The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-19
FOLK ADDRESSES
LARGE AUDIENCE
Says Same Charges We're Made
Against Him as Against
Local Prosecutors
Gives Words of Praise and En-
couragement TO the Graft
Prosecution

| firmly believe the majority are hon
est and that moral issue is invin-
chile The representatives of graft
are. however, too shrewd not to befog
the main issue. They adroitly manage
to confuse the question with others so
as TO bewilder and confuse men of the
best intentions, thereby dividing forces
in opposition.
when 1 was prosecuting graft in
St Louis L was accused of hurting
business / was accused of not being
sincere, of allowing my personal am
billions to outrun my sense of Justice
of damaging the city's fair name When
/ prosecuted the bride taker / was
asked why | was bounding some un-
fortunate fellow who had been tempted
When | was prosecuting the big man
| was asked to cease because the latter
had been held up.
why is this? Why is it that every
time that graft in high places is prose-
cuted there comes forward this deluge
of strange matter? What difference is
it what are the motives of the prose-
cutting attorney, so long as he is bat
Ting for the peoples rights against
evil? The mere fact of him being so
engaged proves his sincerity.
SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM
come when the patriotism of the people
is as aggressive as the efforts of the
grafters. The golden age of which the
poets speak VIII arrive when there is
more of the golden rule and less of
the rule of gold. While much has been
done for good government we should
not be content with what has been ac-
complished. The future of our govern
ment rests upon the integrity of the
citizen and upon his activity in public
affairs. The man who does not or is
afraid to show his colors against graft
tacitly supports 1t. This government
rests not upon the wealth of few men,
but upon the character and integrity
of the average Individual"
During his speech Folk spoke of the
difficulties of sending wealthy men
to the penitentiary, declaring that no
man worth 100000 has been put be-
hind the bars of state prison for
grating. 1T is not so much matter
of placing these maIefactors in the
penitentiary,'' said he. "as il is the
awakening of public consciousness y
Francis j. Heney followed Folk with
a brief speech in which he reviewed
the supreme court decisions in Mis-
souri, and the similarity between the
graft cases in st. Louis and those in
San Francisco.
At the luncheon following the meet
ing James D. Phelan. one of the speak
ers, forcibly commented upon the man
ner in which Folks lecture tour had
been arranged whereby places like San
Francisco where his views were most
needed were not included in his trip
The article in yesterdays issue OF The
Call had already aroused the officials
OF the good government league TO the
influences being eXerted to keep Folk
away from San Francisco. and the pre-
liminary steps were taken in the morn
ing BY lsidor Jacobs, to haves Folk
here again in the autumn. just prior to
the election.
One really comes TO understand the
vast resources and influences of cor
rupt capital said Phelan, when we
realize that even in little things such
as this are their hands felt
c. W. Hornick another speaker at
the luncheon. said that Folks presence
was an Inspiration to the graft prose-
cution. His presence here" said he
win create sentiment that will
bring you all out to the primaries this
fall, so that good government may
be continued. We can get good men
into office and have good government
provided the good men Will get out
on the day of the primary elections and
cast their votes in favor of good gov
eminent. | wish Mr.. Folk could stay
here longer. | wish the words he has
spoken today could be heard by every
man in San Francisco, and that he
could strike home to the hearts of loyal
citizens the great need of keeping up
this battle against corruption. How
ever, as this seems impossible. we can
be the leaven to spread his words
where we may, so that all the COM
munity may profit by them
Speeches were made also BY Bishop
Hughes, Isidor Jacobs. who paid many
high compliments to Rudolph Spreck-
els, and by District Attorney Langdon.
The latter warned the good govern
ment league that it was time to name
their candidates for the coming cleo
lions.
The New Conscience
BERKELEY Nav 1S.-That the
country is passing on to an era Of de-