The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-28
WILSON'S CURRENCY MESSAGE
PRESIDENT DELIVERED 1T To
JOINT SESSION OF con.
GRESS.
mo Emphasizes Necessity of Immc-
diatc Reform OF Currency tn Meet
Needs of Business OF Country and
Urges Democrats to Redeem Pledge
, of Party to Give RELIEF to People.


ton passed at this session OF con
sress was accepted by members of the
house and senate today at President
Wilson's text for the currency mes
sage. which he personally presented
to congress assembled In joint ses-
sion IN the house chamber. Both
Democrats and Republicans saw In
the carefully worded appeal of the
president an earnest conviction that
the money situation must be dealt
with before congress adjourns and
preparations were made to begin
committee work on the administration
Dill which will soon be introduced In
the house ny Representative Glass
and In the senate by Senator Owen.
From the rostrum of the house
chamber the president In carefully
modulated tones that carried his
words to every corner OF the chamber.
read the brief message he had pre-
pared. Crowded galleries, cabinet Of
hcials. senator's and representatives,
Democrats and Republicans, sat in
tense silence as the president, with
forcefuI earnestness told them:
1T Is plainly clear that IL ia our
duty to supply the new banking and
currency system the country needs.
aI.J that II will Immediately need
more than ever.
we must act now, whatever the
sacrifice to ourselves. should be
recreant TO my deepest convictions OF
public obligations. did not impress, IL
upon you with solemn and urgent in
slstence."
The occasion was the presidents
second defiance OF the customs of 100
years which had seen presidents mes
sages long. dull documents to be
droned to weary congressman by a
hoarse voiced clerk and the affair
moved smoothly. The senate and
house gathered In the house chamber
where the galleries already had been
crowded and the members chatted
while they awaited the presidents
coming The cabinet officers except
Secretary Bryan and Secretary DAN
iels. who with their wives occupied
sallery seats. had places on the floor
OF the house.
"A Joint committee led by Represcn-
tative Underwood and Senator Kern.
met the president and escorted him to
the clerks desk on the rostrum. Mr..
Wilson apparently was less nervous
than when he first faced the big as
semblage OF legislators to deliver his
tarin address. As he spoke the gath
ering sat In attentive silence, marking
carefully the points which the pres
idents diction and intonation forced
on their attention.
When he had concluded there was
a burst OF applause and he bowed his
way out after shaking hands with
Vice President Marshall and Speaker
Clark.
AT both house and senate ends OF
the capitol and among both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans tonight the
conviction was deeply fixed that the
presidents solemn and earnest insist
ence on currency legislation would re-
suit In immediate activity in the leg
islative branch. Chairman Glass of
the house banking and currency COM
mittee and Chairman Owen of the
senate committee both conferred with
the president after ne delivered his
address and both prepared for the
early introduction OF the administra-
tion currency bill which now is be-
Ing revised In some minor features of
phrsseology
The bill will 60 into both houses
this week
The first authoritative statement on
the presidents message was critical.
IL came from Mr.. Mann. Republican
leader OF the house.
lie said the message was a fine 'ex-
ample OF classical English. but there
is nothing more to II unless IL be con-
sidered as threat that patronage
would be withheld until banking
and currency bill Is passed"
Representative Mann criticized the
bill as stolen from the Alrich
monetary report with IL few radical
provisions taken from the Bryan plat
from mixed In"
ON the senate side many Republi-
cans were Of the opinion that the
presidents message was flat dec
laration that congress must act on the
currency question. They believe Il
sets forth the presidents position as
being 40 positive ON that point that ne
would call another extra session of