The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-07
WILSON WILLSEND
WRITTEN MESSAGE
Plan to Appear in Person Halt
ed by Fear of Relapse,
Says DR.. GraysOn.
HARDING VISIT NOW OFF
Committee From Congress
Finds President Still Weak
and Barely Audible.
HARDING VISIT NOW OFF
Special Despatch 10 THE NUw York HERAlD.
t New York Herald bureau.
Washington, ID. e.. Dec. q.

Special Despatch 10 THE NEw YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. e.. Dec. o.
President Wilson to-day Informed a
Congressional committee that he would
not appear before Congress tomorrow
to deliver his last regular message to
that body.
The committee calling at the White
House in accordance with custom to
notify the President formally that
Congress was in session and would
be pleased to receive any communica-
ton that the President saw fit to
make" was informed by Mr.. Wilson
that he would communicate with
Congress in writing"
Arrangements have. been. made for
the reading of the message by clerks
tomorrow. No joint session will be
held. but the message will be read IN
each house 1t is understood II will
be short as compared with other mes
sagcs of the President.
The proposed meeting between
President Wilson and President-ele1
Harding is not to take place. Mr.
Wilson has not extended direct invi-
tation to Senator Harding. and the
only knowledge the Senator has Of
the Presidents attitude is what he has
Cleaned from newspaper reports.
The meeting of the Congressional COM
mittee with the President lasted not
more than a minute. appointment OF
the committee represented virtually the
only business transacted by Congress
to-day. Senator Lodge and Senator
Underwood were the Senate representa-
tives. on the House committee was
Republican Leader Mondell. Democratic
Leader Clark and Representative Ford
ney, chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee.
The President appeared before the
committee by taking few steps from
another room of the White House. He
leaned rather heavily on a cane as he
walked. Standing behind a small table.
he greeted the COMMITTED. although he
did not shake hands with them.
The President remarked. according to
the committee members. that he had to
rely on a "third leg" as he pointed to
the cane Senator Lodge. speaking for
the committee. made a brief statement
formally notifying him that Congress
was In session.
In reply the President stated that he
would communicate I'm writing. although
his words were not heard by all Of the
committee. with that the meeting
ended, the Congressman bowling and
leaving the room.
II was apparent. members of the COM
task for the Executive TO appear before
Congress tomorrow and deliver his mes
sage. Although Senator Underwood
stated that the President was In good
spirits, all the members OF the commit
tee said that his recovery has not been
as fast as some have believed. Some OF
the Congressman thought that the Prcsl-
dent. had he decided to appear before
Congress. would not have been able to
make himself heard In the big hall OF
the House.
The President. however. has been
seeking TO convince HIS physician, DR..
Grayson. and Mrs Wilson that ne would
be able TO stand the strain of speaking
before Congress, and Il was said at the
White House that II was only with great
reluctance that he agreed with them to
inform the committee that he would send
the message for reading.
Or. Grayson, while inclined TO think
that the President would be able 10 make
tho trip 10 Congress- feared the after
Trct In his present condition a re-
lapse might follow, Dr. Grayson thought.