Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-09
A BIG DAY IN MISSOURI
FOLK 1NAuGtRATED GOVERNOR
Al JEFFERSON CITY.
Excerpts From His Inaugural Address
Bryan Attends and Addresses
the Legislature on Invitation.

JEFFERSON ieCITY, NO., January q
Joseph W. Folk was today inaugurated
governor of Missouri The ceremonies took
place in the house of representatives.
Gov. -elect FoIHramd Lieut. Gov.-elect Nc
Kinley met Gov Dockery and the other
state officials in the governors office and
headed by the committee on arrangement.
marched to the hall. The oath of office
was administered by Chief Justice Brace of
the supreme court. Gov. Folk then de-
ltvered his inaugural address.
Gov. Folks Address.
Partisanship is good thing sometimes,
but patriotism is better thing all the
time. Partisanship is well enough when 1t
does not conflict, with patriotism; but pa
triotism is a higher virtue than PARTISAN
ship Some of you are democrats. some
are republicans all are Missourians-
In the discharge of officials duties let us
be Missourians before we are anything else
Do not forget that you will be aiding the
party you may belong to most by giving
the public the highest service You cannot
help your party by injuring the public. one
may be in private life democrat or re-
publican, but when he steps into public
office he becomes al public servant-a serv-
ant of all the people.
When you come before the people to give
an account OF your stewardship the &C.
for party work. Your party nominated
you, the people elected you and sent you
here to serve the public and by that serv-
ice you will reflect credit or discredit on
your party. ;. You are here as legisla tor,
not as politician, and the welfare of the
state should ever be your first considera-
ton. II the public veal should conflict
with party advantage or personal ambition,
the public good should prevail.
If there be any corruption during this ses-
sion OF the general assembly 1t would be
disgrace to the state and reflection on
every man in this body and upon every
often the tendency Of good men in legisla-
tive bodies to close their eyes to things OF
this nature, satisfied with their own hon
esty. but forgetting that 1t Is as much their
duty to protect and defend the honor Of the
state as 1t is their own honor.
The legislator who sells his vote traf-
f1cs In the honor OF a sovereign people and
prostitutes the trust reposed in him. There
can be no offense which. If allowed to go
on, is fraught with graver consequences.
1t is more fatal to civic life than any other
crime, for it pollutes the stream Of law at
Its source. Itzmakes the passage of laws
mere matters. of bargain and sale. thwarts
justice. enthrones iniquity and renders law
full government impossible.
If all acts We're for sale we would have
a government not Of for and by the peo-
pie but government of, for and by the
few with wealth enough to purchase official
favor. 1t is the highest duty of every leg
islator, of every official and of every cit
izen to do all he can to eradicate this evil,
which is the greatest enemy to free gov
eminent and the greatest danger that con-
fronts -thiS nation today.
1t is not always by taking money that
an official may prostitute his trust. He
does it whenever he uses the power given
him to be exercised for the public good for
any other purpose. An cial can embezzle
public power as WeH as public money. One
In public Office has no more right to use
ofhctal powers for personal ends than he
would have to put his hands into the pub
lie treasury to pay a private debt, :.
United States senators ought to be elect
ed by the people and Missouri should lead
the demand for 9 constitutional amend
ment providing For this REFORM -A-a'
l believe it lis, the province of the gov
ernor Of the state to keep the public peace
by settling disputes between employers and
employees and he should make it his bust
ness as far as Npossble to do so if the con-
test involves the public interest : In any
way 3. .g-a. o.. -. e.. n N
The rgoyernor spoke of the necessity for
good roads and said the state should not
license gambling IN any FORM. whether it
Pc lotteJy or pooh selling on horse races /;
and the pfrniciOps effect ON public morals
Is not 1essened by requiring a fence to be-
put around the place where the racing is
There is no magic in license to change
moral wrong into innocence. !. -
80. oIydAS ADDRESS.
Col. William J. Bryan who came with his
wife today.-to attend the Inauguration or
Gov. Folk addressed the legislature ON In
vitation of the republican house. The
speaker, who was, heartily received, con-
graduated the people on the election of
Mr. Folk. because, he said, it was the re-
ward OF duty well performed CORPORAL ton
influences, the speaker said often con-
trolled officials. and to stop this he favored
municipal ownership of public institutions.
FIe advocated the establishment of state
fire and state life insurance departments
to furnish insurance to the people at cost.
Bryan's Opinion of Banks.
Il do not think our banks are safe" said
Colonel Bryan. They are so arranged
that they make money in good times and
throw the risk on the depositors in bad
times He then made reference to the
affair of Mrs. Chadwick.
Colonel Bryan commended President
Roosevelt for recommending legislation to
have campaign contributions printed He
also commended the President for his rec
ommendation of legislation charging the
powers of the interstate commerce commits
sion. Railroads control much legislat ton. !"
said Colonel Bryan. land if President
Roosevelt is in earnest in curling their
power, hezwill lead a strenuous life during
.