Arizona republican., 1909-09-27
AGGRESSIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS
Says Hon. Joseph w. Folk,
Is the Force Which Must
Preserve the Government
Against Graft and Cor
ruption

governor of Missouri and the man who
had earlier reformed the political NOR
ais of his state and driven corrupt poll
ticians to hiding or to the penitentiary
filled the Elks' Theater yesterday af-
ternoon. Mr.. Folk appeared in his now
famous lecture, Soldiers of Peace
the title being explained in one of his
epigrams, We now need patriots in
peace rather than patriots in war"
Nj. Folk is a pleasing speaker. His
style is a delightful compromise be-
tween the conversational and the
florid oratorical His lecture abounded
in epigrams but they were judiciously
placed for Mr.. Folk understands what
SO many public speakers do not. that
dinner must be made up of something
besides spices.
Mr. Folk was introduced by District
Attorney Bullard and after indulging
in some pleasantly at the expense of
Mr.. Bulard he proceeded to his subject
which in the main. was civic righteous
ness.
One of the cases of the crimes which
are now being abated, the speaker said
was a misconceptiOn of morality by
the men who committed the crimes
There was a time, not so long ago when
the giving and taking of bribes was not
crime. One man who thought he was
a good American patriot was spending
thousands of dollars fitting out a polar
expedition; he wanted the stars and
stripes planted at the north pole for
the glory of the United States. At the
same time the man was spending
thousands of dollars among the mem
bers of Missouri legislature to secure
legislation in favor of a kind of baking
powder he manufactured. This man,
said Mr.. Folk thought he was an
American patriot.
4 eontributory cause of the corrup-
ton which prevailed was the dis
taste of men who thought they were
too good to take an active part in pub
lie affairs Said the speaker, "Such a
man is too good to be an American citi-
zen. We need old fashioned religion in
politics.
Times had changed within the last
eight years. Corruption and graft had
been reduced. They would never be
eliminated so long as human selfish
ness existed but they had been curtail-
ed.
Beginning Mr.. Folk said, There has
been a great awakening on the subject
of individual responsibility for the af-
fairs of city, state and nation within
the last few years. The public con-
science has been aroused against evils,
and things are not tolerated now that
a few years ago were submitted to in
silence. Will the movement toward
higher ideals go on? VIII not the people
forget? Have not the people already
forgotten. and will not things be al
lowed to go on in the same old way
as they were before the awakening OF
the people? These questions are being
asked all over the country today.
Reforms sometimes die but revolu-
tions never go backwards, and a revo-
luton has been wrought in the con-
sciences of men. This awakening is
merely a determination to have the
government of city, state and nation
represent the public interests and not
special privilege. In the battle against
privilege some fights must be lost.
With each fight lost we should not be-
come apathetic and think all has been
lost. II the issue could be presented
squarely between public rights and
special privileges everywhere there
would be no doubt as to the outcome.
For the majority of the people here
and everywhere will do right when
they know right The representatives
of privileges are too shrewd to per-
nit plain issue between public rights
and special privilege to go before the
people. They adroitly manage to COM
plicate the main issue with other
questions SO as to bewilder and con-
fuse men Of the best intentions. By
confusing the issue the representa-
tives of privileges divide the forces
in opposition. Those who object to
reforms do not usually put theft pro-
test upon the true ground, but they
seek some other pretext. They ask
why is not this or that done? If one
examines the source of a complaint
like this he will usually find that il is
not because of desire that reform
be made more thorough, but to dis
credit what has been done. If one
sincerely desires progress in the way
of better things instead of criticism
he will give his help in the accomplish
ment of the things wished for. Reform
always progresses by degrees-every
thing cannot be done in a day"