Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-02
PRESIDENT URGES
PRIMARY SYSTEM
Would Have Presidential Can
didates Nominated by
Popular Elections.
FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE
READ BEFORE CONGRESS
Joint Session of the Houses Held
This Afternoon to Receive
the Document.

President Wilson read his first annual
message to Congress today at joint
session of both branches at / O'Clock
in the House chamber. The message.
among the briefest of documents of its
kind from any President and some 1908
words long, required less than thirty min
utes for reading, though it treated upon
variety of subjects.
Probably the most striking feature of
the message was the recommendation for
presidential primaries. Mr.. Wilson pre-
sented a suggestion that legislation be
promptly enacted providing for primary
elections throughout the country at which
the voters of the several parties may
choose their nominees for the presidency
without the Intervention of nominating
conventions
Party conventions, the President
urged. should be retained, but only for
the purpose of declaring and accepting
the verdict of the primaries and formu-
lating the platform of the parties
Suggestion Regarding Delegates.
The President suggested, however,
that the delegates consist of the nom
inees for Congress. the nominees for
the vacant seats in the Senate the
closed. the national committees and the
candidates for the presidency them
selves lin order that platforms may be
framed by those responsible to the peo-
pie for carrying them into effect" That
IS essentially the system which Mr..
wilson introduced in the New Jersey
state conventions.
The Mexican situation President Wilson
dismissed with brief comment. reiterating
the sentiments he expressed in a special
address to Congress upon the same sub
lect some time ago and expressing the be-
lief that the Huerta government slowly
was crumbling and that the United States
probably would not be obliged to alter its
policy of waiting
No program for trust legislation was
presented, further than mention Of the
desfrabiiity of an early amendment to the
Sherman law Ito prevent private monop-
oily more effectually than it has yet been
prevented. and an announcement that
the President would later address a spe-
cial message to Congress dealing solely
with that subject
Features of the Message.
Building of Alaskan railways, which
the President indorsed; the need for con-
centration by the Senate on the pending
currency bill. which he emphasized ur-
gent necessity of rural credits legisla-
ton: self-government for Porto Rico and
Hawaii: ultimate independence for the
PhiiippineS. and policy OF common
council and conference between the fed
erdi government and the states on the
conservation question were other fea-
lures Of discussion in the Presidents ad-
dress. For details of the governments a
business the President referred Congress
TO the annual reports of his cabinet Of
ficerS.
Plans Completed Early.
Everything was in readiness early to-
day for President Wilson to appear be-
ior the JOINT session Of both houses
OF Congress at ] pm The Senate met
at ii am. upder plan to march to
the House chamber just before I O'Clock.
The House assembled at noon. and re-
cessed until the hour for the President. $
appearance.
The corridors of the Capitol were be-
sieged by applicants for admission to
the House galleries. Admittance was by
ticket, however. and each senator and
representative received one.
When the House convened Repre-
sentative Underwood Of Alabama, fol-
the committee notification reported
that the joint committee of the Senat,
and House. appointed yesterday had
notified the President that Congress
was in session and that the Presiden,
instructed him to say he would reac
his message to the joint session Of In,
two houses at l pm.
Arrival of the President.
President Wilson arrived at the Cap
itol just before | o'clock today to reat