The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-12-04
Would Allow National
Conventions Only to
Make Platforms.
TELLS OF MEXICO
In First General Message tx
presses Conviction Huerta
Cannot Continue.

Washington, ID. c. President WI
son today read his first general mes
sage to congress. Before a joint ses-
sion OF the two houses he delivered
II OF the briefest general messages
received by congress in recent decad-
es.
President Wilson demanded early
passage or a ,aw establishing direct
primaries for the election of delegates
to national party conventions, which.
no doubt, was prompted by the split
that occurred in the republican ma
tional convention last year. His rec
concentration would allow the con
ventions only to frame platforms,
leaving the nominating to ii direct
vote by party members.
In addition the president recon-
mends, notably, early passage of the
currency bill, conservation OF resour-
ces, territorial government and Il
government railroad for Alaska,
greater opportunities for the Filipin-
os in learning self-sovernment, and
an effective employers liability law.
The president briefly discussed the
Mexican situation, expressing renew
ed conviction that the Huerta regime
would crumble and that there Would
be no necessity for the United States
TO use any more stringent measures
than those already adopted.
Following is the presidents mes
sage in fun:
Address OF the President.
Gentlemen OF the Congress: In pur-
suance of my constitutional duty to
give to the Congress information of
the state of the Union" | take the
liberty Of addressing you on several
matters which ought. as ii seems to
me, particularly to engage the atten-
tion of your honorable bodies, as of
all who study the welfare and pro-
gress of the Nation.
| shall ask your indulgence if |
venture TO depart in some degree
from the usual custom Of setting be-
fore you in formal review the many
matters which have engaged the at
tention and called for the action Of
the several departments of the gov
or which look 20 them for
early Greatmeut in the future, be
cause the list is long. very long, and
would suffer in the Authorization to
which j should ave to subject it. 1
shall spbmit 10 you the reports OF the
heads of the several departments, in
which these subjects are set forth in
careful detail, and beg that they may
receive the thoughtful attention of
your committees and OF all members
of the Congress who ma have the
leisure to study them. Their Obvious
Importance. as constituting the very
substance OF the business of the gov
makes comment n emph-
s,sis on my part unnecessary.
Thankful for Peace.
The country, | am thankful to say,
is at peace with all the world, and
many happy manifestations multiply
about MS of a growing coTdiailty and
sense OF community of interest among
the nations. foreshadowing an age OF
settled peace and good will. More and
more readily each decade do the ma
tions manifest their Willingness &c
bind themselves by solemn treaty tC
the processes OF peace, the processes
of f%rankness n fair concession. SC
Tar the United States has stood at the
front of such negotiations. She VIII,
earnestly hope and confidently be
lieve. give fresh PROOF of her sincere
adherence to the cause OF lnteFna-
tional friendship by ratifyinS the sew
eral treaties of arbitration awaiting
renewal by the Senate. IN addition to
these, it has been the privilege OF thf
Department of State to gain the as
sent, in principle, OF no less imam u
nations, representing four-fithS o.
1he population of the world, TO the
negotiation of treaties by which II
shall be agreed that wheneve DIT
ferences of interest or of policy arise
which can not be solved by the ordl-
nary processes OF diplomacy, theA
shall be publicly analysed, discussed
and reported upon by a lbuna chos'
en- by the parties before either ma
ton determines its course OF action
There is only one possible stand.
ard by which to determine contro
yersies between the United State!
and other nations, and that is com
pounded of these two elements: Oul
own honor and our obligations to The
peace of the world. A test SO com
pounded ought easily to be made tc
govern both the establishment of new
treaty obligations and the i~nterpreta
ton of those already assumed.
The Mexican Problem.
There is but one cloud upon gu
horizon. That has shown itself TO thu
south OF us, and hangs over Mexico
There can be no certain prospect o
peace in America until Gen. Huert
has surrendered his usurped author
ity in Mexico: until it is understood
on all hands, indeed, that such pre-
tended governments will not D'
~ountenanc or dealt with by tn
of the United States. w
are the friends of constitutional gov
eminent in America; we are NOR
.lan its friends, we are its cham
Mons: because in no other way>>cal
our neighbors, to whom we woui
wish in every way to make proof o
our friendship, work out their owl
development in peace and Liberty
Mexico has no government. The at
tempt to maintain one at the CITY o
Mexico has broken down, and a mer
military despotism has been set u
which has hardly more than the sem
blance of national authority. 1t orig
mated in the usurpation OF Victorian