The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-27
Senator Rayner in Behalf of the
Democrats
Demands That Insurgents De-
clare Their Intentions.
ARE THEY FLIRTING?
He Asks or Viii They Consent
to Political WedlOck.
Promises Them Happy Home
and Bright Future.

Washington, April 27.-"Are the in
surgents in earnest or have they Just
been flirting and coquetting with us p"
Senator Rayner of Maryland, in mock
seriousness, asked this question and
others even more pointed, in a speech
delivered in the senate today on the
administration railroad bill. He said
that the Democrats wanted no more
combinations with the insurgents on
preliminary ekirmishes. but that the
recalc1trant Republicans would be well
coined into Democratic ranks if they
only would enlist and take their fol-
lowing with them.
Pointing out that in almost all pre-
Iiminary moves on various measures
before the present congress, the insur-
gents and the Democrats have stood
together, Mr.. Rayner said that when
the final vote is taken upon the bill
itself they seem leisurely to stray away
from u.s.
"Now," he said, the question is,
what do your friends mean? Are they
in earnest or are they simply flirting
and coquetting with us? Is it merely
a temporary engagement or is it a per-
manent love feast?
us the senior senator from Indiana
for instance, embracing us simply for
the ecstacy and transport of the mo-
ment, or is he willing to unite with us
in the bonds of holy political wedlock?
his future Intentions are. Whenever
We have voted with him I have noticed
that he cast radiant smile that is
full of meaning in our direction, but
is this merely the symptom of a mo-
mentary passion or is it the token Of
permanent affection?
81 do not know how the rest of my
colleagues feel, but I am becoming
weary of being fondled and caressed
only to be rejected and deserted when
the supreme moment arrives.
when / listened to the siren voices
of the intrepid and dashing insurgents
from Iowa, T am thrilled with the re-
hearsaI of tho crimes of the Republi-
can party. knew it all along before
they told me, but they have recited it
with such dramatic fervor and with
such narrowing details that the indig-
nant blood has surged through my
sympathy for belonging to a party that
is governed by such demoralizing in
f1uences.''
Mr.. Rayner formally invited the in
surgents to come into the Democratic
camp.
I've offer you a party that is per-
fectly pure and that has passed beyond
the stage of temptation" he said.
I'VE want you and want you badly"
Through many sleepless nights, Mr..
Rayner said he had thought over his
proposition. At first he had been of the
opinion that the Democrats might
themselves solve the problem by going
over to the insurgents, but their ex-
perience in connection with the rail-
road rate bill has been such they could
not pursue such a course with assur-
ance of safety
"It will be recalled" he said, ''that in
the railroad rate debate, under the
leadership of ex-President Roosevelt
we Joined hands with the insurgent
forces of the Republican party. The
last words the ex-president said to me,
when we were comforting over the crit
ical situation were Now, don't give up
the ship But the ship gave me up.
The night before the vote was taken
the president was out in a lifeboat
with the senior senator from Rhode
Island and the junior senator from
Massachusetts,. When the vote was
taken we discovered that upon the
evening before the president had or
dered these two sturdy sailors to man
the lifeboat and before he stepped
into it he had scuttled the ship and
made for the shore in the company Of
these distinguished mariners.
"Now, we do not want any more COM
binations like these. We want the in
surgents to come to us, and we will
pilot them to a safe deHverance. Let
the senior senator from Indiana not
stop with administering a circuitous
blow beneath the belt; that is mere
mutiny; that is not rebellion; that is
magnificent, but it is not war"