The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-14
r.
Evil That Rent Democracy ii
1860 Tearing Republican
Party in Twain Now.
TURNING FROM LAW
TO PERSONAL POWER
DR.. Woodrow Wilson, in Speech
at jefferson Day Dinner, Sounds
Note Of Warning-Constitu-
ton Builders Did Not
Provide for Teddy
the Terrible"
; Ew YORK, April 1s.-Democrat

siA YEW YORK, April 13.-Democrat
,IN prominent in the State and
.IN ration to the number OF 40t
gathered tonight at the Hote
Knickerbocker. where the on,
hundred and sixty-f1fth anniversary O.
tho birth OF Thomas Jefferson was cele
brated at dinner by the National Demo
cratic Club. Illness prevented the at.
tendance of two OF tbs promised speak
ers-Seuator r. L. Taylor. OF Tennessee
and Edward NJ. Shepard.
The principal speakers were United
States Senator Owens Of Oklahoma;
Senator Simmons, OF North Carolina
and Woodrow Wilson, Of Princeton Uni.
verslty.
The Spirit of Liberty.
Senator Owens said in part:
Thomas jefferson was strongly on.
posed TO slavery. as he Indicated IN
many ways. comment upon this be.
cause 1t was failure on the part O.
the Democratic party to develop and
observe this one teaching Of jefferson
which resulted In the retirement OF
that party from national control during
the last half century.
The same spirit of American lib
erty, which determined that the rla-
very OF the black man should not exist
In this country will stand against the
enslavement OF white men by moncpo-
lies. The monopoly of various indus
tries by skilfully organized capital has
such control now that labo -crs by
millions are dependent for employment
on those whose policy and Interests
may be served by the discharge of
these laborers.
Monopoly means ultimate mastery
on the one side and slavery on the
other. The same evil which tore the
Democratic party In twain in 1860 is
tearing the Republican party in twain
in 1908. BY natural processes the po-
litical power Of monopoly has become
| enthroned in the United States. under
forty years OF Republican administra-
ton. The time has come In the United
| equality should be recognized In our
statecraft. 1t seems to me that II
would be unwise to destroy the corpo-
rations which have been constructed
in this country by our so o-called cap
tains OF industry.
1--WE have a perfect right, however.
to control these monopolies. If they
were so controlled it would give a sta
bility to wages: we would hear no more
of over production. nor OF undcr-con-
sumption. hut these enterprises would
phVSSCA upon IakAOA0A 1AiSo anu snOlh
for the welfare OF all the people Of our
common country"
Law and Personal Power.
Dr. Woodrow Wilson said we heard
too much in these days about candl-
dates and programs and too little about
principles. declared we have turned
from legal regulation to execu-
tive regulation, and from law to per-
sonal power. and continued:
"The principle underlying the laws
which have here and there set up pow
erful public service commissions Is the |
same. These commissions are author
lied not to administer precise rules of
law. made clear In the definition Of
statutes. but to order this that, or the |
other alteration, addition or adjustment
in. the actual administration OF the |
business of the corporations which they
are set to supervise. It is true that
these corporations are in sense public
servant railway companies, gas
lighting companies land the like. They
use the public highways and enjoy pub
lie franchises of one kind or another,
and are engaged in kinds of business
winch winch can hardly be called private in
but they are owned by pri-
vate capital and operated for private
profit.
And yet their business Is regulated.
even In It's chief administrative de-
tails. by public officers whose practical
is the standard Of regulation.
who are administering, not rules of
law, but their own discretionary opin-
ons The law attempts no definitions
IN respect of these Undertakings; it
puts them In the hands Of public off,
GERS. and yet undertakes no responsl- 4
olity for their success or bankruptcy.
f this is 10, |
las broken down. and personal govern
nent has been substituted. When thoso
measures are understood, the people
If this country will turn from them
md substitute law once more for per-
ional power"
Democrat Without Qualificati
Senator Simmons responded to the
oast, The White House and tho Dem
'cracy.' He said in part
"If you ask me what sort OF Dem I
'crat we should nominate for Presi- !!
lent, my answer would be, we should
dominate Democrat who can say In !
ruth and fact: i am a Democrat; u /
Democrat and nothing more: a Demo. {
II apologies 1t boots not what his g
amc, nor from what State or section
Q halls. so he can restore harmony IN u
he Democratic party, reunite its d.
ided elements and with its forces
In solid phulanX confrou.
fe cohorts of Nepublicanism, III
The situation calls for n bold and il
neauivocal enunciation OF the princi- &
les and policies for which tho party K
tands, and invokes the support OF the y y
eople. The tariff question, tho H. a
ancial question, the trust question and Is
he railroad question are all ques- N
ons OF high importance, and will U
play a conspicuous part In
,e campaign, but no one of them or
II OF. hemacombined, outranll in inl- Il
nrtance as vital issue the question tc
the Capitalization OF power which q
ls been thrust To the forefront by ~ =
le startling ageressvencss OF recent .r
gIslation and executive fusnrpatlons. el
When the President Of the United CT
(Contlnued on Third PaEe.) q, n