The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year.
Thursday, August 26, 1920
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing American women the right to vote formally became part of the United States Constitution on Aug. 26.
The Tennessee legislature had voted to approve the amendment on Aug. 18, but opponents tried to delay and rescind the ratification vote on technicalities. Their efforts ultimately failed.
Almost a decade before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, women in California had gained the right to vote after suffragists successfully lobbied the state legislature to put the question before the voters.
Here are the first few paragraphs of the story:
Woman Suffrage Throughout U.S. Now Actuality
FIGHT ENDS AS COLBY AFFIXES NAME
International News Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27.— Suffrage for women became an actuality today when Secretary of State Colby signed a proclamation of the 19th 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.
A delegation of suffrage leaders was awaiting at the state department when Secretary Colby arrived. The secretary immediately informed the delegation that the suffrage proclamation had been signed, and their by the fact that they had not been permitted to be present a the signing.
Secretary Colby announced that the Tennessee certificate had been delivered to him at his home at 3 o’clock this morning and that he had immediately turned it over to Solicitor Fred Nielson of the state department for examination. Solicitor Nielson returned the certificate and the proclamation early this morning and at 8 o’clock, in the presence of Solicitor Nielson and Charles Cook of the diplomatic bureau of the state department, the proclamation had been signed. Secretary Colby stated that he had promised he would sign the proclamation as soon as possible enthusiasm was somewhat dampened after receipt of the Tennessee certificate, and for that reason he had affixed his signature at his home before going to his office.
It was generally believed that Secretary Colby had acted to save embarrassment by singing the proclamation at his home, as there had been some evident conflict between suffrage leaders as to who should arrange for the ceremonies.
Alone at Signing
“I think it a very great pity that on an occasion so momentous to millions of American women, that no women should have been with Secretary Colby when he signed this proclamation,” said Mrs. Abbey Scott baker of the National Woman’s party. “Representatives of all the suffrage groups should habe been present.”
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, who was due to have arrived in Washington this morning, was not even at the state department when Secretary Colby announced his signature.
“We are confident that the signature of Secretary Colby completes the suffrage struggle,” Miss Alice Paul, following announcement of the signature of the proclamation said. “In spite of every obstacle that our opponents could put in our way, women have won the fight to an equal voice in the affairs of this government.
Unceasing vigilance has been necessary at every point in the suffrage fight, and never more so than during the past week. Unwilling to accept the mandate of the congress of the United States and the legislatures of the 36 states, our opponents have attempted by every sort of legal subterfuge to render null and void the decision of representatives of 78,000,000 people. Their attempts have been uncussessful and the fight is now over.
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