Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-11-24
INTERESTING LETTER
FROM A. q. WILLARD.


Galveston, Texas, Nov. II, 1914.
DEAR FRIEND GENE:
Yours of the 7th came duly to
hand, and thank you for the express
ions of friendship which it Contained.
Someone once reparked Zone OF the
hardest things man has to do is to
try to live up TO the estimate of his
friends, and / celteinly was struck
by the forcefullness Of the remark
upon reading your letter.
Having formerly been so interested
in the trend of political events in
Wisconsin watched the papers eager
ly for Wisconsin returns and was
pleased to note the strength developed
by the democrats of your state, albeit
you failed to carry the state. 1t was
hardly to be expected that the break
In the republican ranks would be
lasting one. The progressive party
Icing built wholly upon the personal
!ty of Roosevelt its existence could
only be ephemeral, and its influence
evaneScent And yet, with their re-
turn to the republican ranks, the
democracy may, taking account OF
the fact that the tariff had so recently
been revised, war tax act passed in
time of peace, and the general dis
treSs in business because of the
European war, congratulate itself up
on not holding the control of the low
er house of congress, but in making
gains in the senate. With Wilson as
our leader in 1916, there can be no
doubt of democratic sue cess at that
time. l was glad to see chat Wlscon-
sin did not lose her three democratic
congressman, anu 4 shall feel sense
of disappointment if the official court
overturns Hastings unol. ttal major
ity for the senate.
This has been gala Elk In Gal
weston on account of the 9lsit of the
battleship "Texas" 70 receive the sill
yer service at the hands of the people
of Texas. In fact, the Texas pos
seSses two handsome silver services
which belonged to the old "Texa;,"
which was refurh.shed and number
OF extra pieces added al ar expense OF
about 81, 500. This sum vas raised b.
the school children of the state, ard
the presentation exercises we're held
on the campus of the Ball high school
here in the presence of thousands of
school children from all over the
state. The other was the gift Of the
citizens generally,
No matter how much one may read
Of these great engines of war, full
conception of their power can not
be gained except by personal visit
on board. The fact that | am now
resident of Texas caused me TO absorb
all the information obtainable regard
ing the efficiency OF this fighting
craft, and the fact that 1t Is COM
manded by Wisconsin boy added in
terest to my quest for knowledge con-
corning the Texas" but / was sur
prised and awed when beheld this
inert mass of iron that could so quick
ly be set in motion and carry death
and destruction to any enemy Of our
flag.
AS it lay in the harbor, about three
miles from shore its majestic lines
could easily be seen, although Ii wore
the war paint of gray, but as one APP
preached 1t, it loomed up In its mas
siveneSs along side Of the merchant
men in the harbor. Figures do not
always convey afull sense of size. To
say that 1t is sos feet long and 50 feet
wide indicates immensely but clear
er idea can be given by saying that IL
the bow of ''Texas" lay at the north
line of the court house square in
Wausau the stern would take up
about 10 feet of Washington street,
and Third street would have to be
widened 20 feet to allow 1t TO crowd
in. 1t has main battery of ten IA
in. guns, each Of which Ii laid across
Third street would leave barely six
inches of a passage at either end,
and shot from which, IL ii was set
up at Wausau, would cause conster-
nation to an enemy lying IN Big
Eddy at Merrill, and its reverbera-
tion could probably be heard at Stew
ems Point. 1t has a secondary battery
of fourteen sin. guns, which alone
These, together with its four tor
powerful fighting ship afloat. The
two lighting tops or towers built
of a lattice work Of steel rods
engagement, but tests have shown
heavier fire than the old solid ones.
Everywhere throughout the ship, the
equipment is the last word in naval
architecture, and while every part Is
constructed to withstand as heavy
blows as 1t can deliver, yet its lines
are as graceful as the beautiful pleas
ure yacht that carries thousands OF
sightseers to its side. A pleasant
surprise was given the public at night
when those who went to the docks
looked out where the Texas"
lay and saw it a perfect blaze OF lights.
Every line of the ship was outlined
with thousands of electric lights,
making 1t even more beautiful than
by day.
The "Texas" is under the command
of Capt. Albert w. Grant, Stevens
Point boy whom many Wausau people
will probably remember. Capt. Grant
is well-buit, mild-mannered, good
looking man, whom, without his uni
form, one would hardly take to be
one, who would like TO send broad
side from his ten big guns into even
an enemy's ship, yet glance at him
as he stands on the bridge leaves no
doubt that he would give such an
account of himself in a battle as
would send cheer and confidence 20
the hearts of the people OF Texas and
Wisconsin, as well as the entire coun-
try. A little above the average
height, a large but not unwieldiy
form, light moustache and somewhat
bald, he is more like the beneyol-
ent. successful business nan who
looks with copplaceIcy upon every
thing around him, rather than the
commander Of the greatest fighting
engine afloat.
The "Texas" has full complement
OF men consisting Of IS officers and
1000 tackles and marines. The en-
listed men on the average look TO be
about the age Of 20, and in their neat
fitting uniforms that show their
forms to an advantage, present an APP
pearance that makes one feel like
throwing up his hat and shouting,
were 1T not for the fact that second
thought comes that in case Of war
these same young fellows may be
r. L.ao tn ~