Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-11-06
Address of Joseph w. Folk
St. Joseph, Missouri,
October oath, 1903.

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Lincoln Institute at jefferson City
provides for the education Of the ne.
gro at state expense. The asylums at
st. Joseph, Nevada and Pennington
care for the unfortunate insane in the
most enlightened and humane manner.
Eradication Of Corruption the Issue.
But what does all this avail If cor.
ruption in public office is allowed to
90 on unhampercd? When people ask
about tho exposures Of Official cor
ruption that have startled the entire
civilized world, 1t IL hardly satis'ac-
tory to answer by pointing out what
has been accomplished along other
lines. The appalling disclosures Of
official vcuality has brought the pcp-
pie If Missouri credit for what has
been done and grave responsibilities
for the future. The disease has been
checked, but the people alone can
make The cure permanent. 50 far as
the Democratic party IS concerned the
exposures viii be an asset or liability,
as The party may act.
There can be NJ dispute between
Democrats as 10 the fiscal manage
mcnt Of tho state, and all take a pridc
in the magnificent institutions CT the
commonwealth. The only division is
concerning the shocking ~vcnality dis
covered IN The legislative departments
Of municipal and state governments.
The revelations Of official corruption
IN st. Louis and Missouri make what
the Democratic party and what the
people Of Missouri are going to do
about It "A burning issue. After all
this corruption has been laid bare can
the Democratic party AFFORD 10 20
on as If nothing had happened? What
would be thought of the people Of
Missouri If they were TO remain iGnn-
bly, silent after they have been shown
how they have been mgrciicssly rob.
bed for years? When the people are
ignorant Ct existing conditions they
may Dc ]inuoccnt!y indifferent, but toll
Grafton Of known ahuars i, criminal.
The people arc sovereign, and have II
in their power to correct the things
that d.shoncr and Cypress, or by IN
difference allow them to 70 on. The
highest duty confronting the Missouri
uc,oocracv ~ the eradication Of LrIb.
,ry from puLIic Office II ig said
there has no, been u LOGdllnp af
ter a!l-only a few petty offenders.
Let Ms sec IN a general way what has
been developed.
Bribery Developments.
There came 70 St Louis in 1895 a
caDltalist from New yor,, eec,Inr a
franchise coyo.inp rn,rly All tho
streets of the ciry lie came Ike a
thief I'm the nt,,t With ,nors If rroen-
backs and a,ld He Maid tu m. Mn.
riciual tescrll, xp-urnu un in hrhos
TO yet his franchise Twentynvo out
| If twcr,vcipht u,rmtcre IF IA. uouge
nf nalcpo,es ,p,l, ,rihae ~ e. nu, M
each Seven n,ubnrs # thc council
were given from $40 a % ,n sI7 q
90 each for rbe.r yr,es ono Cn,n.
Gilman took 81, ou from ~,r,,gir,
interests ia vote a.afre, ,bc fran.
| chico. thon accr,l,d from tho ,~,r.,
TER s5G q oo ,n ,.,, In rv,r ,ho
measure Irrn r,cei,, ~ ,bo Ia,,or
sum no returned a., G,., ou,ru, ;,
fine man who oayo If IN him eoyir,
that he corid ,o, l,c, f., DC y, ,LI
No, think he could obnc,,,,y" aarr Z,
BY voting apains, tho rim r,nn ro.
Gecrion he rLovi.. r,,.,r,,, tho en-.
ouo 90 with ,he su,o..,,,r ,ho, stro'
ouo oo v,s tho 1i.nfeod on,,,,a, l.,
wanted In N, b,no If r,c-,,i,, ~.
he yo,na for h LtI ond e,aI,n o,'r,
MANY ,rjale and ,y~{nuI,rons h. s,c
ccedcd in ~,.,tf,. a on r,.
sove, meuha,s ~ ,bn rn,aou n.,
n,id q ,c,,l,r e,,,r, -, o. nn, oo ,