The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-10
COY, FOLK is DOWN
ON THE BOODLERS
Says Missouri Must Stop the
Ubiquitous System
INAUGURATED YESTERDAY
New Governor Makes Strong Speech
In Which He Vigorously Con-
demns Using of Money in
Elections.

Jefferson City, Mo, January 9.-Joseph
w. Folk was inaugurated today as Gov
er1nor. In his inaugural address the Gov
ernor spoke in part as follows:
Governor Folk Speaks.
"Partisanship is q good thing some
times, but patriotism is a better thing
all the time Partisanship is well enough
when it does not conflict with patriotism,
but patriotism is a higher virtue than
craftsmanship Some of you are demo-
Gratis, some are republicans, all are Mis-
sourians. In the discharge of official
duties, let us be Missourans 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 a democrat or repub-
lican, but when he steps into public Of
fee ne becomes public servant-a serV-
ant Of all the people.
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 noml-
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
welfare of the state should ever be
your first consideration. If the public
veal should conflict with party advant-
age or personal ambition, the public
should prevail.
Reflection on the State.
'If there be any corruption during this
session of the general assembly, it would
be a disgrace to the state and a reffec-
ton on every man, on this body and
upon every official in the state govern
ment. 1t is to often the tendency OF
good men in legislative bodies to close
their eyes to things of this nature, salts
fed with their own honesty, but forget
ting that 1t is as much their duty to pro-
tect and defend the honor of the state
as it is their honor. The legislator who
sells his vote, trafics in the honor of
sovereign people and prostitutes the trust
reposed in him. There can be no Of
Tense, which If allowed to go on, is
fraught with graver consequences. 1t is
more fatal to civic life than any other
crime for 1t pollutes the stream of law
at its source. 1t makes the passage OF
law mere matters of bargain and sale
thwarts Justice, enthrones iniquity. and
renders lawful government lmpOSSlDlt IL
all official acts were for sale we should
have a government not for the people
and by the people. but a government Of
for and by the few with wealth enough
to purchase official favor. 1t 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.
Compelled to Testify.
I'm order to aid in the investigation Of
rumors of corruption, laws should be
enacted compelling witnesses to testify
as to their knowledge of bribery transact
lions and exempting such witnesses from
prosecution for any matters directly or
indirectly growing out of such testimony.
when a legislator accepts a pass he
puts 1t in the knowledge of the repre-
sentative of the railroad that he has
violated the law and is subject to indict-
ment. This knowledge can be used by
the railroad representative to club the
legislator into submission to corporate
interests.
1.-THE state is entitled to have each
citizen vote in order that the results 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
/
else 1t ought to forfeit 1t. The knowledge
that the failure to vote would disfran
chise them and make them political
eunuchs would bring home to them
realization of its supreme value.
Forfeited by Non-Use.
when a corporation obtains fran
chise it is forfeited by non-use. Apply
this principle to the privilege of voting
and It will do more than anything else
to remedy the evil of civic indifference
that is the weakness Of a republican
form of government.
LAS another step IN the direction OF
government by the people, its senators
ought to be elected by the people. and
Missouri should lead the demand for
| constitutional amendment providing for
| this reform.
az believe 1t is the province of the gov
| ernor of the state to keep the public
peace by settling disputes between EN-
| ployers and employees and he should
make IT his business as far as possible to
do so, If the contest involves the public
interest in any way.
The governor spoke of the necessity of
good roads and said the state should not
license gambling in any form, whether 1t
be a lottery or pool selling on horse