Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-07
PRESIDENT DEFENDS
PLAN FOR MESSAGE
"OnIy Oignified Way to Address
Congress-" Mr.. Wilson
Explains.
COURSE TO BE PURSUED
USED LAST YEARS AGO
Intention to Read Communication to
Members Amazes Old
Line Leaders.


morrow has completely displaced the
tariff and the income tax as subjects OF
chief popular interest. No President
since John Adams has availed himself
Of the right Congress was amazed when
it heard of the Presidents plan. Some
of the old line leaders refused to believe
1t until Secretary Tumulty personally
confirmed the news.
Arrangements for the extraordinary
event got under way today. 1t was
planned that the President first should
go to his room on the Senate side of the
Capitol and later go to the hall of the
House Of Representatives, where both
branches OF Congress will be assembled.
The legislative preliminaries to get the
House and Senate together were started
today. Under ordinary circumstances the
two bodies meet in joint session only once
every four years and then for the per-
functory ceremony of canvassing the elec-
toral vote.
May Apply to Other Messages.
President Wilson intends to slip quietly
away from the White House. with his
message In his pocket. and, attended ny
probably only one secret service man. ride
to the Capitol in one Of the White House
automobiles and return to his office al
most Immediately. Some of the Presi-
dents friends say he may be expected 10
deliver all his principal messages to Con-
gress in the same way, though he wouid
not do SO with every communication ne
sends.
The President regards that method as
one digniied way to keep in touch with
Congress. He already has let 1t be known
that he intends to make frequent use OF
the Presidents room during sessions OF
Congress to keep in close touch with the
legislative situation. Most other Presi-
dents have used the room for an hour or
two during the closing hours Of each
session Of Congress.
President Wilson was asked today what
motive impelled him to renew the Gus
toms Of a century ago.
Only Dignified Way, Says Wilson.
The reasons are very simple he re-
Piled ''I think that that IL the only
dignified way for the President to ad.
dress the Houses at the opening of the
session, instead of sending the address
dress the houses at the opening Of the
read it perfunctorily in the familiar
clerks tone of voice. l thought that the
dignified and natural thing was to read
It. 1t is a precedent which 1t Is true
mas Deen discontinued a lOnS uIne, Dut
which is a very respectable precedent.
The President was asked IL he expected
that there would be answers from Con-
gress as there had been In the old day
but he smilingly replied that the only
response he looked for was the Legislative
answer.
The President explained that he intend
ed to make his visit as simple as possible.
He said that he had asked Senator Kern
and Leader Underwood Of the House II
1t would be agreeable for him to come.
and they both had said that it would.
and that in this they represented the feel
ing Of their colleagues.
Provide for Joint Session.
A concurrent resolution was introduced
in the House today by Mr.. Underwood
vide for the joint session In the House
chamber tomorrow.
The President will arrive at the Capitol
about 1 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. He
will be escorted to Speaker Ciark's Of.
flee and there will be received by the
Vice President. Speaker and other officers
Of both houses. An escort Of two men,
bers will be appointed from the Senate
and House to escort the President to the
Speakers rostrum in the House. Speaker
Clark probably will introduce the Presi-
dent to the joint session. Vice Presiden,
Marshall will sit ON the rostrum.
The President was asked If he would
take his cabinet with him tomorrow as
President John Adams did. Mr.. Wilson
laughingly remarked that there were
then only three cabinet members. and
that he would not renew that precedent.
He said he had not decided what mes
sages hereafter he would read to Con-
gress. He would be guided, he said,
by their Importance.
Heard With Mingled Feelings.
It was with mingled feelings that
members Of Congress heard that Presi-
dent Wilson intends to read his tariff
message in the House tomorrow. They
were a bit chary in talking about the
innovation at the Capitol today. The
few who would speak about the Presi-
dents plan in a public way bit off their
remarks with an evident desire to say
as little as possible about it
There was scattering criticism from
some old-time democrats, who have an
idea there is a lack of some intangible
something-not dignity. OF course. but a
lack of something that cannot be describ-
ed-in the President standing up before
tha Congress and advising them with his
own lips ION the state of the Union.
However. the younger members. demo-
Gratis. republicans and progressives. are
almost in accord IN saying the PRESIDENT
ia doing a fine and proper thing.
.It is a progressive thing to do said a
progressive in speaking of the matter.
..but fear he will beat our favorite.
Roosevelt. in the way of publicity. He
certainly is keeping just about one step
ahead of the procession. isn't hep
Whether or not any member will avail
himself of his right to question the Presi-
dent after the message remains to be
seen.
Intention Known to Leaders.
President Wilson made known his ptir-
nose I, read his message to Congress to
Majority Leader Undery. ,od. Representa-
tive A. Mitchell Palmer Of Pennsylvania
and other democrats in Congress. He
took them into his confidence that they
might prepare for the event
The President believes that he can get
in closer touch with the members of both
houses Of Congress by personally ex-
pressing his views to them. In addi-
ton to his official visits to the floor Of
the House. which will become matter
of White House policy, the President will
take advantage of these visits to hold
conferences with the party leaders in
Congress.
The President has been told by his
friends that such a procedure is fraught
with embarrassment unless he tactfully
keeps to his purpose merely OF giving ad
vice as the leader Of his party and Offer
20, C.cnnI