The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-06
ADDRESS TO CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT WILSON DELIVERS
ANNUAL MESSAGE PER
son.
Statement Relative To Mexico Calm
and Conservative--SuggestR Radical
Change I'm Method of Nominating
Presidential Candidates - Urges
Amendment OF sherman Law.


his usurped authority. President Will
son i'm All address to, congress de-
livered In person today, declared that
despite that fact he did not believe
the United States would have to al
ter it's policy Of watchful waiting.
The president said Huerta's power
and prestige In crumbling a little day
by day and the collapse is not far
away. With the end Of the Huerta
regime. he said ne hoped to see con-
stitutional order restored in Mexico.
Besides pleading for the swift en-
sctment into law OF the administra-
tion currency BILL the president told
congress that he believed the Sher-
man antitrust law should stand un-
altered. but that congress should as
rapidly as possible enact legislation
which would clarity and make ex-
piicit that great act" facilitate it's
administration and make IL fairer 10
all concerned.
This is the first expression OF any
Kind that has come from President
Wilson regarding the Sherman law.
Business men and financiers have
been waiting with a great deal of in
terest, not to say trepidation. to learn
what the policy of the Wilson ad-
ministrat!on was TO be with regard TO
the Sherrpon iau oho,,, ,,.htoI -.
arisen 30 much confusion. The pres
ident today said IL Is of capital i'm
portance that the business men OF tie
country should be relieved of all un-
certainties OF law with regard to their
enterprises and "a clear path indicated
which they can travel without anx-
iety.
1T In as important that they should
be relieved of embarrassment and set
free TO prosper as that private mo-
nopoiy should be destroyed" the
president declared.
President Wilson broached a new
election reform plan during the
course OF his address, which would
provide for the direct nomination Of
presidential candidates He said that
he urged the prompt enactment of
legislation which would provide elec-
tions throughout the country at which
the voters OF the different parties may
Choose their nominees for the presi-
dency without the Intervention of
nominating conventions. He pointed
out. however. that he would not do
away with party conventions altogeth-
er. but would retain them for the pur-
pose OF ratifying the choice Of the
voters and formulating the party
platforms.
Instead of the present delegate
system for the presidential conven-
tions the presdCG: alrcrt, I - would
have the conventions consist OF the
nominees for congress- the nominees
Tor vacant seats In tho senate. the
senators whose terms have not yet
ended, the national committees, and
the presidential candidates thcm-
selves, in order that the platforms
might be drawn by those RESPONSE
bic to the people for carrying them
into effect.
Touching upon the problem of
Philippine independence the presi-
dent told his hearers we must hold
steadily In vicw the ultimate freedom
OF the Islands. We can satisfy our
obligations towards Porto Rico and
the Hawaiian Islands. he declared, by
giving them the rights and privileges
accorded our own citizens. Independ-
ence In the Philippines should be
reached slowly. step by step. he said.
strong plea was made by Prcsi-
dent Wilson for the unlocking OF
the storehouse of Alaska" He urged
"A full territorial form Of government
for Alaska, asserting that besides
this. for the development of that
territory. the government should
build and administer n railway sys-
tenn. and In addition control the
ports and terminals. While the pres
ident did not say SO, II was evident
that he had framed his Alaska de-
velopment plan with an especial view
TO preventing that rich territory ge,-
ting under control OF n railroad mo-
nopoly.
Congress was urged by the president
10 enact fair and effective employ
ers' liability law. We owe It. in mere
justice to the railway employees of the
country he said. "a law thai we can
stand by i'm this matter will be no less
TO the advantage Of those who ad-
minister the railroads of the coun-
try than to those whom they empIov.
IL.