Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-06-18
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,
it 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" it 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 by
the state legislatures will keep up an
organization and use its influence to
get the matter promptly before the
legislative bodies of the different
states as soon as they meet. Georgia
will hold 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 rati-
location of the constitutional amend
ment, but as yet the opposition has Ia
ken no definite organization FORM III
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. II this is done and the matter
becomes a party matter for both OF
the great political organizations, II
would seem natural that the ratif1ca-
ion of the amendment would come.
Navy Department Was Worried.
A German squadron has been IN
Hampton Roads for some days. The
president of the United States formal
" welcomed the kaiser's sailors to
American waters The men-of-war OF
he German empire paid this visit to
he United States as return compn-
nent for the visit paid by the united
States Atlantic fleet to Kiel year
ago.
The navy department, aud unques-
.ionably the administration as well,
was anxious for some little time be-
ore the German boats put into Hamp-
.on Roads, for fear that some unto
ward incident might develop. There
vas no particular reason to apprehend
my happening that might disturb the
amenities of the occasion. but the
navy department has a record of
Ease. the memory of which is still
Keen in the minds of officials who
AVE TO do with international matters.
IN the incident concerning which mem
,ry is still green, the German and the
French figure.
In October. 1881, there was a cele.
,ration of the one hundredth anniver-
,ary of the surrender of CORVALLIS to
Washington at Yorktown, Va. During
he Revolutionary war the French
,ided the American colonists material
" and there was a French fleet near
Yorktown when the surrender oc-
cured, and French soldiers were on
and to assist the Americans in fore
ng the surrender of the British gen
.ral and in ending the Revolutionary
war.
Cause of the Anxiety.
When the plans were laid for the
rreat celebration. the French nation
was asked TO participate, and consent
ID Horatio Seymour of New York
suggested that inasmuch as Baron Won
steuben, a German had helped the
American colonies, Germany should be
lsked to participate In the celebration
The government therefore issued an
invitation and German ships were
tent over. which anchored side by side
With the French ships in Hampton
Roads, Then the trouble began.
The American men-of-war. in flying
heir colors in compliment to the Wis
tors hoisted both the French ant
German flags. Because OF the fac
that the French had taken the greater
part In helping us get our freedom
he American ships few the French
flag above the German flag. and theI
things broke loose. There was instan
protest from the Germans and from
he German commanding officers. Ca
Diagrams were dispatched to the home
government, and II looked as II WI
we're going to have another battle II
he Virginia waters. with the Ameri
cans and the French again as allies
but with a different foe from that o
Revolutionary days 10 meet The mai
ter was finally settled by the Amer
can men-of-war flying the French an
German flags side by side
More Teachers for Philippines.
Through the bureau of ins'
lar affairs, of which Gen. Clal
ence r. Edwards is the chief, il
formation has come that the official
of the bureau have chosen 100 teacl
ers for service in the Philippine i
lands. Almost Immediately after tn
Philippines passed into the posse
sion of the United States this coul
try. following the wellknown cours
of English-speaking government