The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-17
CITIES SEATS OF
GRAFT, SAYS FOLK.
Governor of Missouri Gives the
Quaker City His Ideas About
Municipal Misrule.

tie between the local republican machine
and the city party, the municipal re-
form organization recently formed here,
was enlivened yesterday by the visit
Of Governor Folk Of Missouri, who came
to lend his voice in the interest Of
ernor last night addressed large and
enthusiastic audience in the Academy
Of Music. He spoke under the aus
pieces Of the City club, which claims
no connection with the city party. He
said:
HThe most conspicuous fact Of mu-
nicipal governments in the United
States today is that they are govern
ments by the few and not by the peo-
pie. There is more aggressive rotten
ness and less aggressive patriotism in
the patriotism can be made as aggres-
sive as the rottenness. the problem of
good government would be solved by the
people taking ihef government into
their own hands. IF corruption exists
in Philadelphia theHpeople are to blame;
if corruption is to be eradicated the
people alone can do it.
Felt by Every Town.
.ttThe fight yor are making here is a
battle which will be felt by every town,
city and state in the land. The ben
eft of victory for good government
will be universal and the evil effects
of a defeat will demoralize those who
believe in good government BY the peo-
pie. The average man does not appre-
ciate the solemn duty he owes his city,
state and. country. Ss4A ~ &c.
HThe moral revolution. now sweeping
over the land means, the. patriotism
that comes from SheY heart, not from
"Many men n, y would be willing, if
need be, to give up their lives for their
city or state if they are needed some
times, and this kind Of patriotism can
man who is willing to live for his city
and state every day is the man that, is
needed just now. There may be AS
much patriotism in giving ones time
to the betterment of civic conditions
and the election of good men to office
and in purifying the ballot as in bar
ing ones breast to the bullets OF an
enemy. There never was time when
the need of patriotic men in public
affairs was greater than now; we ne nee:
good, and fewer of those who are In
politics merely for revenue.
Strength Of the Lawless.
uThe strength Of the lawless element
ia great. but it is as nothing when il
comes in contact with public con
science thoroly aroused. :,
Philadelphia at last seems 20 OF
awakened, and tho the gang, has beer
strong it is being shattered beneath
the shafts Of public opinion under thu
| leadership of Mayor Weaver. The PEG
pie can overthrow civic evil wheneve
they want to, and get just as goot
government as they deserve, or as bat
as they permit it to become. The law
abiding people are in the majority il
Philadelphia and there is hardly com
munity in this country OF winch I'M
: cannot be said. They are usually quiet
however, while the lawless are SO We
} ciferous as to deceive many as to thel
, number. They may bluff and bulldoze
but they are towards, and if resolutel..
fought they can be overcome: The,
are always active, however, while tn
average good citizen becomes activ
only occasionally.
Moral Revolution.
uThe moral revolution that is nov
sweeping over the land is merely a re
vivai Of the rule Of the people. Fou
years ago the laws against bribery i
all of the states were considered q
practically dead letters. Not becaus
the offense was uncommon, but becaus
it was uncommon for officials to b
prosecuted for it.
ssWhen the prosecutions were con
menced in ST.. Louis, members Of tn
house Of delegates claimed that thi
bribery had been going on so long the
were entitled to notice to quit befo1
being prosecuted. Some Of them al
gued that members Of the house Of DELE
gates having been taking brides frol
time immemorial, had acquired a rigl
to do so, and it was just as proper fc
them to sell their votes as for the me
chant to sell his wares.
! "Here was crime worse than an
T other, for their offense violated the la
while bribery strikes at the foundatio
| Of all laws. Yet the law denouncing
; was not enforced; bribery became Il
usual and expected thing all over Il
land; corrupt men feasted and fattene
! at public expense; laws became me
) chandise on the market, and all tn
time the public conscience was aslee
When the revelation came the peop
saw how they had been plundered; The
, saw the offense in all it's enormity, al
from one end of the land to the 9th
! there was a civic awakening.
: Special Privilege Is Graft.
"Any special privilege is a graf
. are gratis and should be hateful
every fair-minded citizen. Unless Il
, spirit Of civic righteousness now abro;
: in the land dies out, and there is
;; likelihood Of that, we will pass fro
the sordid age Of commercialism in
: the age of high ideals.
( g political party has no right
. ask for support because it is that part
!, but because it stands for the right.
a political party cannot get votes
|. the ground of patriotism, it has ]
|. right to ask for votes on the ground
2 partisa nship. Under our form of go
! eminent political parties are necessa
Cor IL 10 fhr1, them they can come