The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-06-28
Direct Election Of Senators StiII
Needs Boosting.
LEGISLATURES MUST CONCUR
Thirteen States Can Defeat the Amend.
nnent Which Has Been Approved
BY Congress- Why German
Fleet Caused Anxiety.
w QEoRQE CLINTON.


amendnaonf Of the Constitution by pro
yiding for popular election OF senators
10 far from ended. Both houses Of
congress have passed d resolution sub
hitting the question to the states, but
this. Il is recognized In Washington. Is
only the beginning,
j In order that this amendment to the
Constitution may have force and effect.
Il must be ratified formally by the leg.
isiatares OF three-fourths of the
states, There are forty.elRht states In
the Union. and 30 thirty.six Of them
must take Affirmative action before the
amendment becomes effective Thir.
teen states can defeat the amendment
either by "vetoing" II 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 win keep up an
organization and use itB influence 10
get the matter promptly before the
legislative bodies OF the different
states as soon as they meet, Georgia
viii hold legislative session In the
fall and the majority Of the atatas
Will have sessions In January Some
81 the states IN which the legislature
meets blennially cannot take up the
matter unless extra sessions are
called. until eighteen months from
new
There ia some opposition to the rati-
neation nf the constitutional amend
ment, but ns yet the opposition has ta-
ken no definite organization form. II
u possible OF course that at the com.
Ing national conventions OF both POI
litiesl parties pianks will be adopted
Urging the ratification OF this amend
ment. II this 10 done and the matter
becomes party matter" for both OF
the great political organizations, Il
would seem natural that the ratiiica.
ton OF the amendment would come,
Navy Department Was Worried.
4 German squadron has been in |
Hampton Roads for some days. The
president Of the United States formal
ly welcomed the kaiser's sailora TO
American waters. Tho men-of-war OF
the German empire paid this visit TO
the United States as return compli.
ment for the visit paid by the United |
states Atlantic fleet to Kiel year
ago
The navy department. and unques,
tionahiy the administration hs well,
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 apprehand
any happening that might disturb the
amenities OF the occasion, but the
navy department has q record OF
ease, the memory OF which II stIil
keen In the minds OF officials who
have 10 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 a cele,
bration Of the one hundredth anniver.
sary OF the surrender OF CORVALLIS 10 I,
Washington at Yorktown, Va. During
the Revolutionary war the French
aided the American colonists material
". and there was French feet rear
Yorktown when the surrender oc.
and French soldiers were on
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.
ID Horatlo Seymour OF New York
suggested that iuasmuch rs 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. hoisted 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
and 1t looked as Ii we
were going to have another battle In
the Virginia waters, with the Amerl-
cans and the French again as allies.
but with different foe from that OF
Revolutionary days to meet. The mat.
ter was finally settled by the Ameri-
can men-of-war flying the French and
German flags side by side.
More Teachers for Philippines.
Through the bureau OF irsu-
lar affairs. Of which Gen. Clar-
ence r. Edwards is the chief, In
formation has come that the officials
OF the bureau have chosen 100 teach
ers for service in the Philippine is,
lands. Almost Immediately after the
Philippines passed into the posses
sion of the United States this coun-
try fntlnufup fba lyr.,~x.