The Alaska citizen., 1915-12-13
'DO|NGS AT
 WASHINGTON
WORK STARTED.

WORK STARTED.
 | WASHINGTON. D. C.. Dec. G. The senate met this morning an was in session for forty minutes Senator Clarke, of Arkansas. wa formally voted to the position O president pro tenn. Thirty-two new senators took the oath of office.
 At short session of the house ! Champ Clark was reelected speake and many bills were introduces these including the Wi kersham state hood bill. Tomorrow the real woti will commence in earnest.
 i Secretary of the Interior Lane ask for over eight million dollars fOi the Alaska railroad and SecretarN of War Garrison asks for one hun dred and fifty thousand dollars fol roads and trails in Alaska.
 The Alaska Bureau of Educatio' estimate for next year necssitates an appropriation of S215,000, while the war department asks 5000, for repairs and betterment of the Alaska cable system.
 Postmaster General Burleson asks for $500 900 for his department tc operate the Alaska telegraph servic, 1 f it is to take it over on July 1 as planned.
 The other Alaska estimates aro about the same as usual.
 GATHERING FORCES. | WASHINGTON, D. c. Dec. & | Chairman William F. McCoomb and most of the members of the Demo cratic national committee are here for the meeting which Is to be held tomorrow to prepare for the coming campaign. One hundred Texans. who are here trying to land the national convention for Dallas, shook hands with the President today and told him they hoped to see him in he White House for another term
 WILSON'S MESSAGE.
 WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. T. At 12:3O today President Wilson started to read his message to con gross. Cheers had greeted this, his tenth appearance before the joint session, and 1t was apparent that on the floor ana in the galleries his reception was a most cordial one. Mrs. Galt, his fiancee, sat in silence. while some of the mem, DtIS olOCu dIQ ltptdlttlt tidlDtti their hands during the reading One Southern admirer gave vent to the rebel yell, which. starting in a faint voice, gradually swelled as one after another took it up. Alaska was not mentioned in the message, b, it is understood that special mes sages dealing with other subjects, including Alaska, will be shortly given to congress. About one -han of the message was devoted to the natter of national defense.
 The President started out by al luding to the European war, sayins we stood apart and were studiously neutral, which was our manifest duty to do. Not only have we beetl neutral regarding European gt-yu put to those which might be classed .s Ian-Anerican sinpiy. opeaAll of Mexico, he said, we have become conscious of a new and growing power, that of international power which, in all senses of the phrase is more vital than community in crest, not only abroad, out t. o1 bordering neighbors. The moral ot the affair is that the United States is not a hostile rival to any.
 T desire" continued the Presi lent, ito bring your attention that particular matter that lies the very front of my whole though as I address you today, that of na tiOnal defense. No one who reall- comprehends the spirit of the great people from whom we ale apgJl. ed can fail to prceiye that thei passion is for peace. Great dem ocracies are not belligerents. They 10 not seek or desire war. The thought is of individual liberty. Con quest or dominion is not within our reckoning or agreeable to our prin ciples"
 The President then stated that ey eryone had a full right to lbolt md full right to the freedom 0f the seas, but out of such thoughts grew the conclusion that we mu >e prepared also. War has never 'een mere matter of guns and nen. It is a thing of disciplined night. If our citizens would de end themselves they must adopt he principles of modern figatn
 The government must be their ser ant and help them when the sum
 lons comes suddenly"
 Here the President went thorough y into the plans of Secretary 0, Var Garrison and Secretary of tn" Navy Daniels in regard to the up nuilding of the army and navy ar their reorganization. He also re counted the plans of the adlninistra- tion, which were advanced recent ly, regarding the new hattleshipn and submarines, etc. Summing u his statements on this matter, tho President said that preparedness is imperative"
 Near the close of the message the President said: q have spoken to you today almost upon one sin gle theme, that of national de fense and the preparation of the nation to care for it's own security. to make sure of it's entire freedom play an impartial role in tli hemisphere and also the world at large. We are at peace with al nations of the world, but I am sorry to say that the gravest threats against our nations peace and safe ty have been uttered within our own borders. There are citizens of the United States whom l blush