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The Commoner.
3
APRIIi-18, 1913
President Wilson Shattering Precedents and Delighting " American People
President Woodrow Wilson set aside the pre
cedents of more than a century and on Tuesday,
April 8th, he appeared in the house of represen
tatives and delivered his first message in per
son to the senate and house in joint session.
There was general comment among congressmen
when it was announced that this course would
bo adopted. Many approved and some criti- ,
cised. Senator John Sharp Williams, of Mis
sissippi, democrat, made a speech in the senate
criticising the proposed plan. He delivered the
speech in connection with a resolution provid
ing for a joint session with the two houses in
order that the president might deliver the ad
dress in person. Mr. Wilson was the first presi
dent to appear officially before either branch of
congress since John Adams in the first few years
of the last century. One hundred years ago, in
1812, an effort was made to Tevive the custom,
but President Madison declined to do so.
It is significant that while a great many of
the members of congress criticised the method it
met with general approval among the people and
congressmen who criticised the plan in the be
ginning are now commending it.
On the day following the delivery of the
message President Wilson went to the capitol
building and held an hour and a half conference
on tariff matters with democratic members of
the senate finance committee. The following
Associated Press dispatches tell the story of the
proceedings:
Washington, April 8. President Wilson to
day bridged the gap that for over a century has
separated the pilots of public business, the
executive and legislative branches of the gov
ernment. Not as a" cog in a machine, not as an
impersonal political entity, nor as a mere depart
ment of government, but as the human presi
dent, he went to congress to speak about tho
tariff.
Standing before the senate and house of
representatives in joint session, as no other
president had done for more than 112 years,
President Wilson stated simply and tersely
what ho thought should be clone for the welfare
of the country and asked his legislative col
leagues, man to man, to aid in keeping the
pledges of their party.
With a sweep of decision that shattered pre
cedent the president brushed aside all imagin
ary boundaries between congress and the execu
tive office and rescued himself, as he expressed
it, from that "isolated island of jealous author
ity" which the presidency had come to be re
garded. Congress, somewhat startled tho other day
when it heard that the president had determined
to deliver his message on the tariff by word of
mouth, had prepared for a ceremony of unusual
importance, and such it was; yet when Presi
dent Wilson arrived in the midst of the great
assemblage, riding through throngs of cheer
ing people in the streets, and later looking up
into galleries crowded with privileged ticket
holders, he seemed after all what he said he
was, "a human being trying to co-operate with
other human beings in a common service."
When the much-heralded incident was over
congress seemed pleased and the president was
delighted. He expressed himself to friends as
impressed with the dignity of tho occasion and
come of his confidants later declared that ho
left tho capitol greatly relieved to think that,
after all, his precedent smashing had not been
such a cataclysmic thing as some older heads
had predicted,
Tho president's visit to the capitol was brief,
lasting about a quarter of an hour. Leaving
a cabinet meeting at the White House, he started
on his mission at 12:45 o'clock. No one ex
cept a secret service man, accompanied. He
rode in a White House automobile and five
minutes later was driven through the crowds
assembled about the house wing of the capitol.
At 12:54 ho reached Speaker Clark's room,
Just off the house chamber, where a joint com
mittee of senators and representatives wel
comed him. They were Senators Kern, Bacon
and Gallinger and Representatives Underwood,
Palmer and Mann. The president spoke to each
for a moment and was informed that the senate
and house awaited him. He said he was ready
and the committee immediately started for tho
door of th house chamber, the president on
Senator Bacon'g right.
At two minutes before 1 o'clock the president
entered th chaMnber. Members of the hous
and senate rose as Speaker Clark brought down
Jhe gavel. From the packed floor and galleries
distinguished guests looked on at tho scone.
Ambassadors from many lands woro in the
audience, members of tho cabinet were thoro
and all tho people who possibly could get in
were present to witness the proceeding.
Distinguished public men who havo received
the thanks of congress and woro theroforo en
titled to be on the floor of the houso availed
themselves of the right, conspicuous among them
Admiral Dewey, who for tho first time took ad
vantage of tho privilege extended him by con
gress when he returned triumphant from Manila
bay in 1898. He called on Speaker Clark and
was cheered as he entered the chamber.
Throe-fourths of tho privileged thousand In
the galleries were women.
A moving picture machine was Installed to
preserve a record of the historic event for tho
government archives.
Secretaries Lane, McAdoo, Daniels and Gar
rison took seats in the executive gallery of the
houso for themselves and families to hear tho
president read his message. Secretary Bryan
said ho had another engagement for the samo
hour and could not go.
President Wilson, escorted by Senator Bacon,
bowed acknowledgement to tho applause and
mounted the speaker's stand to the journjil
clerk's desk, directly in front of tho speaker.
Wilh a smile, as ho began to speak, the presi
dent told his hearers why he had come.
"I am very glad, indeed," ho said, "to havo
this opportunity to address tho two houses
directly and to verify for myself the impression
that the president of the United States is a
person, not a mere department of tho govern
ment hailing congress from some isolated island
of jealous power and sending a message, not
speaking naturally and with his own voice;
that he is a human being trying to co-operate
with other human beings in a common service.
After this pleasant experience I shall feel quite
normal in all our dealings with one another."
The president spoke in an ordinary tone of
voice, as though ho were talking to a senator in
hiB office. The crowded chamber was hushed
after the momentary thrills of conversation upon
his entrance had ebbed. Every eye was fixed
upon him as he spoke, and it was instantly ap
parent that he had aroused tho keenest interest.
