New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-24
ITS FATE YET IN DOUBT
President S Urgency and Bryan's
Endorsement Have Helped
Among Democrats, but
Republicans Fail To
Be Impressed.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

dent Wilson delivered i'm person to-day
his message urging Congress to pro-
eced Immediately To a revision Of the
banking and currency laws.
| 1t was the second time since the days
/ Of Thomas jefferson. the pioneer Dem
: ocrat. who abandoned the custom. that
| q President elected To read personally
! a communication to the Compress
/ That the time honorcd precedent had
! once before been smashed did not de-
/ tract from the interest I'm o-day's pro-
I cecdinGs. Visitors scrambled for en-
trance TO the House. where the Scna -
tors and Representatives assembled I'm
! joint session. and the Presidents mes
sage was read in the presence Of a dis
unguished gathering. despite a down
pour Of rain outside Members Of the
Cabinet and their families, members OF
tho diplomatic corps. Mrs Wilson and
her daughters and relatives Of Senators
| and Representatives packed the gal
lcricS.
The attendance Of legislators was
large, considering the fact that several
Representatives are still out Of the
city following the recess.
President Wilson read his message in
clear. vibrant tones, pausing slightly
for effect as he read those sections re-
latng particularly TO tho necessity for
immediate action. When Mr. Wilson
read his tariff message in April he was
III at case. There was no hesitation or
difiidencc I'm his uttcranccs to-day, and
from the time he entered the House
chamber at 1887 o'clock until he left
at los o'clock he was a picture Of self
possession.
Among Democrats the message made
n favorable impression. Tho President
was heartily chccred by Senators and
Representatives regardless of political
affiliations. when he entered the cham
Der and also as he concluded the read
ing Of his currency message
"SophomorieaI," Says Mann.
Beyond dealing out "a little bunk
about new freedom. there was nothing
i'm the message. That was sophomori-
cal" was the caustic comment made on
President Wilson's currency message
by Representative Mann, the minority
leader Of the House.
The statement Of the minority leader.
in which he criticises Mr.. Wilson for
lack Of intelligent presentation" OF
the Democratic currency reform pro-
gramme. reads:
THE Presidents message is a fine
example Of classic English. but there
is nothing more 10 it. unless IT bc con-
sidered as threat that patronage Will
be withheld until banking and cur
rency bill is passed. ! wish TO cooper
ate with those in favor of passing a
reasonable banking and currency bill.
but the President evidently intends to
treat the subject as one purely par
tisan. and he did not take the trouble
even TO discuss or analyze the princI-
pies involved in banking and currency
legislation.
He erred i'm saying that the commit
tees Of Congress had consulted with
him and had prepared a bill. The com
mittee of the House has had no bill
before Il and has had no meetings to
consider a bill.
Outside of dealing out little bunk
about new freedom there is nothing 10
the message. That was sophomorcal.
The real need OF a currency bill is
not because OF new business which viii
come with the new tariff law, but with
threat Of disaster impending over the
country by reason Of tariff legislation
and Democratic incompctcncy. The
President did not do Congress tho
courtesy to express any opinion con-
cerning the principles upon which "A
banking and currency bill should 10
based.
80 far as we have yet been able TO
learn the bill will be in the main pieces
stolen from the Aldrich Monetary Com
mission report, with a few radical pro-
visions taken from the Bryan platform
mixed in. 1t will DO u tumble Of dis
cordant ideas.
Calls President "Schoolmaster"
THE President came before Congress
like a schoolmaster before fourth grade
school children and told the members to
be good, but he did not dare to analyze
what goodness in this case consists OF.
"Whilc Congress has had no help from
the Presidents message on banking and
currency matters. and has received no
enlightenment or suggestion of IDEAS from
the President still do not wish to Judge
ln advance the proposed bill. because OF
lack of intelligent presentation by the
President 1t Is evident that the measure
is 10 be considered Democratic partisan
hill. but even so, If II will advance the
interests OF the country the Republicans
will support it,. but IL 1t threatens TO 60
still further than the tariff bill In break
ing down the prosperity of the last few
vears. then we cannot support IT, but will
try TO amend II.
THE one thing that W. will not stand
for is partisan political control OF banks