The Washington herald., 1907-12-03
MESSAGES OF PRESIDENTS
BY FREDERIC HASKIN
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Just at this time each year the big
feature Of the days news is the Presi-
dents message TO the Senate and the
House Of Representative. in which he re-
views the state of the Union and recon-
mends certain legislation. 1t is interest
ing to note the changes that have taken
place In this custom since the first Con-
gress met. us years ago. The first Presi-
dents met the two Houses Of Congress
and delivered their annual addresses in
person. but no Executive has done this
since the time. OF John Adams, the first
one to abandon the practice having been
Thomas Jefferson. The character OF the
Presidential messages has also changed
with the times. but their Importance has
not decreased.
The fathers thought that this review
would be an absolute necessity for the
guidance Of Congress. as the President
had the advantage of special opportUni-
ties to know what was going on all over
the country. while members Of Congress
could know only OF their own localities.
The modern newspaper has changed this
function of the Office of the President,
in that every member Of Congress knows
what is happening all over the world
from day 10 day Therefore the Presi-
dents annual review is no longer news
letter. but a purely political document.
Ii is not intended for Congress alone, but
Is meant for the whole nation. Copies
are sent in advance To all the news
papers through the press associations.
Linotype operators from Maine to Mex
leo know what the message Will say long
before Congress knows IT, And the mo-
ment that the clerk I'm the House or
Representatives begins to read the mes
sage every newspapr is informed by wire
that the MESSAGE is released where
upon the paper goes on the street within
a few minutes containing the whole thing.
George Washington. when the govern
ment under the Constitution was first
formed, followed English customs closely,
and ii was his habit 10 deliver an annual
address to the two houses Of Congress.
meeting together. As is the custom of
the King Of England. his addresses were
in part TO bOth houses and In part TO
the lower house only. President Wash
ington knew the Constitution too well.
and the jealousies OF the times too well.
TO make a recommendation affecting rev
enue laws without being particular 70
address IL separately 10 the gentlemen
of the House OF Representatives, for
the Constitution provides that revenue
measures shall originate IN that body
So they dc. but when the Senate gets
through with a tariff bill 1t has some
times lost all evidence OF its origin.
Gen. Washington was frequent visi-
tor in the halls Of Congress He went
there to advise" with the Senate con
cerning treaties. and 70 obtain the Sena-
tors consent" to his nominations 10
office. The constitutional phrase ''ad-
Sice and consent of the Senate" was taken
I'm literal sense in those days. There
were few Senators then, and 10 parties.
Such simple methods would not be pos
sble to-day. Suppose Mr.. Roosevelt went
TO the Senate 10 urge the confirmation OF
his own appointees and thereby took ad-
vantage Of the opportunity for a running
debate with Senator Tillman? II would
make good reading. but public business
might be delayed.
Thomas Jefferson was the first Presi-
dent 10 send a written message TO the
assembling Congress. and the precedent
he set has been followed by every Presi-
dent since. With the exception OF Wash
ington's farewell address. which was
really addressed TO the whole people. Mr.
Jefferson's were the first messages to
take on character Of great political
Importance. Washington had merely sub
mitted suggestions, and Adams confined
himself TO discussion of immediate issues.
Mr. Jefferson was the first to declare
broad policies in his messages. and TO
insist upon their adoption by the Con-
gress.
The form Of Presidential messages has
never varied from that gFen by Mr..
Jefferson. The differences in the mes
sages from year TO year have been the
result Of personality. changing issues.
growth OF the country. and the broaden
ing Of the audience TO include ali the
people. IL was the fashion Of the early
Presidents to express a modest doubt Of
their own qualifications. and TO hedge
their recommendations with politely de-
ferential phrases. That fashion has quite
disappeared.
President Roosevelt has written at
greater length TO Congress than has any
other President although many have
served full eight years, While he has
not yet seven TO his credit. Grover
Cleyeland stands next to Mr.. Roosevelt
in point Of total length Of messages.
while even Mr.. Roosevelt cannot touch
the Cleveland record for perpendicular
pronouns and veto messages. The third
in the honor list for the total length Of
messages is Andrew johnson. although
he was President for less than four
years. He was involved in bitter quar-
rel with Congress almost during the
whole time OF his administration and
this was the reason for his writing so
many messages and such long ones. Mr.
Cleveland IS the only President who
ever addressed an annual message to
Congress in which only one question
was discussed. He made the tariff the
sole subject OF his annual message OF
December, 1887.
The most quoted Of all Presidential
messages is WashingtOn's farewell ad-
dress, Almost every President has quot
ed from that master paper, or has re-
ferred TO its doctrines 1t was in this
document that Washington declined to
permit the people to elect him President
for the third time, thereby establishing
a precedent never Vet violated The
earnest lofty. simple appeal OF Washing
tons farewell address was accepted
when first published as the last political
win and testament Of great patriot. II
is held to-day to be the greatest inter
probation ef the true principles Of our
government so far as conscience may
rule. and most Americans still believe
that perfect safety is not TO be found If
the nation 4 cut loose from, the moo,