The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-09
Throngs Attracted by
Precedent-S Smashing
Incident
AT CAPITOL LESS
THAN HALF HOUR
With Sweep of Decision He
Bridges Gap That Has sepa-
rated Two Branches of Gov
ernment for More Than Cen
tury-Executive Delighted;
Lawmakers Well Pleased.

WnshtnStOn, ApriI S.-Prcai,rut MIL
NON to-day bridged the gen that for
over century has scpa rated thu p,Iot.
or public busincs~-fhc executive nnt
legislative branches of the government.
>"' IN cog In machine, not MS an
imperSoneI political entity. nor M ,
mere department of government. but
RI" the human President, he won't a.
'"nRresH to speak about the tariff. q
,a,'. oeforc tho Senate nnd House
IN 'oint session as no other President
ms done for more than It2 ycar.
iocht wilson stated simply and .erscIx
Whnt he thought should he done FOR
.ne welfare OF the country and a.Ixe,,
s,siau'e colleagues. man to mnn,
party. w '"c'r
WIN sweep of decision TINT shat
sercd precedent. the President brushed
aside all Imaginary boundaries between
oohsress nnd the executive Office, and
rcscued himself, az he exprcs.c,, =,
from that "isoiated i.Inpd ,s Ion,. '
"u'"or"F which the presidency hnd
come to be regarded
Unusual Importance.
Iohsress' somewhat startled tha
other day when 1t heard that the Presl-
dent had determined to deliver his -,
DrGDHrPn
Tor a ceremony OF unusual imnorton,..
u "uu such IL was: yet when Presidcut
Nisoh arrived in the midst OF thu
great assemblage. riding tbroupb
snrongs OF cheering people in the
streets, and later looking IN i,to
leries crowded with privilerod ticieat
hoiders. he seemed. after all what Le
said he was "a human being irvine. to
cooperate with other human beinus Il,
a common service"
XII
Nhen the much hera ided incident
was over Congress seemed pIansod an.I
the President was delighted t,n 'o'
PRESSED himself Co friends as imnrcssca
WIN tne dignity OF the occasion ana
SOME .S OF ms confdants later declared
,in ,nat he left the Capitol greatly re-
.aa su 10 think that, after all, his pre-
ceueht smashing had not been such .
eatnclysmic thing as some older hnads
had predicted iieaos
me tresidents visit to the C,apitoI
was orlet. lasting about a quarter nr
an hour Leaving n Cabinet ,noot;,
at the White House. he stnrtcd ~, us ,,,s.
mission at l2:45 o'clock. Nh onn
Sept secret service man accompanied
nun RE rode in White House ,,,tn-
,noolie' , ana five minutes later was
ar.nen 'hrough tile crowds assembled
ABOUT me capitol. at 1854 he re.,.he,i
Speaker Clark's room. Just off ,,,a
rouse chanber. where a Joint commit
zee OF Senators and REPRESENTATIVES,,
Melcohneu him. They were Senntor.l
Kern, Bacon and CiaIlinecr ana n..,, .
sentatives Underwood, Paine. .,epro, a,..,
Mahh' The President spoke n, ,,,;
tor u moment and was informed thar
me senate and House awaited bin,
re saio he WAS ready. and the con-
,t,'s, $3.50 stared for the door OF the House
cha,noer the President or Scn,to,. a.. :
cons right. i'''
Distinguished Audience.
,No minutes before l O'clock tle
resident entered the chamber. Mon
go % me aouse and Senate rose as
2peaher C!ark brought down the rnvcl
from the floor and galleries d;.,;
euished guests looked on mt the scen.
n"loassadors ~ from many lands were In
me aunience, members OF the CabIpct
o,',,a me,e .here; and all the people who
could possibly get in were nrcsant
witness the proceedinp ~
resident wilson, escorted by SEN
ator Bacon, bowed acknowledcment 70
the applause. and mounted tbo
Speaker stand to the journal clerk's
ursn ,'.,., o'rectiy In front of the Speaker.
WIN II smile. as he began TO sneaL
the PRESIDENT told his hearers whv la
hau come He said he was glad to
Fer1Iy Tor himself the impression that
'he PRESIDENT of the United States wna
4 person. He was speaking in an or
uii'''E tone or voice, just as though
"o was taking to Senator in his
9uc
hushed after the momentary thrills
on conversation upon his entrance had
ebDcd away. Every eye was fixed unon
MN as ne spoke, and 1t was instantly
apparent that he had aroused the keenest
interest AS the President proceeded
WIN ms preliminary statement,
averring that he was not mere de-
partment of government but hur1an
and that he had come to speak natural-
~ with his fellowmen. the interest
was tense.
After this pleasant experience, tha
President said. Il shall feel quite nor
NAL in NIL our dealings with one an
other"
Applause for President.
AS these words fell from the presi
dents lips the House and Senate ao-
p,auded. Then the gallery Joined in
Mrs. Wilson and the Presidents daugh-
ters and other relatives Joined from
the executive gallery. Ambassador
Bryce. OF England. looked on with
evident interest. SO did Ambassador
Jusserand. OF France, and represents
yves from other nations. Where
few moments before the event had
seemed unusual. almost unreal. IL row
appeared perfectly adjusted TO con6t
tons and not ut all dramatic NJ
The applause subsiding, the presis
dent began 10 read his brief message
on the tariff He spoke slowly and
forcefuliy. and in less than eight mir, z
utes he was done. No interruptionE
occurred. and he left the stand Inn
mediateiy while the Congress- ap-
plaudcd.
dent Wilson chatted for 8 feu moments
With the members OF tps tomrni;tcs.
and accompanied By Secretary, rumulty S
left the capitol at 1915 o'chSyks S.Sis