The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-07
WILL NOT READ
HIS MESSAGE
PRESIDENTS INTENTION
NOW MADE KNOWN
Appears Before Congression-
al Committee, Using Cane
AS He Entered

Washington, Dec. 6.--Cnlcss l'rcS!-
dent Wilson changes his plans at the
last moment. he will not address Con,
ErcSS personally tomorrow, but VIII
send n message in written form. IL
will be read to the House and Senate.
sitting in separate session as was done
with the Presidents message last pc
cember and was the custom until MT.
Wilson began the habit of addressing
Congress personally.
The President did not make known
his intention 10 a joint committee OF
the Senate and House which called TO-
notify him that Congress was In Scs-
sion. but members of the delegation
left him with the impression tnat he
would not appear before Congress IN
person. The Presidents statement tu
the committee was that ne would COM
municate with Congress tomorrow.
Uses . Cane.
Mr.. Wilson received his congrcssion-
al visitors in the Blue room. Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts, the Repubii-
can leader in the Senate. WAS the
spokesman and he and the President
met face to face for the first time since
the League Of Nations covenant ana
the peace treaty were defeated in the
Senate under Senator Lodges leader
ship.
The President did not shake hands
with his visitors. They were ushcrcd
into the Blue room by White House at
tendants and then Mr.. Wilson appeared
from an adjoining room. He wore n
blue sack suit and used cane. On
entering the door. he smiled and point
ing 10 his cane, said:
You see. gentlemen. cannot yet
dispense with my third leg"
Remained Standing.
The committee was al the White
House only a few minutes and the
President remained standing at the
door Of the room during the interview.
Some of the visitors said that Ill walk
ing. his left leg evidenced his afrlicsion
and that he kept his left hand up across
his chest.
Besides Mr.. Lodge. the White House
callers were Senator Underwood Of Ala
bama. the Democratic Senate leader,
publican house leader: Chairman Ford
ney Of the House ways and means COM
mittce, and Former Speaker Champ
Clark Some Of them said the President
still gave visible evidence Of his lon;
illness. but that considering the char
acter and duration Of his sickness. he
appeared in unusually good condition.
He was described as having put on
much weight.
Opinions piYsr.
There was a difference Of opinion as
to the presidents voice. One OF the
callers described 1t as hollow and low
and said that IL was with difficulty that
ne heard what the president had TO say
while others said that while not as ro-
bust as before his illness, Mr.. Wilson's
voice was good, and that the executive
spoke clearly. with only a slight diff
Guilty in cnunciation.
Washington has been alive for the
last two weeks with positive infurma-
tion that the president would person
ally show himself before congress to-
morrow taking the opportunity to ap-
pear in public for the first time since he
returned very sick man" from his
league Of nations speaking trip In Sep
1 temher.Ssheia.a.--- ,.--.~'--~-' =
One set OF reports had II that the
president would appear In an invalid
chair. while another was to the effect
that he would walk to the speakers daiS
as usual and demonstrate the Npeatcd
statement of his friends that his health
had been sufficiently regained to enable
him TO get about without an assistant.
wanted 30 Appear.
Some Of the presidents friends were
strongly OF the view that he would do
we'll to take the opportunity to make
his last annual communication to con-
gress the occasion for dramatic ap'
pearance in person. revealing his actual
physical and mental condition t0 con-
gress and the country. after fourteen
months OF partial secluSion. during
which he has been seen by few.
President Wilson. it is said. was
somewhat inclined to take the oppor-
tun!ty to appear in person. hut other
counsel prevailed. 1t was urged upon