Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-20
Senate and House in Joint Ses'
sion to Hear Address by
the President.
MINORITY LEADER MANN
is FIRST TO APPLAUD
Words of Commentator for Pro
gram Come Alike From Demo-
Gratis and Republicans.

A message of business peace and indus
| trial freedom was delivered by President
| Wilson today to Congress, gathered in
| joint session in the hall of the House.
| The 800 senators and representatives and
closely packed gallery of spectators sat
| in rapt silence as the President preached
the gospel of the administration s, policy
| toward big business
From early in the day the high banked
galleries of the House had filed up with
hundreds anxious to hear the much
heralded antitrust message. Admis-
sion was by ticket only and many
were turned away to crowd the cor
ridors in the hope of catching a glimpse
of the President as he read his address.
The Presidents daughters, Misses
Eleanor and Margaret, with Miss Helen
Woodrow Bones. were among the early
arrivals. They took seats in the execu-
tive gallery.
| Secretary Bryan in Gallery.
| Secretary of State Bryan occupied his
accustomed seat in the diplomatic gal
| ledy just to the right of the Speaker
stand
The House, which met at noon. re-
| cessed fifteen minutes later to await the
arrival of the Senate and the Presi-
| dent. Ten minutes elapsed before the
Senate, headed by Vice President Mar
shall and Sergeant-at-Arms Higgins.
| were announced. The Vice President
was applauded as he took his place at
| the right of the Speaker.
The President was waiting in the
Speakers Office when the Senate ar
rived.
Representatives Underwood, Fitzgerald
and Mann and Senators Kern, Bacon and
Gallinger were appointed to escort the
President to the chamber.
Just before the President entered, Secre-
tary of War Garrison. Secretary of the
Navy Daniels, Postmaster General Burle-
son and Secretary of Labor Wilson took
places on the floor.
Applause Greets President.
The President arrived at 1871 and took
his place at the reading clerks desk
amid much applause.
The clear. low tone of the Presidents
voice carried his rounded sentences to
the furthermost corner of the packed gal
leries. AS he began an attentive quiet
fell over the chamber. His declarations
that the laws against trust should tear
nothing up by the roots" and that mo
sweeping or novel change is necessary
were received in attentive silence His
statement against interlocking directors
did not break the silence but the first
outburst OF applause. led by Republican
Leader James r. Mann. greeted his decIa-
ration in favor of giving the interstate
commerce commission power to regulate
railroad finances.
Another round of applause followed the
conclusion of his statement as to rail-
road control with its declaration that the
business of production must be sepa-
rated from the business of transporta-
ton
Cheers for Personal Guilt
The Presidents declaration in favor of the
creation of trade commission charged
with the power and authority to direct
the dissolution of industrial combinations
was passed in silence. but applause greet
ed his statement that penalties and pun
ishment should fall not upon business it.
self. but upon the individuals who use the
instrumentalit;es of business to do those
things which public policy and sound
business practice condemn
Loud applause greeted the conclusion of
the Presidents address just twenty min
utes after he began.
AS he stepped down from the desk, Ma
jority Leader Underwood greeted him
with handclasp of warm congratulation
and his way out of the chamber was i'm
peded by those who sought to shake his
hand.
Inspects Alaska Exhibit.
AS the President left. the joint session
fell into confusion. the senator's strag-
Cling out one by one, and the members of
the House gathering in little groups to
discuss the message.
From the House chamber the President
| went to the Senate Office building, where
he was to inspect the Alaskan exhibit
placed there in connection with the bill
to create government railway in Alaska.
Shortly after the President left. Ma
| jority Leader Underwood made the mo-
ton that so much Of the Presidents mes
sage as referred to the regulation Of rail-
road stocks and bonds and to the creation
of an interstate trade commission be re-
| ferred to the House committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce, and that the
rema inder of the message be referred to
the judiciary committee.
After some argument as to the juriS-
| dictionaI limits of the two committees
the motion was adopted.
Views on the Message.
| The Presidents address was the subject
of much favorable comment at the Cap
itol this afternoon among both republican
and democratic members of the Senate.
The prevailing opinion was to the effect
that the President had struck the key
note Of the situation and, at the same
{
ing to business interests throughout the
country.
Senator Overman of North Carolina
said: 1T was a splendid address. 1t
should be reassuring to business
| Senator Kenyon of Iowa said: THE
Presidents address is admirable. I am in
hearty accord with nearly everything he
had to say, particularly with his remarks
! regarding the necessity of making per-
sonal the guilt in violations of the anti
trust law"
| Senator William Alden Smith Of Mich
isan said: .'The Presidents address was
most interesting. OF course. he has at
tackled the problem from his own poin,
of view l have no doubt but what his
plan will do some good"
Fine Message, Says Clark.
ITS a very. very fine message, that
tells the whole story. and how can one
say more?' was the comment Of Speaker
Clark on the Presidents message.
The Presidents plan is inadequate" {"
declared Representative Murdoch of
Kansas. leader of the progressives in
the House.
The plan proposed by the President
for solution of the trust evil is in