Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-07-19

HULL. JOSCpI ~ StS 49, 'S@A
less and distinguished Governor OF
Missouri, addressed a splendid audi
ence in the Assembly Auditorium
last Saturday afternoon. Those who
failed to hear him missed a most bril-.
lent and scholarly discussion OF the
problems which confront the Ameri-
can people. His appearance on the
platform carries the impression OF
~forceful sincerity, courage and faith.
His language is of the polished orator
and his ann denotes great
ness in it's modesty. No n in that
big audience was surprised at the
great reforms accomplished after see
ing and hearing the man who drove
the grafters out of St. Louis and sent
boodlers to prison. His presence gives
confidence and his eye tells the graf
ter that immunity or compromise is
impossible.
His discussion covered the problems
which has aroused the reform element
of the nation.
San embezzlement of power" he
said, sis as bad as embeZzlement \of
money, and the official who refuses to
enforce the law is an cmbeZZ!er OF
power and the time will come when
he will be classed with the embeZzler
Of~mOney."
"The people is the strongest ma
chine in the world" he said. "Five
years ago bribery was a common
method of securing fraudulent power
and place, and the bride giver and
bride taker got to consider it a legiti-
mate way of defrauding the people,"
He told a story of a Missouri bride
taker with $500, of bride money
who was going home. He put his
money in the inside pocket of his vest
and went to bed in a pullman. Dur
ing the night his bride money was
stolen. In the morning he hailed the
car porter and charged him with the
theft and threatened all kinds of pun
ishm ent If he didn't return the money.
The porter got frightened and owned
up to the robbery. Then the irrate
DElDt Udhcl COla CilC ClCLioiAAS AaSA
that he could send him to the pen,
but instead gave the robber a lecture,
concluding with the advise that \hon-
esty was the best policy.
The Governor said in discussing the
various systems of bribery that the
railroad pass was the most insidious.
81 deny" ne said "that any court
has the right to deny the state. the
right to enforce its own laws"
publicity" he said, will arouse
public conscience and wrong doing
will stop because the moral strength
of the people can cure all evils. Elk
terminate wrong doors. 1t is better
for all the people to be prosperous
than to have a few very rich, and the
people must be protected against
monopoly"
"The government does not rest on
the money of the people, it rests on
the moral wealth of the nation" he
said. ""The world is growing better,
J and you can make the country as
good as you want it, or as bad as you
want it, and there is no liberty with.
out law"
He told of the wonderful improve
ment Of the Missouri people under
temperance reform and of the indus
trial progress of the state because of
it. He said that every wide open
town vas a corrupt town and he
proved it.
He referred to the reform wave
sweeping over the nation and said
that a reform might stand still but
revolution never, and the reform
movement had behind it the power
and purpose and men who are making
the reform wave a mighty revolution
for good.
He said: "Beware of the man with
patriotism on his lips and treason in
his heart" and referred to One Of the
st. Louis bride takers who said he
would like to die for his country.
"There is just as much patriotism
and glory in fighting for your country
in time Of peace as in time of war,
and real patriots are needed now tc
preserve the nation from the corrupt
ing influences that destroy human
liberty and creates conditions of in.
dustrial slavery. True greatness is
in serving your country and doing all
in your power to help your fellowman
to arouse the public conscience
to a sence of duty and drive unfaith.
full public servants from place anG
power and thus put the government,
in the hands Of men who will protec,
the people," "The Indifference o
the average man to a proper sense
of duty is lamentable, but the maj
who dares TO do right will accomplish
. wonders. The l~awbreakers and thos,
who support the corporation evil
will be found on the street corner
proclaiming against those who ar
protecting the people,"
"Show your colors,'' he said. "B'
firm, be brave. be honest, and comba
: evil, graft, and the %insidious treache
ry Of corporation agents. The mora
. courage of a people will overcome cor
ruption and destroy corrupt men.
Rome fell, not for lack of money o
Q cl.~ Eo1l I111,,-o ~.