The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-14
Senator Rayner of Maryland
Addresses Democratic CluD
at Waldorf Astoria.
HIS VIEW OF PARTY POLICY
HEARST AND THE INDEPEND-
ENCE LEAGUE.

,,,sI bauauet at the WaldOrf-AstOria.
,bo Woman's Democratic club OF the
NV moi at the Hoffman House; the
Tndepandcnce League had as its guests
I,-5liiar r. Hearst and Attorney Cen
eraI Jackson.
There was some discussion at the
democratic club dinner over the tact
,,1t william J. Bryan was not present,
NOR had he sent regrets. 1t was SAID
M, several persons that the dinner COM
,5ittec had decided to invite Mr.. Bryan,
I.,+ had appointed subcommittee to
.trond to the invitations. This commit
Toe If was said. had not forwarded an
narration. There are two known par
,i.e i'm the club, one favoring Mr.. Bry-
nm and the second opposing him.
Senator Rayner's Speech.
The principal speaker at the Demo-
cratic clubs banquet was Senator Isl
J,r Ea,ucr of Maryland. He responded
IN the toast What Should Be the
prouer Policy Of the Democratic Party
and What Is True Democracy
Il do not accedc to the view that the
rsrtics have coaIesced." said Senator
Eayner. ION the contrary, | believe
that they are as widely apart as they
have ever been. The president Will not
have a permanent tenure of office. One
uredictiou can be safely made, and that
Is when the Republican party has an
other candidate, and 1t is bound to
have one at some day or another, IL Will
gradually drift away from a great
many of his plans and purposes, and it
will resume business at its old stand.
Then il will be necessary for US to
come hack to our old principles, unless
il the meantime Ne nave 50 disfigured
them that We will not be able to recog-
uize them or to find them
An Unjust View.
we are charged he continued,
'o-ith advocating a doctrine Of states
rights that would tend to nullify the
powers of the federal government This
is an erroneous and unjust view of the
situation. The doctrine of states rights
now does not mean what it did a half
century ago. for the simple reason
that since that time new amendments
have been added TO the constitution of
the United States, and for the further
reason that as the result Of the civil
var and Of the adjudiCatiOns of the
supreme court a great many OF the
rights that We're considered aS belong
ing to the states at that time have
passed into the realm of federal juris-
diCtiOn. What We mean now by the
rights Of the states is that the federal
government shall not legislate upon
matters purely Of local and domestic
concern. and by unlawful construction
mterpOlate such d power into the pro-
visions of the constitution.
Against Government Ownership.
In the next place, we are opposed
to governmental paternalism. l pre-
dict with great respect to others who
may differ with me, that the day will
never come when the government of
the United States will own and oper-
ate the railroads of the country. We
do lot want to own them. We own
enough now. We had better sell some
things we have than enlarge our hold
inSs | have studied the question of
governmental ownership OF railroads in
other countries carefully. and my con-
cuSion is that it is a failure from
political OF commercial standpoint
wherever il exists.
"Of course l NAV be mistaken, and
every one is entitled TO his opinion:
but l regard the governmental owner
ship of railroads as a vision and a
phantom. Laying aside the legal diff
CultieS that surround the subject. /
cannot look upon the scheme in this
country as practical or feasible; nor do
/ believe that the Democratic platform
Will contain any provision holding out
the hope of such an undertaking.
Obedience to the Law.
There is one proposition, however,
that the Democratic party must con-
tend for in this connection: and that is.
II must demand a complete obedience
10 the existing statutes. The railroad
presidents and officers of our trunk
lines must be made. once and forever,
10 realize that they are the servants
ard not the masters of the people.
"GOvernme entail ownership viii never
come TO pass unless they force tie is
sue. They are the real agitators. and
! would kindly warn them TO further
deslst from pursuing the tricks and
mysteries that have now been laid
bare before the gaze of the American
people.
President Not the Nation.
There is another proposition that the
Democratic party must maintain I'M
less it has dTifted away entirely from
rs anchorage. and that is that this Is
not an executive government; that the
governmental distribution of powers
provided for in the constitution must be
preserved; and that the president Ct
me United States. to whatever party
ne may belong. must not exceed the
functions of his office and encroach
upon the remaining departments of the
government
have said over and over again that
recognize the great and wonderful re-
sources Of The president, his command
ing ability, his intense and ardent pa
ulotism- the marvellous success of his
Undertakings, and his phenomenal pop
1laIlty with the people. but the fear
mat possesses me IS that some feeble
successor in either party who may have
Iess ability and patriotism than he has
nay ignore these fundamental distinc-
IONS and attempt to divert our institu-
IONS from the plans and purposes of
'helr creators.
Democratic Platform.
senator Rayner then outlined his
'isWs on a Democratic platform.
would make il brief and pertinent,
~ SAID. Il would eliminate the GUS
omary and monotonous indictments
,ssaihst the opposition for crimes that