Behrman, Hon. Martin

Submitted by Mike Miller

Hon. Martin Behrman. One of the most notable epochs in the history of the City of New Orleans,is that conveniently referred to as Mayor Behrman's administration, one of the longest creditedto any individual mayor of the city. Mr. Behrman was mayor of New Orleans front 1904 until 1920, a period of sixteen years, distinguished by administrative reforms and material improvements. Then after an interim of four years he was again called to the office so that he is the present mayor. Mr. Behrman was born in New York City, October 14, 1864, son of Henry and Frederick Behrman, who in 1865 moved to New Orleans. Martin Behrman was twelve years old when his father died, and his early advantages were confined so the public schools. He clerked in a grocery store, at the age of nineteen became traveling salesman for a wholesalegrocery house hut from the time he reached his majority, until comparatively recent years, most of his time was given to public affairs. His success in politics has been due not due to his integrity and his executive ability, but to his faculty for earning and keeping influential friendships, so that few men in public life had a larger personal following. He became deputy assessor of the Fifth District of New Orleans, and for four years was president of the Board of Assessors. In 1892 he was appointed clerk to the city council, filling that office four years, and from 1892 to 1905 was a member of the Board of Education. In 1904 he was elected state auditor, a position he resigned when nominated for mayor.

He took the office of mayor in December, 1904, promising the enforcement of law, security of life and property and economic and businesslike administration, the policy that was well observed during the next four years so that he had no opposition as a candidate for renomination. In the meantime, the convention system had been abolished and he was nominated for his second term at a primary election. Then in 1912, the Legislature gave New Orleans a charter, providing for the commission form of government, and Mr. Behrman in that year had the distinction of being the first mayor elected under the new charter. The first commission administration gave the city four years of such satisfactory government, that at its close there was virtually no opposition to the reelection of Mr. Behrman in 1916.

After retiring from the office or mayor in 1920, Mr. Behrman gave most of his time to his duties as an officer of the American Bank & Trust Company of New Orleans of which he is active vice president and director. He has for many years been a prominent leader in the democratic party, and for eight years was chairman of the Democratic Committee of the First Congressional district and is now chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. He was a delegate at large to the national conventions of 1908 and 1912. He was a delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Conventions of 1898 and 1921. During 1917-18 he was president of the League of American Muncipalities. Mr. Behrman is a member of the Choctaw Club, the Young Men's Gymnastic Club, the French Opera Club, the Chess, Checkers and Whist Club. the Lake Shore Club, Southern Yacht Club, and Alhambra Club. His home is at 228 Pelican Avenue.

He married in 1887, Miss Julia Collins of Cincinnati. Their two children are Capt. William S. and Mary Helen, the latter the wife of N. W. Bond. Captain William S. Behrman was an American officer during the World war.

NOTE: The referenced source contains a black and white photograph of the subject with his/her autograph.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 4, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.