Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-09
ALL PRECEDENTS
IN THE DISCARD
The President, to Show Respect
to the War Commissioners,
Disregards Ancient
Traditions
spsciai Correspondence Evening Ledger

hS A breaker of precedents President VIII
"A son stands out pre-eminent 1t is un'
necessary to enumerate all the instances
Of his tendency in this regard. As stu
| dent and writer of history, he may be In
better position than any Of his predeces'
sors TO appreciate tho public effect of m
occasional deviation from tho established
order. When the President, following his
first inauguration, announced his purpose
TO CALI upon Congress and deliver his
message In person he upset tho order exist.
Ing since tho days OF Thomas Jefferson
There wsro members OF both parties, In
Guiding some very strait-laced Democrats
Of the Jeffersonian school, who ragged al
the new departure and talked about The
Throne" and other regal trappings. but Mr..
Wilson did not stop He kept on coming
to Congress IN person" to be received with
hand-clapplng by tho members OF his own
party and respectful attention, but less APP
plause On the part of Republicans In con-
sequence Of these personal visitations the
presidential message OF more than a CEN
tury has been thrown into the discard and
'"The Address of tho President" has taken
its place in the congressional archives
Mixing Up With Representatives
In line with the foregoing change Of Gus
tom, and equally surprising TO tho old
! stagers Of the Capitol. was the Presidents
appearance IN the House galleries on Sat
urday TO witness tho reception TO Mr.. Bal.
four, the British statesman The President
not only broke tho presidential precedent
by appearing In tho galleries, but he actu.
ally broke the rules of tho House. which
forbid applause from the galleries. and
then. as IL to prove his democracy. he came
to the floor of the House and fell In line
with the assembled Representatives to be
jostled along with them until his turn came
TO shake the hand of the distinguished
guest TIE Presidents every move was
scrutinzed by densely crowded press gal
lery no less than It was by a score of Score,
Service men, who kept close to him through.
out It is customary for members OF the
Cabinet or visiting Governors to appear
upon the floor of the House, but Presidents
generally have held aloof. Just why the
President came to welcome Mr.. Balfoui
and the English commissioners was not ex.
planned, but his presence tended to increase
the enthusiasm Of the occasion, which, while
remarkable of itself, did not quite approach
the spontaneity of the greeting to the
French military hero. Joffre The House
showed keen interest in the addresses OF
the respective commissioners-ths earnes,
and eloquent Viviani and the deliberate and
stately Balfour-but It was captivated by
the great soldier of France, who did nc
more than raise his hand to his cap and
exclainl, 'Vive rAmerique!" !"
Mr.. Balfour's Cautious Utterances
Throughout Mr.. Balfour's brief address II
was noticeable that he was taking pains
70 be sure of his utterances Behind the
rostrum from which ho spoke were large
portraits of Washington and Lafayette. who
had contributed to the separation Of the
colonies frcm the mother country in the
Revolutionary War, while looking down
upon him from the gallery was the Presi-
dent Of the United States who had under
taken the herculean task Of sustaining a
world democracy in alliance with Great
Britain and France without doing violence
to the traditions OF Washington and the
French friend of the revolution. For the
representative of a great nation that had
twice been at war with the United States
and which, in the last war. had actually de-
stroyed the Capitol, 1t must have been a
trying moment. Mr.. Balfour was quoted,
after the handshalSing which followed his
address. as being "a bit nervous" accus-
toned to public speaking as he had been
for SO many years His cautious references
TO "the two democracies," that of his own
country and that of ours. which he blended
In the cause of civilization, gave rise to
some comment upon tho floor. especially
among those Representatives who have re-
Gently signed up for Irish freedom
Irish Patriots Active
That the President and Mr.. Balfour have
each been giving some thought to the Irish
question Is believed in Washington. The
former hostility Of Mr.. Balfour to homo
rule for Ireland was made the subject of
much correspondents for the benefit Of Con-
gressmen during the week. Tho story Of
evlctions was told over again. and It was
charged that England could now get along
IN Europe WITHOUT urdWlHB upon america
for soldiers IL she would take from Ireland
the soldiers stationed there. It is evident
from these communications that the Presi-
dent as we'll as Mr. Balfour is to be made
aware of Irish dissatisfaction with any
world democracy" that does not include
Ireland
A 'free-Ireland" movement has already
been launched in Congress. It did not orig
mate with the few pronounced advocates
OF Irish freedom in Congress, but started
back home" and has been growing stead
fly since Mr.. Balfour and his party arrived
in the United States. Leaders of the move.
ment. both mon and women, have been con-
ferring in Washington during the week, and
many of them express the belief that Presi-
dent Wilson is In sympathy with them.
Greece Also Asking Relief
That tho Presidents world -democracv"
plans contemplate the relief Of tho small,
nations is entertained not by the advocates
of Irish freedom only. The Greeks are
also coming forward with plans for con.
sideration. Petitions forwarded to the