West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-09-06
VIRGINIA, THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 6. 1906.
NEW AGE OF EQUAL RIGHTS
DAWElEG. COY, FOLK DECLARES
In the Next Few Years, lie Says. the
Reign OF Special Privilege VIII
Come 20 an End In this Country

Gov. Joseph w. Folk OF Missouri,
chairman of the Reception Com.
mittee, spoke as follows:
awe are on the threshold of the
greatest political awakening this
nation has ever known. 1t marks
the beginning OF new age. The
mex, few years will be distinguished
as the time in which industrial
problems are solved, the reign OF
special privilege brought to an end
and the doctrine of equal rights
liked in national policies and in the
conscience of mankind. Things are
not tolerated for moment now
that not long ago were submitted
to in silence. Only a few years
past bribery was considered merely
conventional. Legislative halls were
made dens of thieves, and the touch
of the unclean dollar Of privilege
was over all. Dishonesty in public
lie was either unnoticed or regard
ed with despair, Tnen dormant
public conscience was aroused to
the necessity OF stamping out the
oitense that strikes at the heart of
free government, and Of making the
government representative in fact
as well as in name.
"This movement against wrong
is not a crusade against wealth.
Wealth in itself is a blessing, the
abuse Of wealth is a curse. Wealth
gained by honest industry is com
mendable. The poverty of indo-
lence is contemplate. This gov
eminent does not rest upon the idle
rich nor the idle poor, but upon the
industry and patriotism OF the mid
die classes. There can be no OBJ
lection to honest riches, but there
is objection to the crimes and priv
ileges out OF which tainted riches
grow. There IS no disposition to
injure corporations that obey the
law, but the demand is that cofpo-
rations, even the greatest, obey the
law just like any one else. Special
interests should be made to respect
the law regulating their conduct as
they ask others to respect the law
protecting their property.
"The gospel of equal rights
sounds the death knell of privilege
and means the uprooting Of monop-
oily throughout the land. This
gospel teaches that it is more i'm
portant that all the people he pros
porous than that few be very rich;
that it is better that all of the peo
pie should have all of the wealth
than that all OF the wealth should
be in the hands Of a few people.
The other republics that have lived
and died during the flight of time
through the ages have been wreck
ed upon the rock of privileg. But
the hope for the perpetuity of this
Government was never brighter
than it is to day, because the peo-
pie are awakened to the danger
ahead"
Augustus Thomas, the playwright,
in brief speech Of welcome on
behalf Of the Antitrust League of
Commercial Travellers, hailed Mr..
Bryan as the Gladstone Of America.
lie said in part:
"Your countrymen rejoice in one
whose journey round the globe has
been marked by speech and printed
utterance that measured always to
the statesman's standard. They
feel that the resolution for inter.
national arbitration and your thrill
ing appeal that gained its unani.
nous adoption by Congress IN
which twenty-six nations were rep
resented have made the civilized
world your perpetual debtor They
are glad that England, recognizing
you as a Christian statesman, called
you "the Gladstone OF America.