Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-04-11
WILSON
SKATERS CUSTOM;
CONGRESS APPLkUDS
Delivers Special Message in Per
son, Breaking Precedent Of 112
Years Standing.
BRIDGES AGE-oLD CEASM
Executive Unites Long Separated
Branches Of Government Into
Common Service.

iNotc: The presidents message Is
printed in full on page o.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April IL
Breaking the precedent of 112 years
standing, President Woodrow Wilson
personally delivered his special tariff
message to the extra session of Con-
gress last Tuesday noon, speaking to
the house and senate in Joint session
and advising their members he pro-
posed to cut through another prece-
dent and work shoulder to shoulder
with the nations lawmakers.
By this act he bridged the gap that
for more than d century has separated
the executive and legislative branches
of the government Not as cog in a
machine. not as an impersonal political
entity, nor as a mere department of
government, hut as the human presi-
dent, he went before Congress and
spoke about tie tariff, asking his col
leagues as man to man to aid him in
keeping the pledges of their party
With a sweep of decision that shat
tered a precedent, the president brush
ed aside all Imaginary boundaries be-
tween Congress and the executive Of
flee and rescued himself, as he ex-
pressed it, from that isolated island
of jealous authority" which the presi-
dency had come to be regarded.
Congress-, somewhat startled when il
heard the president had determined to
deliver his message on the tariff by
word of mouth, had prepared for a Ger.
emony of unusual Importance, and such
it was; yet when President Wilson ar.
rived in the assemblage riding through
throngs of cheering people in the
streets and later looking up into gal
leries crowded with privileged ticket
holders. he seemed after all what he
said he was, human being trying tc
cooperate with other human beings In
a common service"
When the much heralded incident
was over Congress seemed pleased and
the president was delighted. He told
his friends he was impressed with the
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 cata
clysmic thing rs some older heads had
predicted.
The presidents visit to the capitol
lasted only a quarter of an hour. Ac.
companied only by secret service
agent he proceeded to Speaker Clark s
room and escorted by Senator Bacon
entered the chamber. bowling acknowl.
crowded galleries and chamber. With
a smile as he began to speak, the pres.
ident told his hearers why he had
come.
81 am very glad, indeed he said,
ito have this opportunity to address
the two houses of Congress directly
and verify the impression that the
president of the United States is a per-
son, not a mere department of govern
ment, hailing Congress from some iso-
lated stand of jealous power, sending
messages and rot speaking naturally
and with his own voice; that he is a
human being trying to cooperate with
other human beings in a common ser
vice. After this pleasant experience,
shall feel quite normal in our dealings
with one another"
He spoke il an ordinary tone of
voice, just as If he were talking to a
senator in his office. Every eye was
fixed upon him as he spoke and it was
apparent instantly that he had aroused
the keenest interest.
AS the president proceeded with his
preliminary statement, averring that
he was not mere department of gov
ernment, but human, and that he had
come to speak naturally with his fellow
men, the interest was tense, and ap-
plause was frequent.
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-
Continued on page 81