New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-08
Message to Congress
an Earnest Plea
for Defence.
DENOUNCES MEN
UNTRUE TO u. S.
Declares Country Should
Pay as 1t Goes Rather
than Issue Bonds.
From Ihs Tribune Burrsu.l

From rns Tribune Buresul
Washington, Dec. T. Before
Joint session of the Senate and
House and in the presence of dis
tinguished throng, including his
fiancee, President Wilson read his
annual message to Congress to-day,
with preparedness for war as it's
keynote.
Despite the earnest plea Of the
President for the cause of national
defence and the supposed popular
enthusiasm on this subject, the
message was received in a spirit
closely approaching apathy. Mr..
Wilson consumed an hour and two
minutes in its delivery, but only
once was the applause spontaneous
and general. This was when the
President, without using the ex-
press term, inveighed against "hy-
phenated Americans"
When Mr.. Wilson recommended
the enactment Of Federal laws TO
reach plotters against the neutral
ity and peace of the United States
there was a quick outburst Of ap-
proval from the floor and the
crowded galleries, and this was re-
peated when he declared: "Such
creatures Of passion, disloyalty and
anarchy must be crushed out"
President Wilson referred in the
same moment TO citizens of the
United States born under other
flags "who have poured the poison
Of disloyalty into the very arteries
of our national life; who have
sought to bring the authority and
good name Of our government into
contempt, to destroy our industries
wherever they thought 1t effective
for their vindictive purposes to
strike at them and debase our poll
tics to the uses Of foreign intrigue"
This sentiment seemed to find re-
sponse in the minds Of the legisla-
tors and spectators, and it stood out
as constituting that part Of the mes
sage which was received with en-
thusiasn.
Pan-Americanism Mildly Applaujed.
There was modicum Of applause
when the President eni:Hciated his doC-
trine of Pan-Americanism and "thc
matter Of drawing the Americas to-
gether in bonds of honorable partner
ship and mutual advantage.
Again. when the President said that
IL was the desire Of the nation TO help
Mexico. but not to coerce her, mere
was slight handclapping, and the Presi..
dents references TO the upbiuld'ng OF
merchant marine were briefly ap-
plauded.
The expected applause when the
President spoke of national defence
and besought Congress 10 put through
the administration programme die not
develop. Whether this was due 20 the
apathy of the legislators and their
lack of sympathy with the programme,
or TO a feeling that the subject was
one of such seriousness as 20 demand
only silent consideration, was left TO
conjecture.
The fac: is that the keynote Of the
Presidents message was received
thoughtfully and respectfully. but with
out outward manifestations that il had
the approval Of the nations lawmakers.
President Wilson's unfsvorable
showing regarding the condition Of the
Treasury and the need Of revenue leg
islation was received in silence, and
members Of the Presidents political
party we're loath to discuss the subject
after adjournment. That additional
revenues must be obtained to carry out
the military and naval programme ana
that a Treasury deficit is apparent.
even If the war revenue bill and the
tax on sugar remain on the statute
books. was frankly asserted by the
President.
Wilson Cheered by Legislators.
The President was cheered about
half a minute when he entered the
House chamber. He bowed 10 Speaker
Clark and the President pro tenn Of the
Senate, Senator Clarke; gave a swift
glance to the gallery, where his hancee,
Mrs. Norman Gait. was sitting. and
then proceeded with the reading OF his
message.
All the members of the Presidents
Cabinet occupied seats on the hoor.
There was not an empty seat IN the
galleries. In the executive gallery were
Mrs. Calf, her mother, Mrs. Boiling;
Miss Margaret Wilson. Miss Bones,
Mrs. McAdoo. the Presidents daugh-
ter: DIR. Cary Grayson and others OF
official life, including the Tomen OF the
Cabinet. -
fontinusd ON mage A. column