Evening star., 1926-09-05
LOUISIANA SOCIETY
FOUNDED LONG AGO
First Met Before Civil War,
Reviving in COS and
Again in 1916.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.


gathered for social purposes for a
quarter Of a century before the Civil
War, and at the beginning of the COS
were glad to reassemble, exchange
news Of home and enjoy home food d
music and anecdotes Of the South. A
State society was formed in that
period. f1ourished for a season and
declined almost TO the vanishing point.
Through the efforts of Senator
Joseph A. Ransdell the society was
revived and reorganized in November,
1916. Nearly 800 members of the for
mer association responded to Senator
Ransdell's summons. and at the next
meeting, held on February IL, 1917,
the articles Of the constitution were
debated and accepted and Louisiana
again had a society in the group OF
such organizations and most active
and successful one 1t has since proven.
This meeting and many subsequent
ones we're held in the Office of Senator
Ransdell. on Capitol Hill. The now
demolished Ebbitt House held some Of
the more important gatherings and
recently nearly all Of the meetings
are held at the Washington Club.
Representative Riley j. Wilson was
the first president; Paul Wooten.
newspaper correspondent, first vice
L
president. and Miss Nell Watkins.
third vice president. Joseph NJ Rault
was secretary, Mrs. Mary Goldenber-
ger, treasurer; Rev. A. II. Ahrens.
chaplain. and J. B. Aswell. historian.
The annual meetings are held in
February, when all Offices are filled
and a tentative program announced
for the season. All other meetings
are Of a social nature. There have
been about eight meetings a season
since the reorganization in 1915, all
except the annual one being at the
call Of the president.
Did Much War Work.
During the first two seasons the
citizens Of the Pelican State here de-
voted much time to war work and
to entertaining it's eminent visitors
who were in the Capital in this con-
nection. Many subsequent entertain.
ments were given over to the remi-
niscences of returned soldiers.
Representative Goodwin Of Arkansas
addressed his neighbors in June. 1918,
at the Confederate Memorial Home,
and gave stirring account of his
adventures on the battlefields.
The second roster of officers was:
Ernest Wilkinson, president: Repre-.
sentative II. Garland Dupre. Mrs.
Riley J. Wilson and L. NJ. Mich
olson, first. second and third vice pres
idents. respectively: J. Morgan Moore,
secretary, and Mrs. Paul Wooten.
treasurer. A few dances were given
this season. Walter Quoin, who was
filling the unexpired term of the late
Senator Robert S. Broussard, brother
Of the present Senator, was given a
special reception and some interest
To- I%N,so $Ao f,N..A {y1fr
President Wilkinson, we'll known in
Washington's educational circles,
spoke on historic aspects Of the State,
and Maj. Du Pont Of the French
army, then attached to the staff Of
M. Andre Tardieu, the French COM
missioner In Washington, spoke on
his experiences in New Orleans. Sena-
tor and Mrs. Ransdell were present
and Miss Amanda Ransdell, niece OF
the Senator, gave several violin solos,
Senator Ransdell also addressed the
society and he and his wife. have
been among the most constant and
interested attendants. Gov. Sanders
Of Louisiana, who came to Washing
ton at this time, was a guest at the
December meeting.
In 1919 the society adopted the
policy of having a distinct reception
and dance every year for its con.
gressional delegation, and this fea-
ture has been followed ever since. The
membership has constantly increased
and the meetings have been we'll at
tended. Vice President Marshall was
frequently the guest Of Senator Rams.
dell at the meetings and on several
occasions he addressed the society.
Wilkinson Later Resigned.
In 1923 President Wilkinson. who
had headed the society for the five
preceding years, resigned. owing to
stress Of other work. and was made
president emeritus. It is rumored that
Senator Ransdell considered the
founder Of the existing society, will
be similarly honored.
Ernest Wilkinson Is the great.grand-
son Of Gen. Wilkinson. who, during
the presidency Of Jefferson. assisted
in the purchase Of Louisiana from
Napoleon, and Is member of one
Of the most prominent Louisiana fam.
lilies. He was succeeded as president
by E. Kirby Smith Of Shreveport. who
resides in Washington the greater part
Of the year.
The past year proved to be a very
successful one in the history Of the
society. Besides the many social func-
tions, number Of celebrities have
addressed this gathering. Jefferson
Caffery, a native Of the Pelican State.
who is the United States Minister to
Salvador, and has had other diplo-
matte experience in Madrid. Caracus.
Stockholm, Athens and Toxic. gave