The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-15
FOLK The MAN.
Pleased the Kansans at ChaUtau-
qua Best of All.
Gave Him a Remarkable Demon
stratiOn Throughout.
NO REPLY TO JEROME.
MissOuri's Governor Told How
to Enforce the Laws.
Says It's Possible Where People
Desire 1t.
NO REPLY TO JEROME.

Desire 1t.
Ottawa, Kan, July 15.-Joseph w.
Folk, governor of Missouri, spoke to
more than 5000 persons Friday after
noon at the Chautauqua assembly on
''The Reign of Law" The speech had
been advertised. or at least announced,
as a reply to the remarks of William
Travers Jerome. district attorney of
New York, who addressed the assem-
bly, last week. 1t was not intended as
reply to anyone. 1t was straight
forward reiteration of the fundamental
principle, enunciated again and again
by Governor Folk, that any law placed
upon the statutes by the people could
and should and-in the case of Mis-
souri-Would be enforced The gov
erner did not mention Mr.. Jeromes
name even by inference.
1t is extremely doubtful if any gov
ernor ever spoke outside his own state,
to more appreciative audience. 1t
was an audience made up of people
who had listened, within ten days, to
famous men, reformers of one type or
another. for the most part; people
who had heard one of their dearest
hopeS-the enforcement of the liquor
laws-ridiculed in their town which
they had kept clean; people who had
be enforced because they were con-
trary to public sentiment. These ideas
the Chautauquans were not slow to re
pudiate. While they were for the
most part, men and women, who,
doubtless. are opposed to the LIQUOR
traffic in any form, they were hrst
of all, citizens and intelligent people,
who demanded the strict application
of the enactments which they had been
partly at least instrumental in plac-
ing upon the statutes of Kansas.
Folks Great Greeting.
The Chautauquans had cheered
Lawson, the man who frankly told
them that he had made two million
dollars in Il day, four million dollars
in four days, and could repeat the OPP
ernor Folk and poured into his ears
such exclamation as God bless you,
GOVERNOR Were with you, govern
orr" keep up the good work. En-
what they're fori" I'VE hope it'll be
done in Kansas They were men
and women who meant what they said
and who sincerely admired the strong
young executive who had dehed the
laWless element of his state. They fol-
lowed him to his train and stood
about the cars, crowding each other to
get closer to the window at which sat
Governor Folk, and to the last minute
showed every evidence of the warmeSt
usually demonstrative gathering, ac-
cording to those who have been in the
Chautauqua work for twenty-five years
ever present to greet and bid FAREWELL
to a state official in Kansas.
'T have come to Ottawa" said the
Missouri executive. mot to answer
anyone, but to aid, so far as am able,
in bringing about. not only here but
everywhere, the reign of higher ideals.
have come to shake you by the hand
and to exchange ideas" Governor
Folk said the man who died for his
country was no more a patriot than
and his city by giving his strength ac-
lively to the support of its laws and
those whose duty it is to see that they
are enforced.
officials Are Servants.
There is a patriotism of peace even
more important than of war" he con-
tinued. History shows that where
one government has been destroyed
by war and pestilence, corruption in
public life has undermined a score. If
you neglect your civic duty what is the
result? You give over the control to
the lawless, particularly in the cities.
There this element demands of those
elected to Office that they be served
even If the public suffers. If the
public official disobeys he is put under
the ban of their disapproval and is
barred thenceforth from holding office.
IL llllS ldWleSS element Is IN power,
once in a while it is swept aside when
1t comes in contact with an aroused
public conscience. st. Louis showed
this when the people there. weary of
the domination of corruptionists, rose
up. and overthrow them. PhiIadeIDhja
awoke, and, although the gang was
strong, it was shattered by the shafts
of public opinion under the leadership
of Mayor Weaver.
There is not a county, not COM
TlunitV in Kansas in this 7f1-xy
where the law abiding people are not
In the majority, but the lawless are
more VociferouS and often convey the
opposite impression. The law abiding
element is quiet, but once you arouse
it it can overcome the laWless An
they know is politics; but they do NOT
know good politics from bad. Teach
them that lawlessne ss is bad politics
and you will have solved the question
of good government here and every
where. The lawless element has not
the strength it claims. If some enc
wanted to run for state treasurer he
might be made to believe that saloon
men. running their places in violation
of the law, could give him the nonaf-
nation or keep it away from him 7
want to tell you that this influence is
not worth Il pinch of snuff if a man
will stand ID defy 1t. They can do a
great deal if a man is afraid of them"
Governor Folk described, briefly the
influence brought to bear to intimidate
him in the performance of his duty as
prosecuting attorney at St Louis. espe-
cially when it became known that he
was to be a candidate for the Office of
governor, and declared. referring to
the men who sought to deter him fra,,,
that duty, "they simply cannot de
liver the goods when you fight. The
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