The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-06
PRAISE FOR WILSON.
ANNUAL MESSAGE PHASES
EVEN THE REPUBLI-
CANS
All washington Acclaim the Message
as the Uttcrancc Of Statesman
and Democrats are Enthusiastic
Attitude Toward Mexico Has Gen.
erAl Endorsement.

legislative ambition OF the Demo
cratic administration.
For nearly 2B minutes the president
stood before the assembled senate and
house In the chamber of the latter
and read his first annual message.
Applause punctuated important utter
ances. and when he had finished there
was an enthlsiastic demonstration.
with handclapping and cheers. Brief
~. the president outlined programme
Tor social justice and the general well
fare of the nation, and proclaimed
the aspirations of tho United States
Tor international amity and the main
tenance OF cor stitutional government
In all America
With close, almost eager attention
members OF the two houses listened
and time and again the legislators
gave vent to their enthusiasm along
with the crowded galleries.
Less than 5000 words long, the
message was one of the briefest and
most novel OF American state papers
"a marked contrast. as presented by
Its author today. To the hitherto
lengthy Documents averaging 10000
words or more. droned through by
reading clerk to an inattentive con-
gress
There was another contrast con-
spicuously apparent.
President Wilson had read three
messages before---on the tariff, the
currency and Mexican affairs. The
nrst time he addressed q Joint ses-
sion In person. early In this term,
there was an atmosphere of stifr
forraality. applause was liberal, but
perfunctory. and there was an inde-
Unable air OF precedent being broken
or n century-old custom being re-
vtsed There was an expectant Gu
riosity as TO how the president would
be received. Today the president s
reception was warm. almost uproar-
ious. as he concluded his reading.
Later. Republicans and Democrats
alike pronounced the message as the
utterance Of a statesman.
II like the idea of the president
coming before congress" said Repre-
sentative Mann. Republican house
leader. "and reading a short mes
sage. pithy and to the point. In the
main I liked the message today. III
think everybody will recognize it as
the utterance OF q statesman, regard
lcss Of whether he agrees with it's de-
tails"
OF particular significance was one
outburst OF applause regarded in the
national capital tonight-the unmis-
taxable approval that greeted the
presidents remark:
There can be no certain prospect
OF peace In America until Gen. Huerta
has surrendered his usurped authority
In Mexico"
Among those who would discuss
the message in congress there was a
general Endorsement OF the admins
tration's policy towards Mexico.
The scene OF today's function was
much the same as on the three pre-
vious occasions when President Will
son has addressed congress-galleries
crowded with men and women Of i'm
porta,ce In public affairs. members
OF tho cabinet, the diplomatic corps
and the White House family.
Democratic leaders were enthusiasts
tic In their comments on the message
and Its recommendations. They liked
the emphasis placed by the president
on the need for early action on the
currency. for dealing with monopoly
through antitrust legislation. the i'm
portance Of rural credit legislation to
benefit the farmers, the recommended
ton for government construction of
railroads In Alaska. the development
OF the nations resources by "a conser-
walton policy alike acceptable To the
States and the federal authorities, the
enactment OF employers liability leg
islation and the selection of presiden-
tiai candidates by the primary sys-
tenn.
The suggestion OF the president that
party conventions as at present con-
Stituted be abolished won much ap-
plause.
rs Mr.. Wilson declared that the
party convention should bo held only
to ratify the verdict OF preference
primaries. that the personnel OF the
conventions should be. for the most
part, chosen from those members of
congress and congressional nominees
upon whom would devolvc the duty
nf NJ.