The Washington times., 1920-12-04
WILSON WOULD
READ MESSAGE
Congress May Be Addressed by
Both President and PreSi-
dent-EIeCt.
BY GEORGE X. HOLMES,
International News Service.


The expiring Congress OF the
Democratic Administration may
have the unprecedented experience
on Monday or Tuesday OF hearing
both a President and a President
elect OF the United States. Never in
the legislative history of the Govern
ment has there been such a thing,
and Washington, official and other
wise, is considerably interested.
WILSON'S PLANS UNKNOWN.
From the White House today came
no intimation as to whether President
Wilson has decided for or against ap-
pearing In person before the assembled
House and Senate to deliver his last
message. The matter, il was said. is
entirely up 10 the President himself.
but assurances were forthcoming that
the Chief Executive Is entirely fit
physically to perform the task, II he
elects to do so.
Unless plans are changed at the
last moment II is believed that the
cpSpinR> OF the Senate on Monday will
find .President-elect Harding in his
seat lie has informed friends here
that he believes it his duty to attend
the opening. as he Is still a Senator,
and II he does, il is considered prac-
tically certain that he will make a
few remarks. 1t will be the first time
in history that a sitting Senator has
appeared on the floor as a President
elect.
Some close friends Of the Presid mt
have advised against his appearing
in person to sing his swan song"
The President is now in better physi-
cal condition, according to those close
to him, than he has been at any time
since his breakdown in the West
forced him into a years invalidism.
HAIR Is SNOW WHITE.
He has put on considerable weight
in the last few months. and outside
of the fact that his hair is now snow
white where it was iron-gray before,
there is little difference in appear
ance between the Woodrow Wilson
of today and the Woodrow Wilson of
two years ago, according to those
who see him frequently.
These friends of the President look
upon his going to the Capitol as an
unnecessary risk" They point out
that he has nothing whatever to gain
by so dramatic step, and that he
has everything to lose-his health.
The strain OF personally delivering a
message to the assembled houses al
ways has been terrific for the Presi.
dent. even in the days before the
war
The President himself is keenly de-
sirous of delivering his message in
person. It remained a question today
whether he would follow out his per-
sonal desires. or acquiesce in the
wishes of his friends that he remain
in the White House and leave to a
reading clerk the task OF intoning his
last big communication.
Whether the President does or does
not go to the Capitol, he will, in any
event, receive the usual House and
Senate delegation, which will call at
the White House on Monday to inform
him that the Congress is assembled
and to ask whether he has any busi-
ness to lay before it, Last year. be.
cause Of tho Presidents illness. he
was informed Of the opening of Com
gress by letter, and he transmitted his
message to be read by a clerk.
MESSAGE NEAR COMPLETION.
The message itself was practically
completed today. II probably will
be sent to the printer late today. II
is doubtful whether copies of II will
be available for the newspapers be-
fore late Monday forenoon.
There probably is not man in
Washington today familiar with
what IL contains. The President has
written II himself almost alone. Sec
retary OF state Colby has been his
one assistant in its preparation, and
Colby Is today heading aboard a
warship bound for South America on
an official mission.