The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-01
FOLK SAYS HE LIKES JEROME
WOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING HARSH,
EVEN IF HE COULD.

d~OuLrtDuttOn9
Think Much OF BryAn's Scheme for
Government Ownership Of Railroads.
Gov. Folk OF Missouri had to be careful
yesterday. Not that he wasn't used to
Eastern ways. but there were a lot Of people.
who wanted him to say sharp things about
District Attorney Jerome and h stand
on and see the fur fly. Several months
ago District Attorney Jerome said things
about Gov. Folk, and it was thought that
Gov. Folk might be glad to embrace the
opportunity to get even when he came to
this city to help welcome Bryan.
The interviewers were around early and
stayed late at the Hotel Gotham, where
the Governor 10 stopping, and they laid
baited traps all day; but the Governor
merely shifted at them and like a wise
wolf trotted away. All he would say about
Mr.. Jerome was:
Il have only the kindliest feeling for
Mr.. Jerome. 1 like him. I feel very kindly
toward him. / would not think OF saying
anything harsh about him. even II l could.
When the Governors attention was called
to thef fact that Mr.. Jerome had talked about
him, he said:
That may be 90, but / have, as I said,
VhAy bh0 AL tcCAbuk-OV oNAO 49,
that right-the kindliest feeling, mind you.
FOR him." :
One reason why IL was thought early in the
day that Gov. Folk had brought a bowie
along from Missourah for use on Mr..
Jerome was an Interpretation that was
put on an interview that Gov. Folk gave out.
In It he said, speaking about campaign
contributions from insurance companies:
an - 49, -A.4 A. L. - NA-
York may be on that matter, but Unjust
say that in Missouri il the directors OF a
life insurance company were to take trust
funds and give them to a political party
or convert them to other than their true
owners we would call the crime embezzle-
ment. The offence is primarily not in
giving the policyholders' money to political
campaign funds, but in giving away money
held in trust at all"
Gov. Folk said later that he meant no
reflection in anything he had said upon
District Attorney jerome and that no
n had a right to make such an interpreted
ton.
1T would be discourteous," he said,
for me to refer to Mr.. jerome in that way
Gov. Folk let 1t be known yesterday that
he was not ready yet TO indorse TO the fullest
Mr.. BryRn's Government railroad owner
ship plan as outlined by Mr.. Bryan at
the Madison Square Garden reception.
He said that the State of Missouri once
had a disheartening experience in owning
railroads. He also admitted that Mr..
Bryan's plan Of having the Federal Gov
ernment own the trunk lines and the State
Governments own the lines strictly within
State limits would result in decided COM
plexities. He did not care to critlcise
Mr.. Bryan's scheme, he said, but he was
willing to tell Of the Missouri experiment.
Il am a great admirer Of Mr.. Bryan"
he said, -and l have the highest respect
for his opinions. Whatever he says.of any
Government problem is entitled to careful
consideration. The matter OF Government
ownership OF railroads is OF tremendous
importance n Ia a matter that cannot he
considered offhand. The great trouble is,
as Mr.. Bryan says, that when the people
get into politics and the politicians are
likely to elect the regulators. Il
The only experience the State OF Missouri
sver had with railroad ownership was not
altogether pleasant or profitable. We have
State. The State practically owned all the
railroads in It forty car ago, and the
people have just finished paying the debt
Incurred. h State at that time issued
bonds to aid in the construction Of certain
roads, including the Wabash, the Missouri
Pacific, the Iron Mountain, the Burlington
and the Hannibal and st. Joseph. To
fortify itself against loss the State o .
a lien on the railroad lines.
An the railroads defaulted in their pay
ments except the Hannibal and ST. Joseph.
were bought in by the State. Commits
sioHers were appointed and authorized to
sell the roads. The result of the transact
tions. was. that the State came out about
1T must be said, however, that much Of
this was accomplished by shameful fraud
and corruption. The commissioners were
bribed to sell the roads to certain persons
and members Of the Legislature were
bribed to authorize the sale Of the roads
and to receive a certain part Of the proceeds
A report ia on file in the United States court
in ST. Louis, JADE by a~-Committce OF
directors Of the Missouri Pacific, in which.
pleading for a release OF the debt OF the
road to the State, 1t IL asserted that they
paid the Legislature S23S 900. SO you soc
Misaouriis experience in railroad ownership
was not altogether happy, CONDITIONS
may be different to-day, but-it is u matter
that must be studied more thoroughly
before any decision is reached. | do not
care to say anything more than that about
what MI. Bryanysaid in his speech.
"As to the general effect Of the disclosures
OF corporate management in the last year
or two | have no hesitancy IN declaring
that they are evidences Of a moral regerer-
ton rather than a moral degeneration of
the people: The world il growing better
all the time and higher standards in public
and private business life are obtaining"
d Gov. Folk was asked If he regarded MIR.
Bryan's speech as practically a party plat
form for the Democrats and il he thought
Mr.. Bryan would refuse TO run unless its
provisions were Incorporated In the national
platform. Gov. Folk said:
What Mr.. Bryan said must be regarded
as his views on the questions of rhe day.
I presume he would like to have them in
-oorporated in the platform. I'do'not sup
pose he would decline to run for the Presi-
dency IL the national convention did not
adopt all OF them. l do not think we can
regard them as a full party declaration Of
principles as yet