Evening star., 1921-04-12
Message Is Read
ToCongress BY
Executive.
GETS AT HEART
OFGREATLSSUES
UnprecedentedCrowds
Assemble to Hear
Policy Revelation.

PreSldent darQlnS III HIS MS oN
dress to Congress today announced
that he would approve "declaratory
resolution" by Congress with quail
fcations essential to protect all our
rights" which would end the "techni-
cal state of war against the central
powers of Europe"
The President added. however. that
cit would be idle to declare for sep
larate treaties Of peace with the CEN
ftral powers on the assumption alone
that these would 10 adequate, because
the situation is :, involved that our
peace engagements cannot ignore the
old world relationships and the set
! Elements already effected. nor IS II
=. desirable to do so in preserving our
own rights and contracting our future
relationships"
stand Upon League.
Although declaring unreservediy
axainst "the existing league of ma
tions," the President said:
The wiser course would seem to be
the acceptance of the confirmation OF
our rights and interests as already
provided and to engage under the ex-
listing treaty, assuming, of course.
that this can be satisfactorily ac-
compl1bhkBy sschs ekplicit -IeSexxa--
tions and notifications as Will secure
our absolute freedom from inadvi..
able commitments and safeguard all
our essential interests"
An association of nations. the Pres
ident said, could not be founded until
the world was at peace.
Delivers His Message.
Following 2 custom inaugurated by
George Washington. abandoned by
Thomas Jefferson and revived by
Woodrow Wilson. President Harding
delivered his first message to Con-
gress in person.
The two houses assembled in joint
session in the House chamber to
with regard to the many domestic
and foreign problems pressing for So
luton.
Crowds Assemble Early.
Seldom in the memory Of the oldest
habitue about the Capitol has there
been such a rush to obtain admission
to the galleries as there was today to
hear President Harding.
Before 3 o'clock this morning the
crowds began to gather and within an
hour all of the corridors around the
House chamber and the House gallery
were crowded with people who had
been fortunate enough to secure tick
cts of admission. In the House and
Senate Office buildings the corridors
were thick with small groups of men
and women. not only from the District
and surrounding country. but many
from states as far north as Maine
and as far west as California. Each
member OF the House and Senate was
allowed but one ticket. and some men,
bers said that they had received moro
ha SnG for each nf fhnsA
tickets.
All Gallery Space Taken.
The House galleries were crowded
with ticket holders who had been
fortunate enough to get in line early,
but the galleries were not large
enough to hold all of those who had
secured tickets. During President
Harding's speech the corridors and
waiting in line to crowd into the gall
leries as soon as those who had got
ten seats came out.
All of the galleries open to the pub
the executive and diplomatic galleries
and the Speakers row in the men,
bers' gallery being reserved for the
wives of high officials in the govern
ment service.
On every aisle in the gallery was a
large camera, which gave the crowded
galleries the appearance of being
guarded with machine guns trained
upon the Speakers rostrum. where
President Harding delivered his first
message to Congress.
PFominent Persons Present.
Occupying the row in the Speakers
gallery specially reserved for the
Speakers wife and friends were Mrs
Frederick II. Gillett. Mrs. Marshall
Field. Mrs. Nicholas Longworth. Mrs.
n L.
b. Noyes. Mrs. Wesley Merritt. Mrs.
Minot. granddaughter of Senator
Lodge. and Woodbury. Blair
In the diplomatic gallery Repre-
sentative Stevens Porter of Pennsyl-
van:a, chairman of the foreign affairs
committee, welcomed the official rep
resentatives of the foreign nations
The first to arrive were Senior Don
Federico Alfonso Pezet. ambassador
from Peru. and the minister from
sweden.
]. Warren Keifer. former Speaker
of the House, was a conspicuous fg-
ure on the floor of the House. where
he served from Ohio forty years ago.
He wore his customary blue suit Of
evening clothes.
The rule of the House. which al
lows members to bring onto the floor
during the time that the House is in
session, only children under ten years
of age. was ignored today by several
their relatives and friends into the
gallery. Representative Strong of
Kansas had sitting beside him his
daughter. whose engagement was re-
Gently announced.
There was d spirited round Of ap-
piause when Mrs. Harding, accom-
panied by Mrs. e. B. Mclean and Jud-
son Welliver, took her place in the
front row in the Presidents gallery
Occupying another front seat across
q a