,
introduced in the Upper House by Senator Leon Haas of Opelousas, was
combined with one brought by Representative Powell in the House, and
passed on June 18, to be submitted to the voters in November. Active
campaigning for its adoption at the polls began in September under a
Joint Campaign Committee of the Woman Suffrage Party and the State
Suffrage Association. In spite of the influenza epidemic thousands of
signatures were obtained to a petition asking Governor Ruffin G.
Pleasant to issue a proclamation calling on the electors to vote for
it. This he did and those in the State at large responded favorably,
but their voice was nullified by the adverse votes cast in the
machine-controlled wards of New Orleans at the behest of Mayor Martin
Behrman, and the amendment was lost by 3,605 votes. The annual
convention held at Suffrage House in New Orleans after the election
chose Mrs. Holmes again for president.

In the winter of 1919 an attempt was made to secure such a
modification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment before Congress as
might meet the objections of southern opponents by removing the fear
of federal interference with elections. An amendment was devised by
Assistant Attorney General Harry Gamble and National Committeeman
Robert Ewing, which would leave its enforcement to the States. They
went to Washington accompanied by Mrs. Holmes and obtained the consent
of the officers of the National Suffrage Association. Senator Gay of
Louisiana introduced it and it was unanimously reported out of the
Committee on Woman Suffrage, but the session was just closing and
consent for a vote on it was refused.

On the social side an "inquiry" dinner dance given at the Country Club
in New Orleans in May to discuss why Louisiana women were not yet
enfranchised was attended by the Governor and many other prominent
politicians from all parts of the State. The annual convention was
held in the autumn at the headquarters, now removed to 417 Royal
Street, and Mrs. Holmes was elected to her fourth term.[66]

The Woman Suffrage Party conducted a vigorous fight for ratification
of the Federal amendment from the opening of the Legislature May 10,
1920, until its defeat on June 15. The final vote for ratification was
given by the Legislature of Tennessee in August, which insured the
complete suffrage for women in all the States. At the annual
convention of the Woman Suffrage Party in New Orleans, December 8-9,
its formal dissolution too