Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-03
WILSON ADDRESS
ST|RS DEMOCRATS:
0.P.LEADERS MUM
Senate Shows Some Resentment
at Being Unrepresentcd
at Peace Table.
EXECUTIVE NOT HECKLED

Washington, Dec. 3-Prcsident vii
son, in the chamber OF the House OF
Representatives, announced in person TO
Congress yesterday, upon its rcassembling,
| that he was going abroad to attend the
Peace Conference. The announcement
| met with q mixed reception There
| were cheers-plenty of them-but the ap-
plausc wss confined almost entirely 10
Democratic Representatives Rcpub-
.lican Senators and Representatives sat
| silent, refusing to Join the rnajority Y
party members OF the Lower House IN
| rising and cheering. Significantly, nearly
| every Democratic Senator kept his seat
| during the brief period that the demon
stratlon OF approval was in progress.
CONGRESS- NOT ENTHUSIASTIC.
President Wilson has addressed Con
| press on many occasions, and has had
| reason to feel ilattered over the manner
| IN which bis words were received. Once
or twice IN the more than five years
| that he has been at the head 81 the
| nation the enthusiasm might not have
| been up to partisan expectations. But
| that was before NC entered the war. In
| the war period the President has held
| Congress in the hollow of his hand, to
| I'll outward appearances. Republicans
| We'd with Democrats in showing by their
/ applause that united Congress stood
| behind the President Yesterday il was
! different The unpopularity, among n
large part Of Congress, OF the Prcsi-
| dents European venture was manifest.
| Even his supporters are admitting that
| his announcement had a cool reception.
NO OUTBREAK or DIsPLEAsUhE.
Some of the many who were there n
! listen had expected that an outbreak of
| legislative dspleasurc would come when
the President finished reading his nd
dress 1t was gossip that Senators or
REPRESENTATIVES. would exercise their
privilege and seek TO question him in re-
gard 10 his overseas journey. But moth
ing Of the sort happened Gossip had II
also that when the Senate returned to
its own chamber and the House resumed
its separate sitting there would be out
bursts Of criticism of the President be-
yond ANYTHING in his Presidential ca
reer This view wna wrong also Bot h
houses adjourned almost immediately
after the President Ind left the Capitol
WOULD vACATE PRFslD ENTIAL OFFICE.
II is true there was slight furry IN
the Senate during tho City minutes or
60 that IL WAS IN session before joining
the House to listen 70 the delivery Of
the annual adiress Senator Sherman of
Illinois, Republican, had tine secretary of
the Senate read newspaper article de-
scrhing the preparations on board the
steamship George Washington for the
Presidential party. But there WIS 10
debate.
Senator Sherman also offered a resolu-
ton declaring the Office OF President ws-
II.
country. Senator Cummins of Iowa, Re-
publican, presented resolution provid-
ing for the appointment OF committee
Of eight Senators to attend the Peace
Conference. a resolution similar TO Sen
ator Shcrman's. except as to the prcayn-
bic, was offered in the House by Repre-
sentative Rodenberg Of Illinois, Republi-
can These res9lut ions were not acted
On in either House.
SENATE RFsENrs nEING uNREPREsErrED.
After the adjournment Of the two
houses Senatore and Representatives
commented informally on the President
address. These comments were various.
and, for the most part, did not express
criticism of the President for leaving
the country At this time. but resent
nent over his failure to recognize the
Senate. which ls part OF the treaty-mak-
ing authority IN the appointment of his
Peace Comm issi0n. Partisans of the
President approved what he said In the
address, while Others were mild IN their
references to portions OF the address
which they did not Ike.
The address dealt with variety of
subjects, including the railroad situa-
ton and the action Of the President in
taking over control of the ocean tele-
graphic cables In commenting on the
prepared to offer any suggestions as to
what should be done with them.
ASKS SUPPORT or CONGRESS.
In his address the President formally
announced his intention Of going to par
ticipate in the peace parlcys, and jtisti-
fed his course by the statement that,
his fourteen principles having been ac-
cepted by the Allies, and also by the
central powers, as the basis of pcacc
it was desired that he give his per
sonal counsel IN their Interpretation and
application He believed ii his duty to
play his full part in making good what
The armed forces of the nation offered
INTO the faces Of Senators and Repre-
~
bis words, he said:
May / not hope, gentlemen Of the |
Congress, that in the delicate tasks |
shall have 10 perform on the other side !
Df the seas in my efforts truly and faith |
fully 10 interpret the principles and pur-
poses OF the country we love, | may have
the encouragement and the added strength |
Of your united support"
xppYAsur OVER pARra srRrp
"It is now my duty" he said, TO |
play my full part in making good what |
tpey offered their llfe's blood to obtain. |
can think of no call to service which |
should transcend this =
Handclapping began in the rear seats |
IN the Democratic side, seats occupied |
0r the most part by Democratic repre- |
who sat behind the Senators |
There was no perceptibie echo among |
,he Republicans. Congressman Hefin |
,f Alabama, strong partisan of the |
endeavored To rouse the |
House To greater manifestation OF APP
oroval. The handclapping among the
Democratic Congressman grew louder
md more general Some Of the Demo
,ratic Senators clapped their hands
Most Of their number sat silent Prac-
icslly sll the Republicans, Senators and
refused to join III any
Of approval
The handclspping continued Some of
he Democratic Representatives got to
heir feet. They began to cheer-quick
harp shouts that some times took the
orm Of "Yip, yip!' Senator Simmons