. Castleman,
as Kentucky member of the National Democratic Woman's Committee.

FOOTNOTES:

[55] The History is indebted for this chapter to Madeline McDowell
(Mrs. Desha) Breckinridge, president of the State Equal Rights
Association 1912-1915 and 1919-1920; vice-president of the National
American Woman Suffrage Association 1913-1914.

[56] In addition to the presidents the following served as officers of
the association: Vice-presidents: Mrs. Mary B. Clay, Mrs. Mary Cramer,
Mrs. N. S. McLaughlin, Mrs. John Castleman, Mrs. E. L. Hutchinson,
Mrs. Charles Firth, Mrs. Judah, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Samuel Castleman,
Mrs. Leech, Mrs. McDowell, Mrs. Joseph Alderson, Mrs. F. A. Rothier.
Corresponding secretaries: Miss Anna Miller, Mrs. Mary C. Roark, Mrs.
Alice Carpenter, Miss Clay, Mrs. Herbert Mendel, Mrs. South. Recording
secretaries: Mrs. Emma Roebuck, Mrs. McDowell, Mrs. Firth, Mrs. J. D.
Hays. Treasurers: Mrs. Isabella Shepherd, Mrs. Warfield Bennett, Mrs.
Judah. Auditors: Miss Laura White, Mrs. Charles L. Nield, Mrs. W. F.
Lillard, Mrs. Alderson. Historians: Mrs. Mary Light Ogle, Mrs. M. B.
Reynolds. Press work: Mrs. Obenchain. Members National Executive
Committee: Miss Mary E. Giltner, Mrs. Post, Miss Clay.

CHAPTER XVII.

LOUISIANA. PART I.[57]

The history of woman suffrage in Louisiana is unique inasmuch as it
records largely the activity of one club, an influence, however, which
was felt in the upbuilding of sentiment not alone in Louisiana but in
almost every Southern State. When in 1900 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt on
her accession to the presidency of the National American Woman
Suffrage Association called for conventions in the Southern States it
was found that in Louisiana the State Suffrage Association, formed in
1896 by the union of the Portia and Era clubs, had lapsed because the
former was no longer in existence. The Era Club, however, was
flourishing under the stimulus and prestige gained by the successful
Drainage, Sewerage and Water Campaign of 1899.[58] Mrs. Catt decided
that, while it was a new precedent to recognize one club as a State
association, it would be done in this case. Mrs. Evelyn Ordway was
made president, Mrs. Caroline E. Merrick, vice-president; Miss
Jeannette Ballard and Miss Jean Gordon, secretaries, and Mrs. Otto
Joachim, treasurer of the new association at a meeting in May, 1900,
at New Orleans. It went on record at this first meeting as a State's
rights organization, which Mr