See how it looked in 1920

Ratification of Equal Suffrage Law Proclaimed

Notice of Certification of Vote by Tennessee Legislature is Received and Formally Announced by Secretary Colby

Washington, D.C. –

Ratification of the Susan B. Anthony Federal Suffrage Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proclaimed by Bainbridge Colby, Secretary of State, early yesterday morning.

Mr. Colby, in describing the conditions under which this significant document was signed, touched lightly upon his evasion of the motion picture melodrama which had been planned, and seriously declared his deep interest in the extension of suffrage and his profound and modest pride that it had fallen to his good fortune to enact a role in the great drama.

The package, for the coming of which both representatives of the State Department and of the suffrage organizations kept anxious vigil, arrived in Washington a little before four o’clock in the morning and Charles L. Cook of the State Department at once notified Mr. Colby. The secretary explained he did not sign the proclamation at that time both because he regarded the hour as unseemly for such an event, and because there was a point of law on which he wanted the opinion of his legal advisors before doing so. At eight o’clock however, he signed it at his own home.

Messages received

Mr. Colby said that he had received a great many messages urging him to sign at the moment he receive the certification, there being an apprehension that the anti-suffragists would effect some judicial attention that would interfere with the issuing of the proclamation.

“While it was not becoming that I should exhibit undue eagerness to sign,” explained Mr. Colby, “I saw no reason why I should conspicuously loiter in the matter.”

Eight o’clock seemed to him the earliest hour at which the matter could be taken up with seemliness. A number of women belonging to the National Woman’s Party had planned to be present when the document was signed and to have the scene photographed for moving pictures. The action of the Secretary in signing at his home prevented this. He was asked to have the scene reproduced so that it might be photographed but he replied that after the act had been done it was difficult to know of what the ceremony should consist; and that he had been more concerned with the prompt ratification of the amendment than with feeding the cameras.

Process Completed

Mr. Colby said he believed that process was complete when the action was done; women deserved the greatest credit for it. His preference for simplicity in solemn moments was not due to an aversion to stage setting, but it was impossible to sign at the earliest moment and at the same time arrange for the “movie” scene. This great act of enfranchising women was too great to be made into a plaything. He had had a very definite duty to perform and had had thought that nothing would lose through simplicity. The temper and spirit of the amendment have launched women upon a new sea of action, he declared.

The journals of both branches of the Tennessee Legislature accompanied the certification of the Governor.

Mr. Colby said it was not for him to go behind the Governor’s certification. If there were difficulties to be met they were not with his province. His act was only a ministerial one.

Secretary Colby’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. On its receipt the record was brought to my house. This was in compliance with my direction and in accordance with the numerous requests for prompt action. I therefore signed the certificate required of the Secretary of State this morning at 8 o’clock in the presence of Mr. F. K. Neilson, the solicitor of the State Department, and Mr. Charles Cool, also of the State Department. The seal of the United Stated has been duly affixed to the certificate and the suffrage amendment is now the Nineteenth Amendment on 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. 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 sustained in the face of many discouragements and which have now conducted them to the achievement of that great object.
“The day marks the day of the opening of a great and new era in the political life of the nation. I confidently believe that every salutary, forward and upward force in our public life will receive fresh vigor and reinforcement from the enfranchisement of the women of this country.
“To the leader of this great movement I tender my sincere congratulations. To every one, from the president, who uttered the call to duty, whenever the cause seemed to falter, to the humblest worker in this great reform, the praise no only of this generation, but of posterity will be freely given.”