Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-10-19
GOV. FOLKS MESSAGE
Missouri's Chief Executive Makes
a Speech in Philadelphia.
TALKS POLITICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Tells Them That II Corruption Ex'
ista They Are to Blame-hemo-
dy for Political Evils !"
Law Enforcement.

Philadelpnla, OCt' IL nv o. S~'
tie between the republican organlza-
ton and the city party. the municipal
reform organization recently formed
here. was enlivened Monday by the
visit Of Gov. Folk Of Missouri. VINO
came to lend his voice in the interest
Of good government. Tho MISSOURI
governor Monday night addressed a
large and enthusiastic audience In the
Academy Of Music. He spoke under the
auspices Of the City club, which claims
no connection with the city party
Gov. Folk had an exceedingly busy DAY
and his reception wherever he appear
ed during the day and evening was q
nattering one.
The crowd that attempted to gain en-
trance to the Academy Monday night
was so great that the doors were
closed before the meeting began. Sew
eral thousand persons who could not
get in were addressed by City party
SPEAKERS. While the curbstone mass
meeting was In progress Gov Folk ar
rived and the assemblage would not
permit him to enter the building until
he had addressed them. He made Q
short speech. When he entered the
academy the entire audience stood up
to welcome him. With him on the stage
we're George Burnham, jry president OF
the City club; Former Postmaster
General Charles Emory Smith, For
mer United States Attorney General
Wayne Macveagh, William Potter
Former United States Minister to Italy
and about hundred other citizens OF
prominence. Mayor Weaver occupied
a proscenium box and was given
warm welcome when he appeared.
President Burnham in explaining the
objects of the club said the organiza-
ton was allied with no party, that 1t
neither endorsed nor named candi-
dates, but stood ready to help any
genuine movement for good govern
ment. He presented Wayne MacVeagh
who made brief speech, introducing
Gov. Folk.
Gov Folk spoke in part as follows:
The most conspicuous fact Of muAic-
ipal government in the United States
today is that they are governments by
the few and not by the people. There
Is more aggressive rottenness and less
aggressive patriotism In our large cit
les than anywhere else, II the patriot
ism can be made as aggressive as the
rotteness, the problem of good govern
ment would be solved by the people
taking the government into their own
hands II corruption exists In Phlla-
delphia the people are to blame; II
corruption is to be eradlcated the peo-
pie alone can do It, .
The law abiding people are in the
majority in Philadelphia and there
is hardly a community in this coun-
try of which this cannot be said They
are usually quiet, however, while the
lawless are so vociferous as to deceive
many as to their number, They may
blur and billdoze but they are towards
and II resolutely fought they can be
overcome. They are always active
however, while the average good cit
izen becomes active only occasionally.
wnen the prosecutions we're COM
menced in st. Louis, members of the
house Of delegates claimed that this
bribery had been going on SO long that
they were entitled to notice to quit
before being prosecuted Some Of them
argued that members of the house Of
delegates having been taking brides
from time immemorlal, had acquired q
right to do So and 1t was just as proper
for them to sell their votes as for tho
merchants to sell their wares. Here was
crime worse than any other for their
offence violated the law while bribery
strikes at the foundation Of all laws,
Yet the law derouncing 1t was not en-
forced; bribery became the usual and
expected thing all over-the land; cor.
rupt men Toasted and fattened at pub
lie expense; laws became merchandise
on tho market and all this time the
public conscience was asleep When the
revelation came, the people saw that
they had been plundered, they saw the
offence In all Its enormity and from one
end OF the land to the nther there was
acivic awakening ANY special privilege
Is graft Monopoly, even law protect
ed privileges are gratis and should be
hateful to every fair minded citizen. A
political party has no right to ask fol
support because It is that party, but
because It stands for the right II pc
litical party cannot get votes on thu
ground of patriotism. It has no right
to ask for votes on the ground Of par
tisanship. The remedy for corruption
bribery and grating Of every kind Il
TO enforce the law. II the system Is
working an illegal game instead o.
trying to beat the game, the better way
is TO stop the game.
Heavy storm destroys shIppInE.
New York, Oct. IA terrific north
,-roef eforr, accom- naufod NV rain AM