Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-11
Miseellaneous 8eadins.
PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS
Precedent Broken and Message ~
from Man to Man.

Precedent Broken and Message q
from Man to Man.
Washington, April S.-President VII
son today abridged the gap that fo
over century has separated the pilot
Of public business-the executive ant
legislative branches Of the government
Not as a cog In a machine, not as al
impersonal political entity. nor as I
mere department Of government, bu
as the human president he went t
Ingress to speak about the tariff.
Standing before the senate and hous,
in joint session, as no other presiden
had done for more than 112 years
President Wilson stated simply ant
tersely what he thought should be done
for the welfare Of the country and ask.
ed his legislative colleagues, man Il
man, to aid in keeping the pledges Of
their party.
Precedent Shattered. e
With sweep of decision that shat
tered precedent, the president brushed
aside all imaginary boundaries between
congress and the executive office and
rescued himself, as he expressed 1t
from that isolated island of Jealous
authority" which the presidency had
come to be regarded.
Congress, somewhat startled the 9TH
er day when 1t heard that the president
had determined to deliver his message
by word Of mouth, had prepared for a
ceremony of unusual Importance and
such, 1t was, yet when President vii.
son arrived in the midst Of the great
asssmblage, riding through throngs OF
cheering people in the streets, and. lat
er. looking up into galleries crowded
with privileged ticket -holders, he SEEM
ed after all what he said he was, "a hui
man being trying to cooperate with
other human beings in common ser
vice." ...f
When the much -heralded incident
was over, congress seemed pleased and
the president was delighted. He ex-
pressed himself to friends as impressed
with dignity Of the occasion and some
Of his confidants later declared that he
left the capitol greatly relieved to
think that, after all, his precedent
smashing had not been such a cataclys-
mic thing as some older heads had pre-
dicted.
Visit Was Brief.
The presidents visit to the capitol
was brief, lasting about a quarter Of an
hour. Leaving q cabinet meeting at the
White House, he started on his mis-
sion at 12.45 o'clock. No one except a
secret service man accompanied him.
and five minutes later was driven
through the crowds assembled about
the capitol. At 1854 he reached Speak
er Clark's room just off the house
chamber, where q joint committee of
senators and representatives welcomed
him. They were Senators Kern, Ba-
con and Gallinger and Representatives
Underwood, Palmer and Mann. The
president spoke to each for a moment
and was informed that the senate and
house awaited him. He said he was
ready and the committee started for
the door Of the house chamber, the
president on Senator Bacon's right.
At two minutes before o'clock the
president entered the chamber. Men,
bers Of the house and senate rose as
Speaker Clark brought down the gayel.
From the floor and galleries distin-
guished guests looked on at the scene.
Ambassadors from many lands were in
the audience, members Of the cabinet
were there and all the people who pos
sibly could get In were present to wit
ness the proceeding.
President Wilson, escorted by SEN
ator Bacon, bowed acknowledgment to
er's stand to the journal clerks desk
directly in front of the speaker. with a
smile, as he began to speak, the presi-
dent told his hearers why he had come.
He said he was glad to verify for him
self the impression that the president
Of the United States was a person. He
was speaking in an ordinary tone Of
voice, just as though he were talking to
q senator In his Office. The crowded
chamber was hushed after the momen-
tary thrills of conversation upon his
entrance had ebbed away. Every eye
was fixed upon him as he spoke and 1t
was instantly apparent that he had
aroused the keenest interest. AS the
president, averring that he was not q
mere department Of government, but
human and that he had come to speak
naturally with his fellowmen, the in
terest was tense. .,r
Feel Quite Normal.
After this pleasant experience" the
president said, II shall feel quite nor
NAL in all our dealings with one an
other"
AS these words fell from the presi-
dents lips the house and senate ap-
plauded. Then the gallery Joined in.
Mrs. Wilson and the presidents daugh-
ters and other relatives joined from
the executive gallery. Ambassador
Bryce, Of England, looked on with evil
dent interest. So did Ambassador Jus
serland Of France, and representatives
of other nations. Where a few mo-
ments before the event had seemed
unusual, almost unreal, 1t now appear
ed perfectly adjusted to conditions and
not at all dramatic.
The applause subsiding, the presi-
dent began to read his brief message
on the tariff. He spoke slowly and
forcefully and in less than eight min
utes he was done. No interruption oc-
CURED and he left the stand immedi-
ately while the congress applauded.
In Speakers Room.
In the speakers room again Presi-
dent Wilson chatted for few mo-
ments with the members Of the COM
mittee and accompanied by Secretary
Tumulty left the capitol at 1.10 o'clock.
At 1.18, half an hour after he left the
cabinet meeting, he was at luncheon in
the White House, ready for the busi-
ness Of the afternoon.
Tho President Speaks.
President Wilson delivered his mes
sage as follows:
II am very glad indeed to have this
to address the two houses
directly and to verify for myself the
impression that the president Of the
United States Is a person, not mere
department of the government, hailing
congress from some isolated island Of
Jealous power sending messages, not
speaking naturally and with his own
voice, that he Is a human being trying
to cooperate with other human beings
in a common service. After this pleas
ant experience I shall feel quite normal
in all our dealings with one another.
II have called the congress together
in extraordinary session because duty