The San Francisco call., 1909-10-25
CALLS ON men TO
SERVE THE PUBLIC
Former Governor Pardee Urges
People to Stand Behind Those
Who Fight Corruption

OAKLAND, Oct. 24.-"Men Needed in
Public Life" was the subject of an ad-
dress delivered this evening by former
Governor George c. Pardee at Pilgrim
congressional church. 1t was the first
of a series of Sunday evening adj
dresses by laymen. Doctor Pardee
spoke of the abuse and vilification
which had been poured upon true
patriots by yenal men and corrupt
newspapers from colonial days down
to the present time in this country.
He dwelt upon the early history of
California, the work of the vigilantes,
and the Schmitz-Ruef regime in San
Francisco.
BLAMEs PUBLIC CORPORATIONS
Doctor Pardee attributed political
corruption to the scheming plots of
public service corporations TO acquire
valuable franchises and other special
privileges at small cost in bribes. He
said that men were coming forward to
fight the rottenness in American poll
tics. He referred to Theodore Roose-
welt, Governor Hughes of New YORK,
Governor Dineen of Illinois. Governor
Fort of New Jersey, former Governor
Chamberlain of Oregon, and said:
In the senate Of the United States ssday as 1t
was in the time of Jackson, the citadel or the
predatory rich and the corrupt corporate inter.
ests. we find also men-men like La Toilette OF
Wisconsin, Cummins and DOlliver or Iowa, beF-
eridge of Indiana Nelson and Clapp of Mihne-
sofa. Bristow of Kansas and their 'insurgent
colleagues battling for the rights of the people
ana refusing to bow their necks, as so man! OF
their fellows have done TO the yoke OF tnose
who make it business to control public ofneiaIs
The house of representatives too, Is not without
= m V-hn houA 1faf
Speaker Cannon and have, therefore brought
down upon themselves the wrath of those whose
only interest in life is to get rich by any means
Also conspicuous 10y his devotion to the people
his activities in their behalf and his answering
loyalty TO their interests is that other lieutenant
of Roosevelt, Clifford Pinchot. Standing like
the rock of Gibraltar between the people and
those who would despoil them of their forests,
rivers and other natural resources. this man
ought to be proud of the enemies he has made
and to rejoice in the hatreds he has aroused
Special privileges today in our country are do,
ing what they TO rob US of our political
rights and to steal from us the things upon
which public prosperity depends. 1t would be
craven white liyered American people who would
tamely submit TO these things ana SIT quletiy
by while the fetterS were being forged which
will make peasants of our sons and daughters.
We have men. good. honest. patriotic men, In
public life all over this country. Let the people
follow them-let the abuse heaped upon them
by the organs and the orators of the special in
terests be the badges of honor which shall dis
tinguish them from the public enemies.
ABUSE DUE TO HATRED
Let every honest, patriotic American citizen
realize that is hated by the devil unless
the devil has grudge against him No man is
abused by the special interests unless he stands
between the people and the desires of the men
who manage the special interests. Every Amer
lean citizen instead of only few of them.
should be a politician. Politics is the means by
which the public business is transacted. The
public business is your business. II you do not
attend to II your enemies will In their hands,
instead Of being the conseryer of your liberties,
1t will continue to be your oppressor.
Let every honest. patriotic American citizen
become a politician and attend to the public
business. and the political boss is helpless and
unable to transact the public business for his
hirers, the special interests.
MEN NEEDED IN PUBLIC LIFE
II on the other hand the honest people CON
tinue to allow the rogues and bribe givers to
transact the public business it will not be long
before will have private business of
his For then all business will be controlled
by those who transport the products of the
try, those who furnish motive power for its con-
tinuance and supply the money by of
which it is carried on.
Men, real men. are needed in public life. just
as they needed in private life. All such men
should bear their share of the public burdens.
If the honest men do not control the public bust
ness the rogues, rascals and public enemies will.
How many of you vote at every election? The
fate OF this nation is in the hands of men like
you. Can the nation depend you to do your
full duty with the faithfulness TO the public
farlous attacks upon the public welfaref If so,
nat fioni is SaF