Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-06-20
BATTLE NOT ENDED
Direct Election Of Senators StlI
Needs Boosting.
LEGISLATURES MUST CONCUR
Thirteen States Can Defeat the Amend
ment Which Has Been Approved
by consress-Why German
Fleet Caused Anxiety.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Washington.-It is vident 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 a resolution sub
hitting the question to the states. but
this, It Is recognized in Washington. Is
only the beginning.
In order that this amendment to the
Constitution may have force and effect,
it must be ratified formally by the leg
islatures of th~ree-fourths of the
states. There are forty-eight states In
the Union, and 30 thirty-six OF them
must take affirmative action before the
amendment becomes effective. Tnir-
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 M
tors by the people direct Instead OF ny
the state legislatures will keep UP an
organization and use its influence 10
get the matter promptly before the
legislative bodies of the dinerent
states as soon as they meet. Georgia
will hold a legislative session IN tnS
fall, and the majority Of the state
will have sessions In January. Some
Of the states in which the Legislature
meets b~iennially cannot take up the
matter unless extra sessions are
called, until eighteen months rom
now.
There is some opposition to the rati-
11cation of the constitutional amend
ment, but as yet the opposition mas 'ns
ken no. definite Organization form. II
is possible Of course that at the COM
ing national conventions OF 10th po-
litical parties planks will be aoopteo
urging the ratification Of this amend
ment. If this is done and the mat.e.
becomes a party matter" for botn Oh
the great political organizations, II
would seem natural that the ratlnca-
ton Of the amendment would come.
Navy Department Was Worried.
A German squadron has beer IN
Hampton Roads for some days. Inc
president Of the United States formal
ly welcomed the kaiser's sailors 70
American waters. The men-of-War OF
the German empire paid this visit 70
the United States as a return compli-
ment for the visit paid by the United
states Atlantic feet to Kiel a year
ago.
The navy department, and unques'
tionably the administration as well
was anxious for some little time De-
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 a record OF 8
case. the memory of which 10 still
keen in the minds Of officials who
have to do with international matters
In the incident concerning which mem
ory is still green. the German and the
French figure.
In October, 1881, there was a cele
bration of the one hundredth anniver
sary of the surrender Of CORVALLIS t
Washington at Yorktown, Va. During
the Revolutionary war the French
aided the American colonfsts material
ly. and there was a French feet neal
YORKTOWN when the surrender oc
CURED. and French soldiers were OF
land to assist the Americans in fore
ing the surrender Of the British gen
,eral and in ending the Revolutionar.
war.
Cause Of the Anxiety.
When the plans were laid for th
great celebration, the French natiol
was asked to participate, and consent
ed. Horatio Seymour Of New Yor
suggested that inasmuch as Baron vo
lSteuben, a German, had helped tn
American colonies, Germany should b
asked to participate In the celebration
The government therefore issued a
invitation and German ships wer
sent over, which anchored side by sid
with the French ships in Hampto
Roads. Then the trouble began.
The American men-of-war, in flyin
their colors in compliment TO the VII
itors, hoisted both the French an
German flags. Because OF the fat
that the French had taken the create
part in helping us get Jul freedom
the American ships few the Frenc
flag above the German flag. and the
things broke loose. There was instar
protest from the Germans and froi
the German commanding officers. q
Diagrams we're dispatched to the HON
government, and it looked al II "
we're going to have another battle 1
the Virginia waters, with the Amer
cans and the French again as allie
but with a different foe from that (
Revolutionary days to meet. The ma