The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-12-05
WILSON'S MESSAGE
IS WARMLY PRAISED
President Makes First Address
at Regular Session.
TELLS DEMOCRATS PLANS.
'''erahce OF Statesman is the
Comment of All Party Leaders
in Congress.

uent Wilson today laid before Cong
ress the legislative ambition of the
democratic Administration.
For exactly 28 minuets the Presi-
uent stood before the assembled Sen
ate and House, in the chamber of
the latter, and read his first annual
message. Applause punctuated i'm
portant utterances and when he had
nn1shed there was an enthusiastic
demonstration with handclapping
and cheers.
Briefly the President outlined a
programe for socal justice and the
general welfare of the nation and
proclaimed the aspirations Of the
united States for international amity
and the maintenance of constitu-
uonal government in all America.
With close. almost eager attention.
members OF the two houses listened
and time and again the legislators
gave vent to their enthusiasm along
with the crowded galleries.
BRIEF, BUT POINTED.
Less than 5000 words long. the
message was one of the briefest and
most novel of American state papers
"a marked contrast. as presented
by Its author today to the hitherto
lengthy documents averaging 10000
words or more droned through by a
reaulrg clerk to an inattentive Con-
gress.
There was another contrast con-
splcuosuly apparent. President Wilson
had read three messages before-on
the tariff, the currency and Mexican
affairs. The first time he addressed a
joint session in person early in this
term, there was an atmosphere Of
stin formality applause was liberal
but perfunctory and there was an
lndehnable air of precedent being
or a century-old custom being re-
ViVed. Also there was an expectant
curiosity as to how the President
woul be received. Today the Presi-
dents reception was warm, almost
uproarious as he concluded his read
ing.
PRAISE FROM BOTH SIDES.
Later, Republicans and Democrats
alike pronounced the message as the
utterance of a statesman.
Il like the idea of the President
coming before Congress-" said Rep
resentative Mann, Republican house
leader, and reading a short message.
plthy and to the point. In the main
l like the message today. / think
everybody Will recognize it as the
uteerance of statesman, regardless
OF whether he agree with its details"
or particular significance was one
outburst regarded in the national
capital today-the unmistakable ap-
proval that greeted the Presidents
remark:
There can be no certain prospect
OF peace in America until General
Huerta has surrendered his usurped
authority in Mexico"
Among those who would discuss
the message in Congress there was a
general endorsement Of the admins
tration's policy toward Mexico.
HEARD BY PACKED HOUSE.
The scene OF today's function was
much the same as on the three Drey-
ious occasions, when President Will
son has addressed Congress-gal-
leries crowded with men and women
OF importance in public affairs, mem
bers OF the cabinet, the diplomatic
corps and the White House family.
Democratic leaders were enthus-
iastic in their comments on the mes
sage and its recommendations They
liked the emphasis placed by the
President on the need for early action
WI Wv Nhi IOI uedllnR WITH
monopoly through antitrust legisIa-
tion, the Importance of rural credit
legislation to benefit the farmers.
the recommendation for government
construction of railroads in Alaska.
the development of the nations re-
sources by a conservation policy
alike acceptable to the state and the
federal authorities, the enactment
of employers liabilities legislation
and the selection of presidential can
didates by the primary system.
MEETS WITH APPROVAL.
The suggestion OF the President
that party conventions as at present
constituted be abolished won much
applause. AS Mr.. Wilson declared
that the party convention should be
held only to ratify the verdict of
preferential primaries, that the per-
sonnel OF the conventions should be.
Tor the most part, chosen from those
members of Congress and congress
sional nominees upon whom would
devolve the duty OF carrying out
platform pledges, there was a wave
OF handclapping, in which Secretary
Bryan and members of the cabinet
Joined
at was a fine. statesmanlike
speech" said Speaker Clark after
wards, covering points that I have
been agitating for years, particularly
presidential primaries"
81 think" said Representative
Oscar w Underwood, "the PTesi-
dents message was the address of
broad statesman cOvprinp fha scona