New-York tribune., 1908-04-14
JEFFERSON DAY DINNER
DR.. Wilson against "ErecutiUe
Regulation" Cheers for Johnson.

The annual jefferson Day dinner of the National
Democratic Club held in the Hotel Knicker-
booker last night, and more than four hundred and
nifty members and guests toasted the memory of
Thomas Jefferson the occasion of the 165th
anniversary of his birth. Jeffersonian principles
were discussed, and the speakers took up the pres
ent day situation of the Democratic party.
Probably the most prominent OF those who did
not attend was William Jennings Bryan. He had
been invited to the dinner but had not been in
V1ted to speak. 1t had been rumored that should
he appear his friends would demand a speech
Inc hall was decorated with American flags,
FERNS and portrait of Thomas jefferson when
Judge Warren W. Foster rose to announce that
illness had prevented John Fox, president Of the
club from attending. He introduced President
woodrow Wilson of Princeton, whose toast was
Law or Personal Power There cheering
for five minutes when he mentioned the name OF
Governor Johnson. Among other things DR. Wilson
said
We have in fact, turned from legal regulation to
executive regulation. We have turned from law
4srpet ~ Peosohal power 1t is that choice Wnlch as
InI6ence' II' as opposed TO every ancient principle Of
hPsTty Tba IiGoid, and Of just government IT., bo
here here and there set UP powerful public service
authorized not to administer precise rules of law
mage clear clear in the definition of statutes but to
or adjustment in the actual administration of the
to supervise The a% %hGn Gn end9s IN
respect of these undertakings it puts them in the
hands OF public officers and yet undertakes no re-
sponsibility for their success or bankruptcy. If
down and personal government T has been s substi
@ tuted When those measures are understood the
substitute law once more for personal power,
Senator F. NJ Simmons, of North Carolina talked
OF The White House and the Presidency" and
said that If the Republican party continues its
present course some fine morning we will wake
up to find all our boasted privileges and immunities
or American citizenship gone, with the spectre of
old King George stalking abroad in the land"
This vision was applauded. Senator Simmons said:
TRe situation calls for bold and unequvocaI
ehuhCldtion or the principles and policies for which
the party stands and nvokes the support of the
ing violation of the laws in restraint Of trade
without the consent of the commissioner of cor
poratlons crime and their violation with his con
sent lnnocuous and innocent is scheme to secure
corporation support and tribute but I will saw if
1t becomes law, II is likely to prove as successful
1i LOT securing corr Grafton support and
palsn contriputions this year optional publicity
@I @ atom secrets proved in the campaign of
neca IoGf yeaTS ago II 1t becomes law the only thing
respect is to make the commissioner of corpora
tYe committee He would then Wied Fi9 as fdeeu bic
stick against the corporations as did Mr. Cor
telyou In the campaign Of 1904.
There was a round OF applause when United
states Senator Robert l. owen. of Oklahoma, arose
to speak on Thomas Jefferson in Oklahoma" II
any one had forgotten that Senator Owen is part
indian he was quickly reminded Of IT, for the Sem
ator said he had warm feeling for Thomas Jeffer.
sons memory, and in proof held up large silver
medal which had been given by Jefferson To q
Cherokee forebear Of Mr.. Owen. He compared GER
dn Hhanclers and corporations OF the present time
70 the Pharaohs of Egvpt
Two speakers on the list who were too i'll to at
tend were Robert l. Taylor and Edward NJ sbAn
ard. The dinner up 10 the Jefferson Dav
standard but several guests commented on the fact
that while last year the souvenirs were EXPENSIVE
shVer match safes this year they received small
terra Gotta busts of Jefferson
None OF the speakers mentioned the name ~
william Jennings Bryan. At the close of +be Al,
ner TINS fact together with the absence Of Charles
r Murphy leader Of Tammany Hall, was freely
commented on. 7iS