofllce If they desired. Word was sent back that Miss Paul was preparing to leave for New York; that the other leaders already had returned to their homes and the invitation could not be accepted. Secretary Colby had prepared a statement regarding ratification of the suffrage amendment, which he fanned to read to the officials of the National Woman’s party had they accepted the Invitation. When the secretary’s invitation to return to his ofllce was-declined, another party of suffrage leaders appeared at the department. They were officials and members of the National American Woman Suffrage association, headed ’by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt. who is on her way to New York from Nashville.

The invitation to hear Mr. Colby’s statement was promptly accepted by this group, and they filed into his office for the purpose. Text of Secretary’s Statement. Secretary Colby’s statement follows: “The certified record of the action of the legislature of the state of Tennessee on the suffrage amendment was received by mail this morning. Immediately on its receipt the record was brought to my house. This was in compliance with my directions find in accordance with numerous requests for prompt action. “I thereupon signed the certificate required of the secretary of state this morning at eight o’clock in the presence of Mr. F. K. Nielsen, the solicitor 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 amendment is now the nineteenth amendment of the Constitution. “It 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 considerable contention as to who shall participate in it and who shall not. Seeks to Avoid Friction. “Inasmuch as I am not interested in the aftermath of any of the frictions or collisions which may have been developed in the long struggle for the ratification of the amendment, I contented myself with the performance In the simplest manner of the duties devolved upon me under the law. “I congratulate the women of the country upon the successful culmination of their efforts, which have been sustaffie£ in the face, of njguy discouragements, and which *have ~noTs cSETducted them to the achievement of that greasj>bje£t The day marks the opening of a great and new era in thp political life of the nation, j “To the leaders of tnls great movtf ment f tender iny sincere congratulaTtolSf. Tor evjrjrone, from the grgslfient, who uttered The* call to duty,' whlßSvgrtheTallSr aeemed to falser, the kfimblest worker in r this”great refqrm, the praise not only of this generation But of posterity will be freely given.” , The proclamation recounts the pro-’ by which the new article 19 of the nstiitution was presented and ratlfled/Tig® the 1 ratifying states, and continues 5 “Now, therefore, be it known that I, Bainbrldge Colby A secretary of state of the United States, by virtue and In pursuance of section 2P5 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.”