The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1905-01-14
GOV,JOS. ", FOLKS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
SAwars Of the Seriousness of the
Duties That Await Me-"
MISSOURI NOW ON TRIAL.
Declares the Motto of the state
should he the Guiding star Of
Every Omcial Act.

Gov. Joseph W.. Folks inaugural ad-
dress, as read in the general assembly,
Was as follows:
Senators and Representatives:
This 70 the third time l have stood
kpon this platform. The first was on a
htormy winters night early last year In
fhe campaign for the democratic nomina-
Hon; the second. In the dawn OF a sum-
ners morning In July, In accepting the
domination Of my party. and now, for
ehe purpose OF taking the oath as gov
ernor OF this great commonwealth and
% announce the principles and intentions
Ahat shall guide me. l have dedicated
pnyeelf TO the service of the people of
my state, under the sanction of a solemn
path that shall be preserved sacred and
tnviolate. Profoundly impressed by the
oppression of their confidence, 1 pledged
myself Leforo Cod, and In the presence
Z these Witnesses, to complete devotion
- the welfare Of the people of Missouri.
aware OF the seriousness Of the duties
4hat await me, and conscious of my own
MeaAness, l should shrink from the task,
Il were my fate to bear aid the
Responsibilities that confront me. when
remember. however, THAI ! shall have
Vie support and cooperation OF wise and
patriotic men. who represent the people
IN Legislative halls, and In the other de-
lpartments OF the state government, 1 am
Kept from Encouragement. There arr
fn6ny considerations 10 Brighten the OUT
Book. There seems to be a general dis
position TO join together in beneficial pub
Elc labors. | know that in every effort
Tor the public welfare, we shall have the
moral support of, the good and patriotic
people OF. the state, regardless OF party.
EAll that is required OF any OF us, Is that
VNe give the public the best service that
I'VE can. More than this, no one can
Nustly demand; less than this no one
Fan rightfully ask.
To you are. delegated the sovereign
Functions Of legislation. The executive
can only suggest measures for your con-
ieideration, and then approve or disap-
prove OF the bills you pass. would not
fplctate 70 you, II could; nor would
pave you substitute my judgment for
tEOur own on any matter before you, for
Your duty Is one thing and mine another.
While I shall give you my opinions ON
public matters from time to time. after.
bll, fhey will only be the opinions of one
man, honestly expressed, and If you
Should not agree with me, that is your
flight, as Il Is mineito disagree with you.
hope, though, that any difference will
be merely Of opinion, and not of prin-
ciple.
Patriotism Above Partisanship.
P%artlsanship is a good thing some
Zines, but patriotism is a better thing
eli the time. Partsanship is well enough
when 1t does not conflict with patriotism;
but. patriotism is a higher virtue than
ib~artisanship. some of you are demo-
erats, some are republicans, all are Ms
lgourians. In the discharge of official
lOlltGnt let US DC AllaoDulldlAo OGLOAG VIC
are anything else. Do not forget that
hou win be aiding the party you may be-
Hong TO, most. by giving the public the
highest service, You can not help your
party by injuring your state. one may
BE in private life a democrat or repub-
Aican, but when he steps into public Of
Nee, he becomes a public serYant-a serv-
Rnt OF all the people. 1t is not my pur-
ipose 70 urge upon you the abandonment
iof any party organization with which you
tnay he affiliated.
/ believe in party organizations; In a
popular form Of government, Such as
burs, they are necessary, for II Is through
lDuiitical parties that men come to an
hgreoment on public policies and make
Known their principles. One man may
fbe just as patriotic as another, yet tney
may differ on governmental questions. Po-
ititical parties, to be worthy of confidence,
Unjust be servants of the public, not pub
iic masters.
When you com before the people, to
tgive an account OF your stewardship, the
account must be for public service, and
mot for party work. Your party nomi-
mated 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 are here
as legislators. not as politicians, and the
first consideration. II the public veal
should conflict with party advantage or
personal ambition, the public good should
prevail. Loyalty to Missouri Is more Inn
portant than subserviency to any political
organization. Nothing can justify one
Becoming a traitor to his state
Regulators Lot Not Easy.
The legislators lot is not an easy
one. The ~plttance he receives for his
work IS hardly sufficient to supply his
ieould secure for SO small a sum the serv-
ice OF so large O number OF men, as nom
est ard intelligent as the men who COM
ipose this general assembly. The tsnpta-
Mons which beset the legislator on every
hand assume the most lnsidious forms.
IAN innocent present given in supposed
Friendship may have concealed IN II inc
germ that will lead to the downfall Of
Legislative honor. Unless the legislator
ibe strong and ever Vlg1lant, no matter
how high his purposes, or how pure his
motives, he may be trapped ny &sslgnlne
men into q compromising p~osltsoh-aho
then ne Is lost. / have never known 4
LEGISLATOR to become corrupt dekberately
his Intentions in the beginning aHe usual
1y good. The moral collapse ge@eralll
begins through. the seductive siren song
iof past-masters in. the art Of corruption
The way to corruption is a primros,
path with fsssS zee a,as sP saSas on elt 5s
honor and despair. Once an offlcia
ssiSIe to turn hack tor fear Of exposure
II is better. though. TO kneel at the fee
Of Justice and tell the truth man 70 o
dashed by the fear Of publicity into fur
lher wrongs.
Missouri Now On Trial.
Missouri is a great istate-great in fer
tile fields, In mountains Of precious met
ais and in splendid cities; but. above al
great in the high character Of the me
and women who p9ople the state. Meas
Orng Missouri. noe by the wealth OF tn
few. but by the Welfare and virtue @
the masses, she stands pre-eminen
among the slsterfIood OF states. l hay
gone from one end, lof Missouri to III
other, INTO nearly every county, and nc
where does illiteracy rule everywher
virtue Is honored and God is wol
shipped. All true MissOurians ar
PROUD that the state is the leader !
the fight for good government now bein
made all over the land. A slumberin
Dublic conscience was first awakened
Missouri to the necessity of remedyin
civic evils, and now many states hav
caught the idea and are waging wa
sgaInst the things tina dishonor. Frol
eyery section Of this state there comes
stern demand thai this general assembl
be free from the evil OF bribery that ha
disgraced former bodies. There has bee
no more corruption here than In SON
other states, but II has been exposed an
nunished here, and In other states It hi
NOT been. and this Is Missouri,s glor
NOT Missouri's shame. There Is honor
me correction Of civic evilsi II Is dishol
orabie to bear them In ignoble sllenc
MISSOURI has set an example In good go
eminent for other states, ana the. e
Y ample must be kept up. me eyes OF y
whole world are on missouri 70 see Wnl
A. roing 10 be done here. Those WI
k.lteve In the righteousness OF the pc
~ 40 ~Iooiiug 10 see their theory vi
fh.-o Jyho hold that c~OTrupti(