the authenticity of his statement. The bodies that composed this
committee were the Natchitoches Equal Rights Club, represented by Mrs.
S. J. Henry; the Shreveport Suffrage Club by Mrs. J. D. and Mrs. W. A.
Wilkinson; the Louisiana branch of the National Woman's Party, by Mrs.
M. R. Bankston, Mrs. E. J. Graham, Mrs. Rosella Bayhi; the Woman
Suffrage Party by Mrs. Joseph Devereux, Mrs. J. E. Friend. Mrs. Holmes
was made chairman, headquarters were taken in Baton Rouge and 46
lobbyists were at the Capitol day and night during the session.

On reaching Baton Rouge the women saw the "anti" forces lining up with
the "State's rights" advocates and witnessed the curious spectacle of
women who had worked for woman suffrage for a generation allying
themselves with the paid organizers of the National Association
Opposed to Woman Suffrage, headed by Miss Charlotte Rowe of Yonkers,
N. Y., its field secretary. Ex-Governor Pleasant and his wife came out
as leaders of the opposition, assisted by the Misses Kate and Jean
Gordon and other advocates of State action.[67] It was early seen that
the fight for the Speakership might endanger the ratification program
and the women were careful to take no part in it. R. F. Walker was
chosen, an unfortunate choice for the suffragists, for he leaned
strongly toward the "anti" side in his rulings, as did Lieutenant
Governor Hewitt Bouanchaud.

Although in his campaign speeches in the autumn Mr. Parker had
repeatedly said: "I am for suffrage; it is almost here, and we must
have it," his platform as sent into some of the parishes had contained
a "State's rights" plank, designed, with or without his knowledge, by
some of his backers, to placate those who feared the Federal Amendment
on account of its supposed effect on the negro question. This was not
known to the ratification leaders and therefore he created great
consternation by announcing shortly before his inauguration that he
"was going to keep his hands off the suffrage fight; that it was a
matter for the Legislature." After the Speakership contest was over he
refused to receive a delegation of women and declined to allow any
member of the Ratification Committee to approach him. On May 10, 1920,
the General Assembly convened in Baton Rouge and on the 11th the rival
woman suffrage bills were introduced. Representative L. L. Upton
presented the State amendment in the House. The Federal amendment
measure was a joint resolution. The attention o