Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-09-13
SENATOR RAYNER
ON BRYAN
THINKS HE WILL Nor INSIST
UPON HIS GONErNNIt NJ
OWNERSHIP UntAS

lofc' once To Br Bryan's candidacy
Cor president ami enc speech of Mr..
Bryan i'm New York The senator
answered as TO-, hws,.--
II think the democratic party
would do bettor to nominate "A man
OF convictions and principles rather
than agurehead or noncnlty. I
would rather have n man wrong II he
is honest than to have swimmer
with the tide who Is afraid to buIct
the waves and is simply making for
the shore. I had during the late
presidential campaign, "A striking 81
lustration upon this point at one of
the largest democratic gatherings |
ever attempted. I was summing up he
fore the audience, i'm pursuance of
the democratic plan OF battle that
had beon outlined TO MS, everything
that we We're opposed to. a man I'm
the audience, evidently of inteui-
gence, who was somewhat under the
influence OF spirits. arose I'm the rear
of the hall and politely said to me.
May | interrupt you for moment?'
certainly | replied Well. he said
YOU have told us now everything
that YOU are opposed to; Will You
he kind enough ia tell MS something
YOU are in favor of2'
"It will not do" continued Sena-
tor Raynor. TO wage negative
campaign If we have no issues. We
might as wei say SO and make the
contest upon the character of our
candidates. My own judgment is
and IL is II deliberate one-not form
ed under sudden impulse or moment
airy enthusiasm. that Bryan VIII per-
haps poll as many democradtie votes
as any other man that know OF I'm
the party. | know Mr. Bryan well
personally and care not what 9th
ers say who have never come I'm con
fact with him. I know that he rs not
obstinate about his opinion lie Is
always willing 10 confer and modify
his views. unless II Is matter of
absolute conviction with him. and
then he viii nght Il out. win or lose.
81 do not think. in reading over
his speech that he has come TO an
unaltcrable conclusion upon the sub
ject Of government ownership of
railroads. He rcards Il as ques-
tion for the future. so do great
many other people, but ne makes no
imperative demand that II mus be
placed In the platform or accepted as
the policy Of the party This Is mat
ter that requires thought and investi-
cation, and some Of the greatest po-
lltical economists Of the present day
have devoted profound attention 10
IT .. say let the new interstate
commerce law. which we passed az
the las session go into practical OPP
.cration. I believe that everyone viii
be satisfied with IT'S working. Let
us give It fair trial and not follow
a political phantom and apparition
that am confident will disappcr with
the dawn of morning.
Governmental ownership will re-
quire constitutional amendment.
upon the subject Of governmental
ownership. ! am sure that whatever
may be- his own opinion or the opin-
ion Of Mr.. Dunno OF Chicago. or Mr.
johnson. of Ohio. or George Fred
Williams Of Massachusetts an oi
them men Of original ideas and strik-
Ing individuality they Will not when
the time comes. plant us upon this is-
sue and put us to the country upon
IT, There would be no possible
chance OF success If this were fo take
place.
THE democratic party Is party
LOT indiyidualism and not of pator.
.nalism So thought Jefferson and so
think We all and I predict that thr
democratic platform viii not contain
any plank providing for government
ownership, and that Mr. Bryan Will
not force this issue upon us.
"You know that Bryan and Rooec.
welt are very much alike. They are
both men OF genius. Of great couraec
of unbendlng viii. Of high purpoa,
and wonderful rccOurccs BRYAN dir
fers from Roosevelt in one respect
he is not infalliblo. Roosevelt is
Ills entire rctinue OF sycophauta and
.courtiers have persuaded him that h,
is both an oracle and prophet
know We are having an era OF pros
perity apparently. but ] would rath
or have less prosperity and more
equality less Capitalization and
more distribution man OF th,
masses in preference TO q man Of Tho
classes and q return TO tho simple
/ ity Of our earlier days rather than
all the display and pegeantry Of con
centrated power in the hands Of tho
executive. baltimore Sun.