As the president proceeded with his prelimi
nary statement tho Interest was tense, and when
he declared, "I shall feel quite normal in all
our dealings with one another," the houso and
senate applauded. Then tho gallery Joined in.
Mrs. Wilson and tho president's daughters and
other relatives joined from the executive gallery.
Ambassador Bryce of England looked on with
evident interest. So did Ambassador Jusse
rand of France, and tho representatives from
other nations. Where a few moments before
tho event had seemed unusual, almost unreal,
it now appeared perfectly adjusted to condi
tions and not at all dramatic.
The applause subsiding, the president began
to read his brief message on the tariff. He
spoke slowly and forcefully and in less than
eight minutes he was done. No interruption
occurred and he left tho stand immediately,
while the congress applauded.
In the speaker's room again President Wilson
chatted for a few moments with tho members
of the committee, and accompanied by Secre
tary Tumulty left the capitol at 1:10 o'clock.
At 1:18, half an hour after ho had left the
cabinet meeting, he was at luncheon in tho
White House, preparing for tho business of tho
afternoon.
Two motives influenced Mr. Wilson to decide
to read in person his first communication to con
gress the perfunctory way in which presiden
tial messages usually wero received, accom
panied as they have been by the drone of a
clerk's voice and empty seats, and Mr. Wilson's
desiro that every member should hear his ap
peal for a thorough revision of the tariff, tho
sole purpose for which congress was called into
extraordinary session.
i 4
WHEN THE PRESIDENT READ HIS MESSAGE
Washington correspondence to the Cleveland
Press, April 8th: History was made on Capitol
hill today.
The president of th United States, discard
ing tjie ancient traditions which have enveloped
his office for more than a century, made what
was cfiaracterlzed by his hearers as the most
remarkable speech ever heard In this country
by a legislative body. And in doing so he in
sisted that the time was here when the chief
executive must bo considered from the personal
sido and not as an Institution.
It was a now procedure. Staid senators and
representatives, strong for the traditions of tho
dim and misty past, woro jarred from an affocted
nonchalanco and UredncBs to a realization of
Immediate duty to a nation. None thoro was
who was not impressed that tho new order is
immediate, and that the mysteries with which
government has heretofore been surrounded had
surrendered to tho latest Idea of publicity.
Ills ringing tones revorborated throughout the
chamber of tho houso of representatives, when
President Wilson took a new stand, an unlquo
position, a doparturo from precedent, but ono
which with his vory opening wordB ho Justified
as fow men ever havo.
"Tho president of tho United States la a per
son," declared this new head of tho governmont,
in ofllce only 3G days, "and not a more depart
ment of tho government hailing congress from
some Isolated Island of jealous power, sending
messages, not speaking naturally and with his
own voice ho Is a human being trying to co
operate with other human beings In a com
mon service."
It is as though President Wilson was answer
ing tho arguments inado In the upper branch
only last night.
There was no way to doubt his sincerity. A
president's messago had taken on human
characteristic. A man had risen who was will
ing to take tho chance of being misunderstood
in order to bo in position to explain where he
stood on a great public question. And, watching
tho faces of tho members of congress, it was
plain that all appreciated that they wero dealing
with an executive who believed that his caus
was just.
President Wilson was plainly Impressed with
his position. Ho was plainly Inclined to ner
vousness. But his frame gave the Impression of
latent force, fully convincing his hearers that
he appreciated his message was not alone to th
men ho was addressing, but to tho nation at
large.
As the president made tho points In his
speech,, tho effect on tho various senators was
plain. Tho low tariff senators and representa
tives smiled and nodded approval. But tho pro
tectionists wero plainly not pleased. Senator
Lodge sat bolt upright in his seat and twirled
his fingers. His face was hard set, and there
was not a single syllablo of the entire speech
which was not carefully followed by him.
Ills face was oven more pallid than usual.
The deep lines which have appeared there sinco
ho assumed his present duties seemed oven moro
emphasized in tho bright light which streamed
down on him from tho highly decorated glass
skylights In tho roof.
President Wilson read his message from
manuscript. It had boon typewritten on vory
small letter paper so as to be Inconspicuous as
possible, but he made no effort to conceal his
notes.
President Wilson's voice was a trifle husky at
tho opening, but the attention given him was
remarkable. Not a person stirred in tho cham
ber proper or in the galleries. From tho open
doorways the murmur from tho crowds filtered
through as the subdued music of an orchestra,
but it in no way Interfered with tho audience
in tho chamber hearing and realizing the effect
of every word that was uttered.
THE PACTS OP OUR DAY
Tho democratic purpose with respect to thi
tariff question Js well described In the following
extracts from President Wilson's first messag
to congress:
"While tho whole face and method of our
Industrial and commercial lifo wero being
changed beyond recognition tho tariff schedules
havo remained what they were before th
change began."
"For a long time wo havo sought, in our
tariff schedules, to give each group of manufac
turers or producers what they themselves
thought that they needed in order to maintain
a practically cxclusivo market as against th
rest of the world."
"Wo have built up a set of privileges and
exemptions from competition, behind which it
was easy by any, even the crudest, forms of
combination to organize monopoly."
"Nothing Is normal, nothing Is obliged t
stand the tests of efficiency and economy, is
our world of big business.
"We must abolish everything that bears eves-