The Washington herald., 1914-04-21
FIRST WAR STEP
STAGED in House
Before Great Assemblage, the
President Makes Momentous
Address on Mexico.
CHEERS GREET ARRIVAL
Legislators Unable to Accept All of
Suggestions of Chief Executive
for Friendly" Solution.

Washington knew before it had fin
ished its breakfast that the President
would once more come before Congress
with a message to the people to be de-
livered by word of mouth through their
representatives On this occasion the i'm
pending crisis revived all the interest
which the innovation Of a personal ad-
dress TO the Congress carried and be-
sides il had its pictorial aspect vastly
magnified by the nationwide interest in
the subject of the Presidents discourse.
AS a result, the procession toward the
Capitol started early. By 10 o'clock
every available seat in the galleries had
been occupied and despite the fact that
the President was not expected to ad-
dress the House until 3 o'clock the crowd
kept IT'S interest at fever heat and ii was
with difficulty that Speaker Clark was
able to preserve sufficient order in the
galleries to permit the humdrum deliber-
ations of unanimous consent Monday to
proceed.
At noon. the Convening hour, the
House was nervously solemn with the
certainty that the most exciting day
since that other April afternoon of 1898
marked the first step in the creation of
q new nation in the Western Hemisphere
and the hostile resolution against the
Spanish misgovernment of Cuba was
blind Chaplain Of the House, augmented
the solemnity when he prayed:
Prayer for Wisdom.
.'Oh God a question of grave moment
confronts US. a crisis, which may effect
thousands of people must be met I'm
part to the President, his advisers and
the Congress wisdom, courage and for
titude that they may meet in accordance
with the highest conceptions of truth
and justice and right so that things
which make for peace and Righteousness
may progress.
Immediately on the completion of the
reading of the Journal, Representative
Underwood called up his privileged reso-
luton providing for the joint session
which the President had requested. The
resolution was passed without a dissent
ing vote, and the House took up the bills
and resolutions on the unanimous con-
sent calendar.
Meanwhile, the galleries were filling
with distinguished onlookers. Shortly
after go Attorney General McReynolds
appeared upon the floor and took a seat
far back on the Democratic side. few
minutes later Secretary of War Garrison
and Secretary of the Navy Daniels came
in and sat well back on the Republican
side. They were later Joined by Secre-
tary of Interior Lane. Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson took a seat beside the At
torney General.
Mrs. Wilson Arrives.
In the diplomatic gallery a seat had
been reserved all day for Secretary of
State Bryan. He did not occupy 1t dur
ing the reading of the message. Prefer
ing the more democratic aspect OF af-
fairs. he chose a seat I'm the middle OF
the House where he sat, his arms folded
and now and then nervously petting his
strong underlip with the sturdy fingers
of his right hand The Secretary of
State was plainly distressed. The set Of
his mouth. the tired look in his eyes and
''braced'' effect of his shoulders indicat-
ed only too clearly that the last fort
night has been a season of deepest dis
tress to him.
In the executive gallery Mrs. Woodrow
Wilson, accompanied by her second
and DIR. Cary T. Grayson. occupied the
Helen Woodrow Bones and Miss Belle
Hagner.
In the diplomatic gallery were the
French Ambassador and Mrs. Jusserand
the British Ambassador and his wife, the
Danish Minister. the German Ambassa-
dor. the japanese Ambassador, the Meth
ter, the Norwegian Minister. the Saliva
dorean Minister. the Siamese Minister
and the Bolivian Minister.
At 2:55 p. m. the coming of the Senate
was announced. and the Senators. headed
and their chaplain filed in and took seats