Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-14
AMERICANS LIKE
"FUSS AND FEATHERS"
Impressive Ceremony Surrounds Presi-
dents Personal Appearances Before
Congress--Galleries Always Crowded.
By EpWARD W. rowNsENn

e This blessed democracy OF ours Is not
without very strong zest for that sort Of
thing, as is shown upon every oppor-
tunity Just take this departure OF procedure
by President Wilson, In the matter OF con-
, Veying to Congress his recommendations; not
: quite u departure, because Washington sew
eral times and Jefferson, I think, one time
delivered his message personally to the as
sembled Congress. Even In the short time
during which President Wilson has renewed
this procedure there has rapidly grown up
about II quite a bit Of rather impressive cere-
mony and how It is liked by the public is
shown in the demand for gallery tickets by
those eager to watch the ceremonies as we'll
as to hear the President deliver his address
Mark you, 1t is the Presidents address" no
longer his message"
Much Fuss and Feathers
The official preliminary to the reception OF
such an address as he may be pleased to de-
liver to Congress is the passage of reso-
luton on IL preceding day arranging for a
Joint session Of the two houses of Congress
| In the chamber OF the House OF Representa-
| tNes at fixed hour, and this has been half
| an hour before the President has indicated
that he would appear Then the work of the
serseant-at-arms and Of the doorkeeper of
the House begins. The Capitol police, APP
| pearing in their freshest of uniforms and
"H'hO SiSNSh, die slbJlOneO IN all the cor
ridors leading to and surrounding the cham
ber-and that is some corridor because the
actual chamber is a box built within a box
built within another boX-and only those of
the eager and clamoring crowds who are sup |
pied with tickets are admitted to the House |
floor or the gallery floor and as great pre- |
caution is taken to keep all others out as
you may observe at the entrance door of the
Metropolitan Opera House upon a Farrar-
Caruso night.
On Tuesday last the galleries were crowded
and nearly every member of the House was
In his seat, when upon the very second OF 10
o'clock Speaker Clarks gavel as usual fell,
and following his old-fashioned formula he
said THE House will be in order, and the
Chaplain will lead in prayer" The first
three rows of seats on the House floor were
reserved for the Senators, and about 10 min
utes before the time set for the arrival of
the President the doorkeeper of the Senate
appeared at the north entrance to the House
chamber, just within which the doorkeeper
Of the House awaited him. The Senate door
keeper soemnly informed the doorkeeper that
the Senate was prepared to enter the House
chamber and having received this necessary
information the House doorkeeper advanced
down the big centre aisle few PAGES caught
the eye Of Speaker Clark and announced in
a good, loud ringing voice: 1.-THE Vice Pres
ident of the United States and the members
of the Senate of Congress of the United
States"
All Necks Grained I
The Speakers gavel fell the members OF
the House rose in their seats, the north doors
were thrown open and the Vice President e
OF the United States, escorted by the SER a
geant-at-arms of the Senate and the secre- I
tary Of the Senate, entered, followed by the a
Senators two by two The doorkeeper and Il
his STAFF showed the Senators to their seats C
amid craning Of necks in the galleries and n g
whispered chorus of personal salutations be- o
tween Senators and Representatives
In the meantime his official attendants "
nave conducted the Vice President to a chair Il
placed for his use by the side of the Speaker, 7
md the Speaker arises and tremendously Fl
shakes hands with the Vice President and h
hey take their seats. The various high off, b.
'ials of both bodies then take their desig- s
lated places and the members Of the Cab IL
net enter. Much craning OF necks In the h
'alleries and displays OF interest OF various h
'inds by the members of the House. The "a
'abinet members take their places to the left hi
T the Speaker, but in seats in rows with the ii
enators. Every one being seated, the hush
expectancy is broken when the Speaker
nd Vice President rise in their places and W
he former announces the members of the si
'nited States" And then the Vice President of
lakes a similar announcement of Senator'S, ell
'ho are designated to perform similar Off WI
ial duty. The Democrat. Republican and en-
leaders, that is Underwood
lam and Murdoch, and the chairman OF the wi
appropriations and OF the Military Affairs CT
ommittees Fitzgerald and Hay are named ''r
y the Speaker. and those occupying relevant XII
osittOns in the makeup Of the Senate are Gu
amed nv VipA ms
the ''we' and proceed by a door to the be
ght OF the Speaker out to lobby leading ev
the Speakers ROOM where they find the pr
resident and his secretary awaiting them sui
here is formal shaking Of hands and Mr.. no
inquiries OF the President If he is this
epared TO deliver his address, and Mr. Un- ect
rwood being assured by the President that thl
ch is the case, the procession Is reformed. res
r. Underwood and the President following wh
9 others, and they march back through the otf
me corridor but TO door leading from the tai
rridor to the left OF the Speaker for
The President Enters ON ON
Do not ask why this right door ana this .n .'e
1T door" because 1 would have to inquire -
turn OF some dilisent searcher for prece- :"
nts who discovered that thus il was when -.
u a President entered the chamber OF the - -
1use Of Representatives 10 read message - -
10 doorkeeper at the moment OF Mr.. VIII o''
n's entrance proolaims, The President OF
3 United Etatesl" Representatives and
majors rise and there Is a generous non
rtlsan applause.
While the vigorous hand olapping is stin ~
ing on the President. bowing and smiling
avely, goes up the steps 10 the reading
rk's platform, tier below thar occupied
the SPEAKER ana vice Frssis.,t Ene
sssea IN black, of course IN a coat, think -
sefthed az eutHWay, with a black scarf out
Elth a modest pin, his collar