The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-22
rights OF STATES
MUST Be RESPECTED.
Governor Folk Urges This Doc
trinc iii Strong Speech OIL
Liberty as a Right.
OURS IS A GREAT NATION var
But 1t Is Not Greater Than the
States That Compose 1t.
Conscience Awakened.
OURS is A GREAT NATION
Especial to Tic Tlmes-Dispatcli.1
Il A NJ ii. * TOW n Elk SIT TO N

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IA NJ EsToW n EXPO S1T.1ON
GROUNDS September si.--'rhis was
known as Missouri Day aud also as
League of American Municipalities Day
Mt the fair and II was one of the big
gest and most successful days seen
here for long time. Thousands or
people were in tho grounds.
Joseph w. FOLK. Governor OF Mis-
sourl, who has sent SO many "boodlers'
and other corruptionsts to jail In his
state headed the Missouri delegation
here, and was the big man of the DAY.
The Governors popularity IN THIS part
of the country was abundantly attesteu
by the throngs who desired to sec MN
and who crowded the Auditorium u
hear him speak.
He was escorted from the Missouri
Building shortly before II O'Clock to
the Auditorium by a detachment oil
the Twelfth Calvary
The people had filled the Auditorium
before his arrival there and when he
entered he was received with thun-
dcrous applause.
Henry r. Kent president OF the MIS-
souri, Exposition CoWmisslon. presided
at the Auditorium, a~d in brief nd-
dress opened the exercises. hon. Harry
ST. George Tucker. president of the
Taylor E,llyson in the absence of Gov
crnor Swanson. were introduced IN
order and welcomed Missouri TO the
exposition and Virginia.
The address of Governor FOLK FOL
lowed. His speech was closely lollo"-
cd as the Governor had been often
spoken of as possible Democratic
candidate for the presidency.
Individual Liberty Right.
rho Governors subject was: "Thc
I liberty of the Individual n Right, Not
n Privilege" Among those who heafu
the address were delegates to the con-
vention of the League OF American
municipalities, who took IN the ia'r
to-day.
"The magical age In wnich y" M
Ia the result OF the idea that the iio-
ertv of the Individual is right, not
nrivilere. From this principle has
come universal education and the rec
ignition of the rights OF the masses
az onposed to the privilege of the
classes. The nearer we keep TO inns
idea, the more real progress we shaii
make, and the further we get from IT,
tho more removedNwe shall be from the
ideal republic. towards. winch those WHO
believe in the liberty OF the individnai
an right. not as privilege, are
striving.
..Thc greatest enemy TO the liberty of
the individual is privilege--the priv
ilcge of lawlessness. the privilege con
ferrca by law. and the privilege OF mo-
nopoly." Governor Folk continued.
.tl'here has been a great awakening oil
tho public conscience during the past
few years as to the privilege of law
.lessness This public conscience goes
l,,.l la
some evil; day after day remedyins
some wrong.
Moral sense Quickcncd.
"rlcrc arc soine who see danger to
cur institutions in tho agitation result
ing from. the exposures of wrongdoing
in official and business life. 10 my
mind, the hope for the perpetuity of
this government by the people was
lever brighter than now. This awalt-
ening of the public conscience does
not proceed from Il spirit of discor-
tent. but comes from the dtijckening
OF the moral sense of the average indi-.
vidual. II is simply determination
to stamp out tho stains of dishonor in
in private life; firm resolve that the
government shall be representative OF
the liberty Of the people. not of the
privilege of special interests.
"rhe great combinations of capital
that have grown mp in the past few
years require stricter rules OF rcgula-
ton as to their conduct than We're
needed in years gone by in relation to
action. In exposing and
prosecuting the wrongdong of these
aggregations of wealth the liberty OF
the average Individual is being protect
ed. The attack on corporate wrong
doing is not an assault on legitimate
industry. Tile man who would retard
Legitimate industrial development is as
much public enemy as he who would
crush the people beneath the heel nf
monopoly. No man or corporation do
ing an honest business need fear the
rousing of the conscience Of the people
against wrongdoing. Those whose bust
ness methods Will not stand the light
of publicity have no right to complain.
II they persist In wrongdoing and are
hurt, they are not injured by the peo.
pie, but by the wrong which they do.
/ do not believe there is any enmity
anywhere in this country to Legitimate
industry. It ,s not railroads nor in
surancc companies the people complain
OF. but the breaches OF trust on the
part OF those running railroads or
insurance companies.
Not All Arc Crooked.
while some railroad men and some
insurance men are crooked, just as
some public officials arc crooked. it
does not follow that all railroad men
or all insurance men or all public office
holders are without honor. The cradi-
cation nf lawless privilege from busi-,
ness helps rather than hurts legitimate
industry. Insurance policies are more
valuable to- day by reason Of the climb
nation OF grating on the part of some
insurance officials. We can eat our
meat with moro satisfaction since
abuses in tho beef packing business
were stopped. When railroads and
other special interests are compelled
to obey the law it Will not retard their
development nor injure their. real pro-
gress but will put them on q more
secure aud substantial basis.
The flights of states.
I'm the fight against tho privilege of
there have arisen questions
between the Federal and State gov
ernments as to the construction Of the
powers of each. If tho people OF the
States cannot be trusted to enact valid
laws with respect to corporations, by
what process of reasoning can 1t be
assumed that they have the capacity to
1af,slnta FOR the individual citizen?