The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-06-13
BATTLE NOT ENDED
Direct Election of Senators Still
Needs Boosting.
LEGISLATURES MUST CONCUR
Thirteen States Can Defeat the Amend
ment Which Has Been Approved
by congress-Why German
Fleet Caused Anxiety.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-It Is evident from
what the leaders of the movement IN
congress say, that the battle for the
amendment OF the Constitution by pro-
viding for popular election of senators
is far from ended Both houses OF
congress have passed resolution sub
hitting the question to the states, but
this, 1t is recognized in Washington. Is
only the beginning.
In order that this amendment to the
Constitution may have force and effect,
1t must be ratified formally by the leg
islatures of three-fourths OF the
states. There are forty-eight states In
the Union, and so thirty-six OF them
must take affirmative action before the
amendment becomes effective. Thir'
teen states can defeat the amendment
either by "vetoing" 1t or by declining
to act at all.
The friends of the constitutional
amendment for the election OF sena-
! tors by the people direct Instead OF pS
the state legislatures will keep up an
organization and use its influence 10
get the matter promptly before tne
legislative bodies of the diHeren'
states as soon as they meet. Georgia
will hold a legislative session IN the
fall, and the majority Of the states
will have sessions in January Some
of the states in which the legislature
meets biennially cannot take up the
matter unless extra sessions are
called, until eighteen months from
now.
There is some opposition to the ratl-
fication of the constitutional amend
ment, but as yet the opposition has Ia.
ken no definite organization form. IL
is possible Of course that at the com
ing national conventions Of both po-
litical parties planks will be adopted
urging the ratification Of this amend
ment. If this is done and the ma'tel
becomes party matter" for both OF
the great political organizations. IL
would seem natural that the ratlnca'
ton Of the amendment would come.
Navy Department Was Worried.
A German squadron has been IN
Hampton Roads for some days. Tne
president Of the United States formal
ly welcomed the kaiser's sailors 10
American waters. The men-of-war OF
the German empire paid this visit 70
the United States as a return ,compii'
ment for the visit paid by the United
states Atlantic feet to KEEL a year
ago.
The navy department, and unques-
tionably the administration AZ we'll
was anxious for some little time be-
fore the German boats put into Hamp'
ton Roads, for fear that some unto
ward incident might develop. There
was no particular reason to apprehend
any happening that might disturb the
amenities of the occasion, but the
navy department has record OF q
case, the memory OF which ls still
keen in the minds Of officials who
have to do with international matters
In the incident concerning which mem
DRY Is still green, the German and the
French figure.
In October, 1881, there was cele
bration Of the one hundredth anniver
sary of the surrender Of CORVALLIS to
Washington at Yorktown. Va. During
the Revolutionary war the French
aided the American colonists material
ly, and there was a French feet near
Yorktown when the surrender oc
Cured, and French soldiers were Oh
land to assist the Americans in fore
ing the surrender of the British gen
eral and in ending the Revolutionary
war.
Cause Of the Anxiety.
When the plans were laid for the
great celebration. the French nation
was asked to participate, and consent
ed. Horatio Seymour of New York
suggested that inasmuch as Baron Won
Steuben, a German. had helped the
American colonies Germany should be
asked to participate in the celebration
The government therefore issued an
invitation and German ships were
sent over, which anchored side by side
with the French ships in Hampton
Roads. Then the trouble began.
The American men-of-war in flying
their colors in compliment to the Wis
itors, heisted both the French and
German flags. Because Of the fact
that the French had taken the greater
part in helping us get our freedom,
the American ships few the French
flag above the German flag. and then
things broke loose. There was instant
protest from the Germans and from
the German commanding officers. Ca.
Diagrams were dispatched to the home
government, and 1t looked as II we
were going to have another battle In
the Virginia waters. with the Ameri-
cans and the French again as allies.
but with a different foe from that of