The daily sentinel., 1904-11-14
Is to Have the Party
Right Says the New
Governor.


pies and stand for plain honesty
To deserve success a party must be
for something, not merely against
something. Political contests should
be made for principles, not for men.
When no principles are involved
there is nothing to fight for.
An excessive tariff is a graft
for those protected by it. The fun
damental principle of the trust is
the same as of the CRATER in local
politics. "
These are some of the terse COM
ments on the results of the election
made by Joseph w. Folk, prosecu-
tor of boodlers and just elected gov
ernor of Missouri.
The circumstances of the election
are merely amazing.
Roosevelt carried Missouri by
$4,000 ct the same time Mr..
Folk, Democrat, carried it by 81,
900.
Mr.. Folk had to fight a bitter
campaign waged ON him in his own
party, so that in St. Louis alone
probably Io,ooo votes usually
classed as Democratic were cast
against him. And this is not all.
He had to fight the power of a cor
rupt and perfectly-organized ring.
He had to fight the rich and infu-
ential men that he had sent Jail.
He had to fight the trusts.
When asked what, in his judg-
ment, was the reason for the sue
cess of the Republican ticket in
Missouri, state that has always
been regarded as like Texas in the
Democratic faith, he said
THE same reason that increased
the Republican vote i'll Illinois,
Iowa and nearly every other state.
Many Democrats did not think any
vital questions were involved, and
did not vote. We also remember
that Mr.. Roosevelt's personal pop
ularity was great feature in the
result Moreover, the Republicans
had the advantage of business con
ditions that were generally salts
factory. Many persons could see
no reason why there should be a
change i'll government. They were
disposed to let well enough alone. -
DO you think that the Demo-
cratic party should beGseorgan-
lied? ?"
Reorganization comes about
through definite and dominant is
sues. Changes in party control can
only be wrought by changed opin-
ions among the people"
What issue do you think should
be brought forward now to insure
the party's success?"
The main thing is TO have the
party right. If it is right, success
will follow. Ninety-nine per cent
of the people are honest and earn
estly desire honest government.
They will give their support to a
political party that stands for hon
esty. Anyway, there is more sue
cess in defeat with the right than
by victory with the wrong.
The party has tried everything
else, and it might now go back to
first princidles and stand for plain
honesty To deserve success, a par
ty must be for something, not mere
ly against something. Political con
tests should be made for principles,
not for men. When no principles
are involved, there is nothing to
fight for.
Zone principle runs through all
the evils the country suffers from,
and that is the principle of graft.
An excessive tariff is graft for
those protected by it. The funda-
mental principle of the trust is the
same as the CRATER in local poll
tics. Good government, national,
state and municipal, demands the
suppression of dishonest gains,
whether by trusts under the tariff
or by corrupt officials. This evil is
the greatest enemy to free govern
ment. Where all other calamities
combined have destroyed one gov
ernment civic evil in one form or
another has undermined a score.