Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-03-29
H MORAL
AWAKENING
A G ST
GRATING
By
JOSEPH w. FOLK.
Governor OF
Missouri

simply the PATRIOTISM that comes FROM lHE
HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE, a determination to stamp
out the things that dislonor in public life and the things
that Cypress in private Hfe-a firm resolve that GOV
EMINENT SHALL BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOOD,
NOT OF THE BAD
A few years ago men would give and take brides and still consider
themselves honest. They have been taught better now. THE PUB
lC CONSCIENCE HAS BEEN AWAKENED to the necessity
of putting a stop. to the ofense that strikes at the heart of free gov
eminent.
The energies of this public conscience are being extended from the
domain of the public wrongdoer to that of the private wrongdoer and
PROBING INTO THE CARVINGS ON OF RAsCALs OF
EVERY KIND. The officials of some of the great insurance com
panies were found to be using the trust funds in their hands without
authority for their own gain. They, too, no doubt, considered them
selves honest, and they, too, now HAVE LEARNED THE GREAT
LESSON.
In on national congress our representatives are now dealing with
the question of discriminating the RAILROAD REBATE CRATER
AND SPECIAL RATE CRATER. Railroads are the arteries of
commerce. They re necessary to the development of our vast re
sources and are entitled to fair treatment the same as individuals, and
no more. They should be given EQUAL AND EXACT JUSTICE,
BUT NO SPECIAL PRIVILEGES.
THE POWER TO FIX FREIGHT RATES is THE POWER TO
TAX AN INDIVIDUAL OR A COMMUNITY, AND THE POWER TO TAX
is THE POWER TO. DESTROY. THE REGULATION OF RATES Is
ESSENTIALLY A MATTER FOR THE GOVERNMENT, AS THE REPRE-.
SENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE, TO TAKE A HAND IN, IN ORDER THAT
JUSTICE MAY BE DONE THE PEOPLE WITHOUT DOING INJUSTICE
TO THE COMMON CARRIERS.
Upon the same principle the government has the right to REGU-
LATE THE CHARGES to be exaded from the people BY ALL
MONOPOL1ES. WHEN any number of INDIVIDUALS Sc
CURE A MONOPOLY on some necessity Of life AND EXACT
from the people MORE THAN THE NATURAL PRICE, THAT
IS GRAFT. SUCH ARE THE GREAT MONoPOLIES OR
I TRUSTS THROUGH WHICH SUCH COLOSSAL FORTUNES
HAVE BEEN BUILT UP in the last few years.
This movement against graft is NOT a movement AGAINST
WEALTH, BUT AGAINST THE ABUSE OF WEALTH. The
distinguishing characteristic of this crusade for HIGHER IDEALS
IN PUBLIC LIFE AND IN PRIVATE BUSINESS is the con-
servatsm of the people.
ANY OFFICIAL WHO FAILS TO CARRY OUT HIS
OATH to enforce the laws IS A TRAITOR to his oath and the
people he represents. The time will come when official oath breaking
will be no more submitted to than official grating. The lawlessness OF
dramshops, dive keepers, of gamblers and of trusts SHOULD NOT
BE COUNTENANCED ANY MORE THAN TRAIN ROB
Berry o II any other form of outlawry. Men may acquire wealth by
any form of lawlessness o graft, but is THE WEALTH OF THE
BUCCANEER AND THE PIRATE and not that obtained through
natural means.
The people oppose the artificial ways in which many immense for
NOT BE FOREVER DISOBEYED without bringing disaster. 1t
dollars that have been piled up through the graft system to be acquired
naturally.
If Christ had avoided the ross, or if any one of those who walked
with Him had remained on earth with man and PREACHED THE
GOSPEL of salvation FROM THAT DAY TO THIS and the
world had paid him for every day of the nineteen centuries A SAL
AIRY OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY, and he had saved
every cent of it, HIS PILED UP FORTUNE WOULD NOT
NEARLY EQUAL THAT OF MIR. CARNEGIE.
HAD PROVIDENCE ORDAINED THAT ADAM, THE FIRST MAN.
SHOULD HAVE LIFE ETERNAL HERE, AND AS THE RULER OF
HIS MILLIONS OF DESCENDANTS HE HAD RECEIVED A SALARY
OF s75 A DAY, HIS 5000 YEARS SAVINGS WOULD NOT BRING HIS
FORTUNE UP TO THAT OF MR.. CARNEGIE.
Yet the wage of the average man is nearer 81 IS a day than $115,
and instead of living six thousand years the span of his life barely
reaches forty years. If a man were to receive a salary of $4,000
year and save every cent of it he would HAVE TO LIVE FIVE
THOUSAND YEARS before he could match his FORTUNE with
that OF THE PRINCE OF OILS, acquired through the system of
special PRIVILEGES. tt.t.L..