The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-07
THROWS PRECEDENT
To THE WINDS AND
WILL READ MESSAGE
President Wilson to Return
to Custom of Washing
ton and Adams
REVERSES STAND OF
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Father of Democracy Thought
1t Waste of Time---Parlia-
mentarians Hunting
Up Etiquette

WASHINGTON. April 6.--PresfdenG
Wilson Will go in person to the house
of representatives on Tuesday and
read his first message to congress
setting forth the purpose for which
he has called the special session. It
will be the first time since the days
iof John Adams, the second president
OF the United States. that a chief
Executive will have read his message
Ito congress.
IT was explained tonight that Pre-
isident Wilson has decided to change
1.-THE practice of more than q century,
because he believed that 1t was the
best method for the president to cui-
Itivate intimate relations with the Leg
islative branch of the government.
Sets Congress Gasping.
This announcement set congress 70
gasping today. as nothing has since
Mr.. Wilson was inaugurated. No
president so far as the records dis
close has persoaIly delivered any other
than his annual message to congress-
In this respect President Wilson'S
action apparently will set a precedent
as the message which he will send
to congress on Tuesday will be Of
a special character, dealing with the
tariff.
President wilson agrees with
George Washington and John Quincy
Adams that the president clearly has
message personally to congress IL he
lchooses 20 do so,
The constitution lays no restriction
or limitation upon the manner IN
which information and recommends
itions shall be delivered.
George Washington throughout his
two terms. and John Quincy Adams
lin his term, rode annually TO the
lcapitol TO deliver their message to the
and senate in joint session. Until
December 8, 1901, the president OF
the United States delivered to congress
his annual message ir this way.
Reverses Jeffcrsop's Example.
In 1901, however. when Thomas
Jefferson. Mr.. wilson's great Demo-
cratic predecessor. entered office, ne
discontinued the practice or WASH
Iington and Adams. He sent his first
annual message to congress by MS
secretary. accompanying Ito with
letter of explanation to theJpresiding
officer Of each house. The letter
said
"Sir-The circumstances under
which we find ourselves at this time.
rendering announcement the Faede
heretofore practiced of making by
personal address the first communities
ltions between the Legislative and exc
icutiye branches, I have adopted that
a messenger be used on all sunse-4~
uuent occasions throughout the ses-
cipal regard to the convenience OF the
Legislature to the economy of their
time to their relief from the emoar-
rassment of immediate answers on
subjects not fully before them, and
to the benefit thence resulting to tbs
public affairs Trusting that pre-
! ceedure founded in theses motives
will meet their appreciation, | Deg
YOU, sir. to communicate the enclosed
message with the documents accom-
panying il. to the honorable. the sem
ate and pray YOU accept for YOURSELF
land them the homage or my niSn
regard, and consideration
/ parIiamentarians I'm the Air.
I Since Jefferson transmitted this let
ter to the house and senate. all pre-
sidential messages have been COM
muncated to both houses ON the
same day.
President Wilson'S announcement
that he win visit the house for this
purpose on Tuesday, threw the pr
lliamentarians into high state. OF ex-
lcitement. All day long they have
been combing the congressional IL
Ebrary looking for an exact description
Iof the etiquette which should obtain
ion this memorable occasion. Speaker
Champ Clark has Joined In digging
Through the archives, and at Late
hour tonight they were still conAa-
IerabIy up in the air as to the exact
f1OrnaiirleS WHICH Stiphiu oD@oAA $50
this occasion.
No Waste. Thinks Wilson.
The feature of Mr.. Wilson'S pro-
posed move that interested Democrats
most. was the contradictory ATTITUDES
| in which ii will put the new Demo-
cratic president in regard 70 Inomas
Jefferson the father of Democracy,
President jefferson discontinued the
custom because it seemed a needless
waste of their time, and because
there would be a resulting benefit TO
public affairs. Mr. Wilson apparent
Ily thinks otherwise.
Washington and Adams discussed
matters openly with congress. but
there has been no intimation that
President W. SON would be questioned
Ihy1any member on Tuesday
| The announcement Of Mr. Wilson's
Intention was so unexpected that
members of congress hardly knew
what to say tonight, 1t was appar-
lent. showever, that some of them were &
inclined to couple this innovation with
the presidents recent activity In trans
ling the tariff bill. and to argue that
/ IL indicated too ready disposition
on his part to participate in the a
fairs of the legislative branch Of the
government
/ Representatives Underwood will in-
Etroduce a concurrent resolution. calf
ling a session of both the houses I'M
tine lower cHaHlbe ana Inc PFUSA- III
| dent will. therefore. deliver his Hahx-
sage before the senate. as we'll as tbs
house. This was. the way Washlng~
ton and Adams did II.
1 LIS Page a Prophet?
| WASHINGTON, April 6r---On the
| eve of the sending to the senate thu
appointment of Waiter FL Page, thu
editor OF Worlds Work. TO be ankx
bassador to Great Britain. editorial
Continued on Eighth Page,