Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-12-05
Wilson's Message Touches on
/ Mexican Situation.
OUTLINES AMERICAN POLICY
Urges Speedy Currency Legislation
and Favors Choice of Presidential
Nominees by Popular Vote.

| sage, OelIFc1cu dL d JOlAL oooo1OA "
the houses of congress at the begin
ming of the second session of the Six
! ty-third congress-, President Wilson
| urged immediate currency legislation
| devoted considerable space to the
| needs of the farmers and referred tt
the Mexican crisis. The Sherman
antitrust law, he said, should be
changed so that it's exact meaning
would be clearer. The president also
urged the choice of presidential nomi
nees by the direct vote Of the people
expressed at primaries. On the Mexi
can situation the president said, in
part:
There can be no certain prospect OF
peace in America until General Huer.
ia has surrendered his usurped au'
thority in Mexico. Until it is under.
stood on all hands, indeed, such pre-
tended governments will not be coun-
tenanced or dealt with by the gov.
eminent Of the United States. We are
the friends of constitutional govern.
ment in America. We are more than
its friends; we are its champions, be-
cause in no other way can our neigh
bors to whom we would wish in
every way to make proof of our friend
ship work out their own development
in peace and liberty. Mexico has no
government. The attempt to maintain
one at the City of Mexico has broken
down, and a mere military despotism
has been set up which has hardly
more than the semblance of national
authority. 1t originated in the usurpa.
ton of Victoriano Huerta, who, after
q brief attempt to play the part of
constitutional president, has at last
cast aside even the pretense of legal
right and declared himself dictator
BY his actions Huerta has forfeited
the respect. and the moral support
even of those who were at one time
willing to see him succeed. Little by
little he has been completely isolated.
by little every day his power and
prestige are crumbling, and the col
lapse is not far away. We shall not,
believe, be obliged to alter our pol
icy of watchful waiting. And then,
when the end comes, we shall hope
to see constitutional order restored in
distressed Mexico by the concert and
energy of such of her leaders as pre-
fer the liberty of their people to their
own ambitions"
Currency Legislation Urged.
President Wilson urges the immedi-
ate passage of currency legislation.
He asserts that business interests of
the nation are waiting on the expected
law before making large new invest
ments Or developing resources. The
president also calls attention to condi-
lions as they exist at present, which
make it very difficult for the farmer
to finance his crop. He urges in his !
message provisions that will
the farmer, help his credit
and prevent a repetition of the neces-
sity for the government to- deposit
arge sums of money in the Southern
and Western states so as to aid the |
producer, as was the case last fall.
The presidents policy toward the
Philippines is made clear. He urges
he development of the Philippines, al
ways keeping in view ultimate indie
)endence of the islanders. While he
loes not believe they are ready for
self government today he believes that
eventually they. will be. He points
,ut improvements that have recently
,een made by calling attention to the
act that more natives have been ap-
pointed on the Philippine commission
han was the case previously.
On the question of direct elections |
he president says:
~ urge the prompt enactment Of
egislation which will provide for pri-
nary elections throughout the coun-
nv at which the voters of the sew
raj parties may choose their nomi-
lees for the presidency without the in
ervention of nominating conventions.
venture the suggestion that this leg
station should provide for the reten-
ion of party conventions, but only for
he purpose of declaring and accepting
he verdict of the primaries and formu-
ating the platforms of the parties,
md l suggest that these conventions
hould consist not of delegates chosen
or this single purpose, but of the
nominees for congress, the nominees
or vacant seats in the senate of the
United States, the senators whose
erms have not yet closed, the nation
] committees and the candidates for
he presidency themselves, in order
hat platforms may be framed by |
hose responsible to the people for |
ARRIVING them into effect"
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