Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14
SPEECH OF SENATOR RAYNER
He Discusses Many Policies and Means
of Advancement.
COL. HARVEY ROASTS PRESIDENT
Points to Some Alleged Frauds in Post
offices-Hearst Makes Talk to
the Leaguers.

NEW YORK April 13.-Democratic So
cetics and clubs in all parts of Greater
New York tonight celebrated Jefferson
day" The Democratic Club leld its an
nual banquet at the waldorf-Astoria the
Woman's Democratic Club of the city met
AT the Hoffman House. the Independence
League had as it's guests William Randolph
Hearst and Attorney General Jackson.
The principal speaker at the Democratic
Clubs banquet was Senator Isidor Rayner
of Maryland. He responded to the toast
What Should be the Proper Policy of the
Democratic Party and What is True
Democracy" He was listened to intentiy
10y several hundred guests.
Former Supreme Court Justice Morgan
J. OBrien presided
Il do not accede to the view that the par
ties have coalesced,' said Senator Rayner
.On the contrary, / believe that they are as
widely apart as they have ever been. The
President will not have a permanent ten
ure of office. One prediction can be safely
made. and that is when the republican
party has another candidate, and it is
bound TO have one at some day or another,
it will gradually drift away from a great
many of his plans and purposes and il will
resume business at its old stand. Then 1T
will be necessary for ms to come back to
our old principles. unless in the meantime
We have disfgured them that we will
not he able to recognize them or to find
them.
State Rights.
I'VE are charged" he continued. with
advocating a doctrine of state rights that
would tend to nullify the powers of the
federal government This is erroneous
and unjust view of the situation. The doc
trine of state rights now does not mean
what it did half OF a century ago for the
simple reason that since that time new
amendments have been added to the Com
stitUtion of the United States and for the
iurther reason that as the result of the
tlVil war and Of the Supreme Court a
great many Of the rights that were con-
sidered as belonging to the states at that
INN" have PASSED into the realm of federal
JlIlSdl, ton. What We mean now by the
rights of the states is that the federal gov
eminent shall not legiSlate Ipon matters
purely Of local and domestic concern and
ny unlawful construction interpolate such a
power into the provisions of the Constitu-
ton.
Governmental Paternalism.
In the next place. are opposed to
governmental paternalism. | predict with
great respect to others who may differ
with me. that the day will never come
when the government of the United States
VIII own and operate the railroads of the
country We do not want to own them
We own enough now. We had better sell
some things have than enlarge our
holdings | have studied the question of
governmental ownership of railroads i'm
other countries carefully and my concIu-
sion Is that ii is failure from a political
or commercial standpoint wherever it ex-
lists.
OF course. / may be mistaken. and
every one is entitled to his opinion but
l regard the governmental ownership of
railroads. as a vision and phantom Lay
ing aside the legal difficulties that sur
round the subject. | cannot look upon the
scheme in this country as practical or
t'asibe; nor do | believe that the demo-
cratic platform will contain any provision
holding out the hope of such an undertake
ing
Their" Is one proposition. however that
the democratic party must contend for in
TINS connection; and that is. it must de-
nAhd complete obedience to the existing
statute. The railroad presidents and of
hcerS of our trunk lines must be made,
once and forever. 10 realize that they are
tie servants and not the masters of the
people.