The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-12-04
PRESIDENT WILSON
COLDLY RECEIVED
Only Twice Was There Really All
Outburst of Applause

The Washington correspondent of
the New \ ork Herald wired his paper
the following story on the occasion
0f President WILSON'S address to Con-
gress Monday afternoon:
Senators and representatives had
hoped thu: Mr.. Wilson, before leay-
ing the country, would interpret his
fourteen points Tor the benefit OF
Congress and the American people,
and keen vas the disappointment ex-
pressed OIL all sides when he failed
to dose
Mr. Wilson, asked for the united
support of Congress in his absence.
There was every indication that he
will not sc: it.
His address was more coldly re-
ccived than any lie has delivered since
he entered the White House. l
noted that only twice was there any
thing like general applause, although
several times attempts were made by
a small group of southern democrats
to start a stampede.
The first occasion for a really genu-
inc outburst of patriotic enthusiasm
came whel the President praised the
splendid work of General Pershing,
Admiral SIMS and the soldiers and
sailors of the United States. Every
body on the floor and in the galleries
Joined. in the cheers. Again when
he advocated legislation to give pri-
ority to shipments of supplies to the
devastated regions of Northern
France and Belgium there was dis
play of real enthusiastic approval.
Although an atmosphere of distinct
hostility permeatcd the Chamber, not
once was there an attempt to heckle
the President with questions from the
floor, but, when he confessed his in
ability to propose solution of the
railroad problem and asked Congress
to set about solving it in his absence,
a wave ot ill-supprcssed laughter
swept over a portion of the repub-
lican side
The President was visibly nervous
during the delivery Of his address,
and his nervousness increased as he
proceeded. He has slight cold and
this accounted for the hoarseness of
his voice.
The President, evidently recogniz-
ing the widespread disapproval of his
seizure OF the. cables on the eve OF
his trip to Europe, explained that he
had done this on the advice of high
cable officials in order that through
closer cooperation the lines might be
kept open for government use and
for the sending of news back from
France regarding the peace confer
ence, -
eeF he hIlseSgs + ttlIdG- Of members
OF the Presidents own party and the
aYoWed hostility Of republicans was
Enthusiastically evident from The mo-
-nent the Joint session began. Never
in all the occasions that President
Wilson has delivered a message to
Congress. in person has the breach
Between. rhc legislative and executive
branches cf the government been so
apparent. The presence of the
diplomatic corps, the supreme court,
members of the cabinet and visitors
that filled the galleries to overflowine
only emphasized the tense atmos-
phere that pervaded the House. cham
ber.
Contrary to the usual custom the
President entered the hall unan-
nounced- Ordinarily the doorkeepel
of the House precedes the entrance
Of the President and formally an
nounces: "Thc President of the
United States" This has the effect
of preparing the way for an immedi-
ate outburst of applause
Today the President had entered
the chamber and was half way up tc
his place in front of the speaker be-
fore members or spectators were
aware that he had arrived. The ap-
plause that greeted him was there
fore only scattering at first, and al
no time did it reach the volume ot
enthusiasm which has usually sig.
nailed the appearance of the Presi
dent
Undoubtedly the President was
aware that he faced a gathering fal
less responsive and sympathetic thar
the enthusiastic audiences that hav,
greeted hir: on former occasions
WEATHER