The Washington herald., 1916-04-20

The appearance of the President be-
fore Congress yesterday TO explain his
submarine policy and the action to which
1t has led him in the negotiations with
the German government marked a de-
parture from the usual formal state func-
tions OF this character.
The setting was the same, The pro-
eedure followed in the assembling of
the two branches in the chamber of
the House did not differ from that fol-
lowed on similar occasions. But in the
air OF solemnity with which the legisla-
tors gathered, the expectancy with which
they awaited the message. and the grave
silence with which it was received, the
joint session was unlike any that has
been held during the present admins
trstion-
Long before the hour set for the Presi-
dents arrival at the Capitol there was
the usual scramble for places in the
galleries. But the crowds inside the
building were not large.
A large crowd gathered, however. at
the entrance cf the House wing OF the
Capitol, and hailed the arrival of the
President with cheers Passing through
a double line of guards he was escorted
to the office of Speaker Clark, where he
awaited the committee to escort him to
the chamber.
BY this time the galleries were com
pletely filled, for the most part with
women, wives and members of the
families Of Senators and Representatives.
Mrs. Wilson, the wife OF the President
and her mother were in the front row
of the executive gallery. With them were
]. r. Boiling, r. w Boiling, Julian Boil
ing, Mr.. Hoover and Mrs. Derby.
Swiss Minister Present.
In the diplomatic gallery adjoining sat
the Swiss Minister the counsellors OF the
British and Italian embassies, and a
number OF diplomatic officers of the
Latin-Americsn republics, with members
Of their families Counsellor Polk, OF the
State Department. occupied q seat in the
same gallery. In the House members
gallery on the opposite side Of the cham
Der was Mrs. Champ Clark, the wife
of the speaker, with a number of friends.
Following the usual custom the mem
bers OF the Senate, headed by the Ser
geant-at-arms and the Vice President,
marched down the long corridor through
the rotunda of the Capitol two by two
and entered the House chamber. taking
their places in the first three rows of
seats set aside for them. On the extreme
left of the Speaker sat Secretary Lansing
and other members of the Cabinet and
the Presidents secretary, Joseph Tumul-
ty.
When the President entered the cham
Der, almost upon the stroke of o'clock,
those on the floor arose. There was an
outburst of hand clapping and a scatter
ing OF cheers from the Democratic side
of the House. But the applause lacked
the quality of spontaneity and seemed
somewhat out of place in the shadow OF
the unusual step that was about to be
taken.
The President was greeted by rows Of
serious, almost grave, faces. He himself
smiled only family as hs shook hands
with the Vice President and the Speaker
of the House and took his place at the
clerks desk to read his address.
The President in no way aimed at ora
torical effect. He gave no opportunity
for applause by pausing in the course
Of the reading of his message and none
was given. 1t was presented simply as
an exposition of his policy and the
course he had pursued, and no more. In
the intense silence which prevailed in
the chamber. although he spoke scarcely
above q conversational pitch, every word
could be understood clearly.
When he began he appeared to be
slightly nervous and hesitated once or
twice as he read. But as he proceeded the
nervousness disappeared. When he ap-
preached the close of his message, the
point at which he announced what he
expected of the German government or
the alternative, the breaking of diplo-
matte relations, 1t was evident that the
members of Congress whom he was ad-
dressing had in mind only the disclosure
of his purpose.
At the conclusion of the message there
was a momentary pause. From the Dem
oeratic side scaterintg of applause grew
into a small volume as the President
stepped down from the rostrum and left
the chamber But there were no cheers,
none of the demonstration that usually
follows a political pronouncement Among
the Republicans, although there were a
few who applauded perfunctorily, there
was a noticeable silence.