The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-10
FOLK INAUGUUATED GOVERNOR
NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MIS-
SOURI, SWORN IN.
Promises to Continue Hi1 Ngr on Public
Corrupticn-SugEests New Measures
20 Cope With Evil--Dr,an Lands the
New Governor-lAls MIR. Roosevelt

Promises to Continue Hl1 Nef on PuDlic
Corrupticn-SugRests New Measures
20 Cope With Evil--Br,an Lands the
New Governor-Also MIR. Roosevelt
JEFFERSON CRY. Mo. Jan. "a great
assembly Of admiring Missourians greeted
Gov. Joseph W. Folk when he was inaugu-
rated here at noon to-day. Among those
present were William Jennings Bryan and
Mrs. Bryan.
The crowds were pretty evenly divided
between Democrats and Republicans. The
Republicans were DESTROYS of witnessing
the Inauguration Of the Republican State
officers. Of whom Lieut.-Gov. Mckinley
heads the list.
The installation OF the State officers took
place in the hall OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives.
Two brothers of Gov. Folk, State Treas
urer r. f. Folk of Tennessee and the Rev.
T.. f. Folk of Nashville were present at the
Inauguration.
In his inaugural address Gov. Folk said:
IAN true Mssourians are proud that the
State is the leader in the fight for good gov
eminent now being made all over the land
There has been no more corruption here
than in some other States, but it has been
souri's glory, not Missouri's shame |
promised the people of this State 10 do my
best to put stop to bribery. and the prom
ise assure you, is going to be kept to the
letter
The best way to keep corruption from
the Legislative halls is by the aggressive
honesty of legislators. If there be found
any OF venal nature among your number
they should be expe lied from the General
Assembly as moral lepers. There should be
no politics in this portion. The corrupt
man has no politics; he uses party names
only to serve his own ends.
In order TO aid in the investigation OF
r1mors Of corruption, laws should be en-
acted compelling witnesses to testify as TO
their knowledge of bribery transactions,
and exempHng such witnesses from prose-
cution for any matters directly or indirectly
growing out of such testimony. The
statute Of limitations should be five years
instead of three.
ITO take away the incentive for bribery
as far az possible, all franchises, rights
and privileges secured by bribery should
be declared null and void. The law should
require all franchises to be sold at public
auction and a sufficient length OF time
allowed after the sale for any one TO raise
the bid, to prevent coluslon.
-ln investigating legislative corruption
II has been my experience that the first 81 ep
a legislator takes toward brib cry, as a
rule. Is the acceptance Of u railroad pass,
The Constitution Of the State and the statute
make II a misdemeanor for legislator
TO accept pass and for any one TO give
legislator free transportation.
Following the Inauguration ceremonies
of Gov. Folk and the swearing In of State
officers, the audience was invited to go TO
the Senate Chamber, where Lieut.. Gov.
John {. Mckinley spoke for ten minutes.
William Jennings Bryan was invited to
address the House. He devoted his speech
to a eulogy OF Mr.. Folk.
Il am here for twofold purpose-be-
cause am interested in the Inauguration
Of a man responsible for the publication Of
Missouri politics. said Mr.. Bryan and
to see him get his reward.
Mr.. Bryan said Missouri was not more
corrupt than other Statee, but mad done
the remarkable thing in furnishing its cor
ruptionlsts, " bile other States Kept them
in high places. Mr.. Bryan spoke strongly
in favor Of municipal ownership, stating that
the gre',ter part OF the corruption IN the
franchises wda due to the fact that they
were valuable, aud the people were In the
end forced 70 pay for every DISHONEST dollar
expended
Among tho things which MI Bryan said
the State should take over are life in
surance and banking. The tanks are not
safe. said Mr.. Bryan, unless private banks
are made secure, The Government should
step in and provide means for safe banking
i have discovered some symptoms
of reform in Roosevelt / was delighted
when he said he would not be n candidate
for the Presidency again II the Republi-
cans will accede TO IT, we Democrats will
vote TO make it unanimous. | like his
suggestion that campaign contributions
should be published.
NO trust would give one million dollars
to any party's fund. because the contri-
button would hurt more than it would bene-
fit with such publicity. The scope of the
Interstate Commerce Commission MIR.
Roosevelt suggests should be enlarged,
and | am indeed glad that the President
has undertaken this fight for the regulation
OF railroad extortion, rebates and dis
st..,,.,