The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-12-04
CONGRESS MAY
HAVE UNUSUAL
EXPERIENCE
HN George n. HOLMES
STAFF coRstsPokDEHr /. N. SERVICE

WASHINGTON, Dee 4.--The expir-
ing congress OF the democratic ad-
ministration which convenes Monday
may have had the unprecedented ex-
perience OF hearing both a president
and a president-elect of the United
States. Never in The legislative his
tory Of the government has there been
such thing. and Washington. official
and otherwise. is considerably inter
ested
From the White House today CANE
no intlmstion as TO whether President
Wilson has decided for or against ap-
pesring in person before the assem- bI
ed house and senate to deliver his Lass
message. The matter. il was said, Is
entirely UP to the president himself,
but assurances were forthcoming that
the chief executive is entirely 1T ply
sicaily TO perform tho task il he elects
TO do so.
Unless plans are changed Al the
last moment, II is expected that the
opening OF the senate Monday may see
PFesident-elect Harding in his sea-.
He has informed friends here that he
believes it his duty to attend the
opening he is stil a senator. III he
does Il is considered practically GER
tain that he Will make few remarks
II viii be tho first time in history that
a sitting senator has appeared on the
floor as president-elect.
Some close friends OF the president
have advised against his appearing in
person 10 sing his swan song" The
president is nov in better physical
condition. according to those close TO
him. than he has been st any time
since his breakdown in the west fore
I'd him into years inNalidism. He
mas put on considerable weight in the
past few months and outside OF the
fact that his hair is now snow white
whereas II was iron gray before there
is little difference in appe arance be-
tween 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 task" They point out
that he has nothing whatever to gain
by so dramatic a step and that he has
everything to lose-his health. The
strain Of personally delivering a mes
sage 10 the assembled houses always
has been terrific for tho president,
even in the days before Inc war.
The president himself is koenly de-
slrous Of delivering his message N
person. 1t 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 10
reading clerk the task OF intoning his
last big communication.
Whether the president does or does
not go 10 the capitol. he Will, in any
event. receive the usual house and
senate delegations which will call al
tho White House on Monday to in
form him that the congress is as
sembled, and TO ask whether he has
any business to lay before IT, Last
ycsr. because. ot the presidents i'll
ness. he was informed Of the opening
OF congress by letter and he trans
mitted his message TO be read by
clerk.
TIE message itself was practically
completed today. II probably will b.
sent TO the printer late this afternoon.
1t is dou5ttul whether copies OF it will
be available for the newspapers be-
fore late Monday afternoon.
There probably is not man IN
Washington today familiar with what
1t contains. The president has writ
ten Il himself almost alone. Secre-
tary OF State Colby has been his one
assistant in its preparation. and Colby
IL today aboard warship bound for
South America on an official mission