Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-09
GOV. FOLK IS
INAUGURATED.
Previous to Ceremonies Was Given
A Breakfast at Executive Man
sion by Gov DOckery,
PARTISANSHIP AND PATRIOTISM
First is a Good Thing Sometimes, but
The Latter is Better Thlug All
The Time,

Jeffersn City. Mo-, Jan. 9.--Every
train arriving today added to the al
ready large crowds Of people who had
from various parts 10 at
tend the inaugural OF Joseph W. Folk
as governor Of Missouri. Previous to
the Inauguration ceremonies Mir, and
Mrs. FOLK were guests Of honor at
breakfast given at the gubernatorial
By outgoing Coy. Dockery. MIR.
ana MIS- William J.. Bryan and 80 9TH
en- guests, among them prominent DEM
ocrats aud their wives were present
Promptly at noon Joseph W. Folk
was inaugurated governor Of Missouri
The ceremonies took place i'm the house
Of representatives which had been np-
decorated, Gov. Folk i'm his
inaugural address said IN part.
THE MESSAGE.
craftsmanship Is a good thing some
times, but patriotism Is a better thing
all the time. Partisanshp is well
enough when IL does not conflict with
patriotism; but patriotism is higher
virtue than partsanship, Some OF you
are Democrats, some are Republicans,
all are Missourians. In the discharge
OF official duties let us be Missourians
before We are anything else, DO not
forget that YOU VIII be aiding the
party YOU may belong to most by CIV
ing the public the highest service, You
cannot help your party by injuring the
public, one may be in private life
Democrat or Republican, but when he
steps into public office, he becomes a
public servant--a servant of all the peo-
pie.
When you come before the people to
give an account Of your stewardship
the account must be for public service
and not for party work. Your party
nominated you, the people elected you
and sent you here to serve the public.
and by that service you will reflect
credit or discredit on your party You
ere here as lGgiflltor pot as polltici-
ans. and the welfare of the state should
ever be your first consideration.
II the public wea should conflict with
party advantage or personal ambition,
the public good should prevail.
II there be any corruption during this
session OF the general assembly 1t
would be q disgrace TO the state and
reflection on every man on this body
and upon every official In the state gov
eminent. II Is too often the tendency
of good men I'm legislative bodies TO
close their eyes 10 things OF this ma
ture, satisfied with their own honesty,
but forgetting that 1t ls as much their
duty to protect and defend the honor Of
the state az Il IS their own honor The
legislator who sells his vote trafiics I'm
the honor of n sovereign people and
prostitutes the trust reposed In him.
There can be no offense. which, II al
lowed TO go on, is fraught With graver
consequences. II Is more fatal TO civic
life than any other crime for Il polutes
the stream Of law at It's source. II
makes the passage Of laws mere mat
ters of bargain and sale thwarts jus
tice, enthrones iniquity and
renders lawful government impossible.
II all official acts were for sale we
would have n government not Of for
and by the people, but a government
OF. for and by the few with wealth
enough to purchase official favor. II
Is the highest duty Of every legislator,
Of every official and OF every citizen TO
do all that he can TO eradicate this evil,
which Is the greatest enemy to free
government and the greatest danger
that confronts this nation today
II is not always by taking money
that an official may prostitute his trust.
lie does II whenever he uses the pow
er given him to be exercised for the
public good for any other purpose. An
official can embezzle public power as
well as public money, one In public
Office has no more right to use his off,
clal powers for personal ends than ne
would have to nut his hands into the
public treasury 20 pay q private debt,
In order to aid IN the Investigation
of rumors OF corruption laws should
be made compelling witnesses 20 testi-
~ as to their advantages from prose-
cutlon for any matters directly or In
directly growing out Of such testimony.
When a legislator accepts a pass he
puts Il In the knowledge OF the repre-
sentative Of the railroad that he has
violated the law and Is subject to in
dctment This knowledge can he
used by the railroad representative 20
club the legislator into submission to
corporate interests.
1t is proper that railroads and all In
terests, quasi public and public, should
have the right to appear before egisla-
tive committees aud present reasons
for or against the passage OF any bill.
They likewise should be accorded the
privilege OF addressing the individual
legislators in n proper way, but the
maintenance Of professional lobby
breeds corruption and should not be
permitted. Professional lobbying
should be made a crime.
The state is entitled TO have each
citizen vote In order that the result Of
the elections may be the Just sentiment
OF the people OF this state 1t would
seem to be only just that those who do
not prize this privilege enough to oX-
erclse Il ought to forfeit IT,
The knowledge that failure to vote
would dlsfranchlse them and make
them political eunuchs would bring
home TO them a realization Of It's SUI
premc value. When a corporation OBJ
tains a franchise II is forfeited by
nOn-usc, Apply this principle TO the
privilege of voting and It viii do more
than anything else TO remedy the evil
OF civic indifference that As the weak
ness Of a republican form OF gov
eminent.
The benefits OF a state primary law
are at once apparent and commend
themselves 10 all except those who have
selfish motive IN retaining present
conditions,
Another step In the direction of gov
eminent by the people, United States
senators ought TO be elected by the peo-
pie. and Missouri should lead the de-
mand for constitutional amendment
providing for this reform.
believe It Is the province Of the
governor OF the state TO keep the public
peace by Hettllng disputes between em-
ploycrs and employees and he should
make Il his business as much as possi-
bic to do 50, when the contest Involves
the public interest in any way.