The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-03
FOLK BOOM LAUNCHED.
Former Governor PrOclaims His Plat
form in a Speech.

st. Louis, June 3.-Missouri Demo
Gratis Of all factions at a dinner here
last night heard former Governor JOS
eph w. Folk announce the principles
on which, it is said, he will seek the
presidential nomination in 1912. The
dinner was in charge of men who have
been promoting the boom of the for
mer governor.
"The doctrine of equal rights should
be made a living, vital and controlling
force in the government" said Mr..
Folk, after he had listened to Demo
Gratis from all parts of the state, tell
the guests that the former governor is
the man they should endorse for the
presidency
''The Democratic party" continued
Mr.. Folk, should insist upon the
stamping out of graft and corruption
from every department of government;
the eradication of all social favors, in
Guiding bOunties subsidies and tariff
for any purpose other than revenue.
1--WE need the honest, sincere en-
forcement of the laws we already have
and the regulation of the rates of pub
lie utility corporations upon basis
that Justice may be done the people
1nd a fair return for the actual invest
ments be afforded"
Other principles named by the speak
er were the preservation of the rights
OF the states of self government, the
restriction of American territory to the
=
oorollary of the Monroe doctrine, the
extension of American trade by remov-
ing the restriction upon commerce,
lust income tax. the election of Uni
ted States senators by direct vote and
rErelenting opposition to the domina-
ton in public affairs of special inter
ests and the elimination of sucn influ-
ences from politics.
On the subject of issues before the
people, the former governor said:
issue before the nQOnl6
Of this country is. Shall there be gov
(rnmen- by privilege for a class. or
government by the people for all? This
is a question within parties as well as
between parties. The Republican PARTY
is dominated by special interests and
operates with them upon profit charge
basis. We should not be oblivious to
the fact. however, that we have Aid
Tichs and Cannons in our own party,
and it IS the luty of Democrats to les
sen their influence as much as possible.
We can not prevent some of them be-
ing in the party, but we should keep
them from running the party.
"A crisis has been reached in the af-
fairs of the nation. Pick up a news
paper any day, and you viii find ac-
counts of thievery and graft. What
does it mean? Is corruption becoming
q national disease? Is there something
IL our system of government that en-
courages men to violate the command
the government itself in a large sense
to blame for this seeming general dis
position? Has not the example which
the government sets of enriching a few
by taking from all by means of the pro-
tective tariff been an influence for cor
1uption? With the example of the ma
t;onal government giving privilege to a
few there is encouragement afforded all
forms of graft, for all graft is based
On privilege. Officials are not bribed
to give equal rights to all, but to con-
fer some privilege upon the few denied
the many. the elimination of privilege
is the fight confronting Democracy.
"All political parties ostensibly OPP
pose the privilege of lawlessness, but
when it comes to privilege conferred by
law, there is a distinct issue between
the parties. The Republican party
stands irrevocably for the privilege of
a protective tariff. The Democratic
party # true to itself and its teachings
1nust stand squarely against this privi-
leRe."