f the country was
centered on the fight in Louisiana. Thirty-five State Legislatures had
ratified and the Republicans were claiming the credit. Democratic
leaders were very desirous of having it for the final ratification.
Appeals were sent out to prominent Democrats within and without the
State for help in putting it through. Colonel William J. Bryan was
one of the first to respond, urging it to help the Democratic party in
the coming campaign. Senator Williamson called on the new "convert,"
Mayor Behrman, and he appealed to the New Orleans "organization"
Senators, but was not entirely successful.

On May 13 Governor Pleasant submitted the Federal Amendment to both
Houses, with a message which filled several columns of print, urging
them not to adopt it but to pass in its stead the resolution for a
State amendment. On the 16th, Senator N. C. Simmons, a former leader
of the anti-suffrage forces, issued an appeal for ratification,
ridiculing Governor Pleasant's "negro peril" bugaboo. This same day
Mrs. George Bass, chairman of the Women's National Democratic
Committee, came to Baton Rouge at the request of the Joint
Ratification Committee and addressed a large meeting in the Istrouma
Hotel in favor of it.

John M. Parker was inaugurated Governor May 17. The next day he
received a telegram from President Woodrow Wilson which said: "May I
not very respectfully urge your favorable interest and influence in
the matter of the Federal Suffrage Amendment? It seems to be of the
deepest national significance and importance." The Governor answered
that he found a great difference of opinion among the legislators,
large numbers opposed to any form, and, all being Democrats, any
dictation on his part would be unwise.

Efforts made by the "antis" to force an immediate vote on the Federal
Amendment failed and it was decided that all suffrage bills should
take the usual course and be referred to committees for hearings.
Women thronged the capital. On June 2 the House passed the Upton bill
for State suffrage by 93 ayes to 17 noes. That same night a hearing
before the Joint Committees on Federal Relations was held, which
lasted five hours, with some notable speeches. S. O. Shattuck, Phanor
Breazeale, Percy Saint, Judge Rufus E. Foster, Congressman Jared Y.
Sanders, Mrs. Holmes, Mrs. Bass, Mrs. E. J. Graham, Miss Florence
Huberwald, Mrs. Joseph Devereux and Mrs. M. R. Bankston appeared for
the Federal Amendment, while the opposition w