During the battle between the RDO and an alliance between Reform Democrat Mayor Joseph A. Shakspeare and biracial New Orleans Republicans, the RDO's two political bosses of the city's Italian-American community, Joseph Macheca and Frank Romero, fell victim to the 1891 New Orleans lynchings.
Foster in order to stop a biracial alliance between the Republican Party and the Populists behind the candidacy of John N. Pharr.
[6] Key leaders of the RDO were John Fitzpatrick and Martin Behrman, both of whom served terms as mayor during the organization's heyday.
[9] The RDO machine maintained control over New Orleans well into the 20th century, effectively selecting officials throughout city government from 1877 until 1934.
With the exception of Joseph A. Shakspeare, every mayor of New Orleans from Edward Pilsbury up to and including T. Semmes Walmsley was endorsed and supported by the RDO.
Long, with his statewide influence, managed to strip the RDO administration of New Orleans of most of its governing powers, eventually crippling the city.
The election of Reform Democrat de Lesseps Story Morrison to Mayor in 1946 marked the end of RDO hegemony in New Orleans.
RDO detached from the Democratic Party and began tactically endorsing candidates irrespective of partisan affiliation.