The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-03
Applause Is Spontaneous and
in Marked Contrast to For
mality Accompanying His
Former Appearances.
Galleries of House Chamber
Filled and Cabinet on Floor
Greatest Applause Greets
Suggestion For Presidential
Primary.

WASHINGTON, Dec. PRESIDENT
Wilson delivered his annual address
before congress at i o'clock this at
ternoon. 1t was the fourth time the
president had appeared personally be-
fore the two houses of the legislative
branch, but today's event was fuliy7]
as interesting as the three previous
occasions.
Interest in the presidents message
centered chiefly in anticipation OF
what he would say on the Mexican
problem and on the question of anti
trust legislation. In both instances
the presidents remarks were reas-
suring. He denounced Huerta as q
dictator and usurper, whose power Il
crumbling day by day, and predicted
that this government would not be
obliged to alter its present policy Of
"watchful waiting"
His Trust Policy.
In regard to antitrust legislation
the president made 1t clear that he
would not advocate any change in the
Sherman antitrust law, but would
favor merely supplementary legisia-
ton of such a character as to reduce
the area of doubt" that has hnr-
raised business men. He promised q
special message later on the trust
question.
One other feature OF the presidents
address will Immediately attract ma
tionwide attention. The president
recommends the enactment of Iegisla-
ton doing away with nominating COM
ventfons for the presidency and per-
hitting the selection of the nominees
by direct primaries. He would have
the party platforms drawn by con-
+vsnt!ons- composed of nominees
Z - - So
members OF the national committees
and the candidates for the presidency.
The president also recommends
legislation for a system of rural
credits, the construction OF railroad
| by the federal government In Alaska
and prompt action on the currency
| bill. &
Gets Cordial Greeting.
The president received a cordial
greeting from congress. The applause
was spontaneous, and In marked COM
trast to the stiffness and Formally Of
the scenes that marked his appear
ance on previous occasions. 1t indi-
Gated that congress was becoming ac-
customed to this method of receiving
the presidential message" and also
that Mr.. Wilson has gained In popu-
larity with the legislative branch. The
president was pleased over the demon
stration and showed It.
| The galleries of the house chamber
were filled. Mrs. Wilson and her two
daughters, Eleanor and Margaret,
were in one of the galleries All the
members of the cabinet except Secre-
tary of State Bryan occupied seats on
the floor. Mr.. Bryan sat in the dipio-
matte gallery.
The presidents reference to chang
| ing the method of nominating canoi-
dates fort chief executive drew the
greatest demonstration. The rebel
Yell several times sounded above the
hand-clapping.
! Takes Thirty Minutes.
| 1t took the president only about
| thirty minutes to deliver his address
1t was the first annual address that
Mr. Wilson had delivered before cons
gress. and In more ways than one Il
was an innovation. In recent years
the annual messages have been grow
ing longer and longer because tho
presidents undertook to review In
| President Taft broke away from this
| handicap to certain extent by divid-s
-, ing his message into several instail.
ments.
President Wilson. however. omitted
altogether any attempt to summaries
| the work OF the executive departments
and contented himself with the st1te~
| ment that he would submit the re-.
| ports of the cabinet officers to con-s
| gress. The presidents address was
therefore. much shorter than any an.
nual message of recent years.