The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-14
Democratic Club Holds Annual Banquet at Wa|dOTf-
 Astoria
SENATOR RAYNOR IS
 PRINCIPAL SPEAKER
William R. Hearst, In an Address, De- clares That Neither of the Old Parties Stands for Any
 Particular Principle.

New York, April 13.-Democratic so- cieties and clubs in all parts of Greater New York tonight celebrated Jefferson Day" The Democratic club held it's an- nual banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria. The Womens' Democratic club met at the Hoffman House.
 The Independent league had as it's guests William R. Hearst and Attorney General William Jackson. The principal speaker at the Democratic club banquet was Senator Raynor of Maryland He responded to the toast "What Should Be the Proper Policy of the Democratic Party, and What is True Democracy" Former Supreme Court Justice O'Brien presided.
 There was some discussion at the Dem oeratc club dinner over the fact that ". J. Bryan was not present nor had he seat regrets It was said by several per- sonsN that the dinner committee had de- cided to invite MT. Bryan, but had ap- pointedAa subcommittee to attend to the inyitatiols. This committee. it was said, had not forwarded the invitation. There were two known parties in the club, one
  posing him.
 Senator Rayner Speaks.
 q do not aecede to the view that the parties have eoalesced," said Senator Raynor "On the contrary, l believe that they are as widely apart as they have ever been. The President will not have permanent tenure of office. One pre- dction can be safely made, and that is when tse republican party has another candidate, and it is bound to love one at some day or another. it will gradually drift away from great many of his plans and purposes, and it will resume business at it's old stand. Then it will be necessary for us to come back to our old principles unless in the meantime we have so disigured them that we will not be able to recognize them or to find them.
 We are charged" he continued with 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 sit uation. The doctrine of states rights now does not mean what it did a half of a century ago, for the simple reason that since that time new amendments have been added to the constitution of the
 
 that as the result of the civil war, and of the adjudications of the supreme court great many of the rights that were considered as belonging to the states at that time have passed into the realm of federal jurisdiction. What we mean now by the rights of the states is that the federal government shall not legislate upon matters purely of local and domes- tic concern, and by unlawful construction interpolate such a power into the pro- visions of the constitution.
 Opposes PaternaIism.
 "In the next place, we are opposed to governmental paternalism I predict, 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 operate the railroads of the country. We do not want to own them. We own enough now. We had better sell some things we have than enlarge our holdings. l have studied the question of governmental ownership of railroads in other countries carefully, and my conclusion is that it is a failure from a political or commercial stand point wherever it exists.
 of course I may be mistaken, and every one is entitled to his opinion but I regard the governmental ownership of railroads a vision and a phantom. Laying aside the legal difficulties that surround the subject, cannot look upon the scheme in this country as practical or feasibe: nor do I believe that the democratic platform will contain any pro- vision holding out the hope of such an undertaking.
 There is one proposition. however. that the democratic party must contend for in this connections; and that is, it must demand complete obedience to the exist ing statute. The railroad presidents and off nf otIr trl1p ba do once and forever, to realize that they are the servants and not the masters of the people.
 Governmental Ownership.
 "Governmental ownership will never come to pass unless they force the is- sue They are the real agitators and I would kindly warn them to further desst from pursuing the tricks and mys- teries that have now been laid bare be- fore the gaze of the American people.
 There is another proposition that the democratic party must maintain unless 1t has drifted away entirely from it's an ehorage, and that is that this is not on executive government; that the govern mental distribution of powers provided for in the constitution must be preserved: :: and that the President of the United States to whatever party he may be- long, must not exceed the functions of his office and encroach upon the remain ing departments of the government.
 sI have said over and over again that I recognize the great and wonderful re- sources of the President, his command ing ability. his intense and ardent pa trotism, the marvellous success of his undertakings, and his phenomenal popu- laritv with the people, but the fear that possesses me is that some feeble sue cessor in either party who may have less ability and patriotism than he has may ignore these fundamental distinc- lions and attempt to divert our institu-
 
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