The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-12-11
WILSON RECEIVES
VISITORS
Committee OF Senators and Rep.
rcscniatives Call at the
+ White House

y
ciated ss),--Unless President VII
son changes his plans at the last mo-
ment. ne will not address congress
personally tomorrow, but will send
message I'm written form. IL will
be read To- house and senate sitting
I'm separate session as was done with
the presidents message last Docem-
Der and as was the custom until Mr..
Wilson began the habit Of address
ing congress- personally.
The president did not make known
his intention To a joint committee OF
the senate and noGsc With called
today at the White HoI,ss 20 formally
notify him that congress was IN scs-
SION but members OF the delegation
left him with the impression that he
would not appear before congress I'm
person. The presidents statement
to the committee was that ne would
communicate with" congress tomor-
row.
Mr.. Wilson received his congrss-
sional visitors In the Blue room. SEN
ator Lodge OF Massachusetts. the Re
publican leader In the senate. was
the spokesman and he and the prcsi-
dent thus met face to fpco for the
first time since the league of nations
covenant and the peace treaty were
defeated I'm the senate under Senator
Lodges leadership.
The president did not shake hands
with his visitors. They were usher
ed into the Blue room by White
House attendants and then Mr. VIII
SON appeared from an adjoining
room. He wore a blue sack suit and
used a cane. on entering the door,
he smiled and pointing 10 his cane.
said:
"You sec. gentlemen. can not YET
dispense with my third leg"
The committee was at the White
House only few minutes and the
president remained standing ut the
door OF the room during the inter-
view. Some OF the visitors said that
In walking his left leg evidenced his
afhlction and that he kept his left
hand up across his chest. Besides
Mr.. lodge the, Wh'c House callers
were Senators Underwood OF Alabama.
the. Democratic senate leader. and
Representative Mondcll. the Republic
can house leader; Chairman Fordney
of the house ways and means COM
mitteo and Former Speaker Champ
Clark. Some OF them said the prr.i-
dent still gave visible evidence o. hi
long Illness. Dot that considering the
character and duration OF his sickness
he appeared In unusually good condi-
ton. He was described as having put
on much weight.
There was difference OF opinion
as to the presidents voice. one of
the callers described II ms hollow
and low" aind said that il was wit:i
difficulty that he heard what the
prcs,ocnt hal to say. while others
said that while not as robust as be-
fore his illness. Mr.. Wilson'S voice
was good and that fno executive
spoke clearly with only a slight dif-
ficulty in enunciation.
Washington has been alive for the
last two weeks with positive" i'm
formation that the president would
personally show himself before CON
gress tomorrow taking the opportun-
ity to appear i'm public for the ti'>,t
time since he returned "a very sick
man" from his le".dc OF natio,s
speaking tour In September. 1919.
Ono SGT Of reports had 1t that the
president would appear I'm an invalids
chair. while another was To the effect
that ne would walk to the speakers
dias as usual and demonstrate that
the repeated statement of his friends
that his health has been sufficiently
regained to enable him To get about
without an assistant.
Some OF the presidents friends were
strongly of tho view that ne world
do well TO take the opportunity to-
make his last annual communication
to congress the occasion for DRAMA
tic. appearance in person revealing
his actual physical and mental con-
ditlou to congress and the country
after II months OF partial scclusiou
during which he has been seen by
Jew.
President Wilson IL Is said was
somewhat inclined to take the op-
portunlty To appear i'm person hut
other counsel prevailed. II was urg-
cd upon the president that no real
occasion existed for making per-
sonal Journey Co the capital and that
nc ought not to possibly endangcr
his health by the fatigue and strain
that such "A record breaking appear
ance would entail. There tx nothing
to prevent him changing his mind
before noon tomorrow hut the prob
nbiiitics are ne will not go. His ncS-
sage has been completed ana is ready
for transmission by messenger There
hns been no lntimation as TO It's con
tents hut there has been various re-
ports that I'm II the president discusses,
taxation. the agricultural situation and
many other subjects
Kansas city. Dec. 7.--March 7th