The Washington herald., 1910-01-30

nominated, and in the election that fol.
lowed was stronger in the cities than
in the country keeping up with my ticket
in the rural districts, but running ahead
Of It IN the large centers Of population.
1.-THE explanation of what seems TO be 8
paradox" Gov. Folk went on to say, '1s
that party management in the country Is
IN the hands of the best men, while In
cities party machinery is controlled by
the vicious elements. which includes
saloon keepers. gamblers. pickpockets
and so on II is almost impossible for a
man hostile 10 such interests to break
down party organization and be nominal
ed for public office. However, If he can
be nominated by the country, as l was
and get before all the people OF a city. he
arouses a moral sentiment that sweeps
away customary political divisions.
Believes in Primary.
Therefore, I say In many Of my public
addresses that cities are at once the hope
and despair Of popular government-the
despair. because bad men control political
parties; the hope, because the people
themselves are sound Party lines in
cities, L believe. ought 10 be Obiterated
with respect 10 local offices. All should
vote at the same time at a general pri-
mary, the two highest candidates fol
each Office becoming the nominees and
going before the people at the ensuing
election"
After you began your service as gov.
ernor. you notified the attorneys and
other lobbyists OF railways that they
would have 10 keep away from. Jefrer.
son City, the State capital?"
7 couldn't keep them away. OF course
but I had a notice printed in the news
papers that when lobbyists came 10 JET
ferson City they would have 10 WorI
openly and not secretly. In two year,
a law was passed making it a felony
for lobbyist 10 do business with III,
members Of the legislature without frs
registering his name with the secretary
OF state and giving the interests he rep,
resented and the pay he was 10 receive.
Did any register
Surely. Lobbyists had 70 register o.
be guilty of a penitentiary offense."
/ Had the Missouri Legislature been a:
corrupt as the St. Louis house Of dele
gates?"
Bribery I'm Legislature.
There had been bribery, but the STATE
hadn't so many favors TO give as tn,
city Of st. Louis. The organized CRATER.
/ in the house OF delegates had established
| a regular schedule OF prices. ranging
| from So. 900 for a street railway franchi5,
to $3.50 for a permit TO put up an avn
/ ing IN front OF a store or other building
Yet there were dishonest men IN TIT
Legislature; IN times gone measures wert
/ occasionally defeated or passed by brib
cry. and senators had been known {,
/ come 10 ST. Louis 70 get change 70
| 81. 900 bills During my administration
! however, I am glad TO say, there wa
no crookedness in the legislature"
How did you stop the horse races a
/ the Delmar track. outside OF ST Louis?
Again I was denied the privilege O
using quotation marks. and for reason
j that I could not understand. While Cir
cult attorney. Gov. Folk had seen youni
men 90 through the courts for betting
/ their employers money on the races a
1 Delmar. The legislature passed Law
/ prohibiting any person from registering
\ bets on horse races-from making books
as IT is called by gamblers. The gov
ernor Of Missouri appoints the police com
! missioners Of st. Louis. and thus Foil
HAD the opportunity Of enforcing the law
One day, at his suggestion, policemen
went 20 the track and simply looke'
| around The second day they arrests
| all Of the bookmakers and hauled then
in patrol wagons, on q slow walk, 10 III
| Four Courts, six miles distant. On III
third day the track was closed. II ha
never been reopened. The Missouri Law
has been enacted with good results &
several other States.
"You also enforced the laws agains
| the liquor Dealers" ! said.
Enforces Liquor Laws.
once more. marks Of quotation mus
be omitted. There were laws forbiddinl
the sale Of liquor on Sundays. or after !
! O'clock at night, or TO minors, all o
which had been violated for years Gov
Folk had not made them, but he ha
taken an oath TO enforce the laws OF III
( Commonwealth. They were enforced, bu
there was a tremendous uproar at tn
start. The community seemed TO be on
Of sympathy with Gov. Folks action. bu
| the number Of Sunday arrests was re
lduced Immediately: workingmen who ha
been in the habit Of spending their none
for LIQUOR took II home and paid thei
Trent and grocery bills. and it was 500
Noticed that St Louis was being profile
IN many ways. morally and materially
Since then the liquor laws have bee
obeycd.
Did you find the police TO be corruptg
I asked
THE old police force Of st. Louis wa
dishonest" Gov Folk replied. saloon
keepers violated the law, and demand
were made on them for money. Bride
were taken from gamblers and the pro
prietors of disorderly houses. For tn
past three years. however. the police fore
lof ST. Louis has been cleaner than tina
Of any large city I'm the world. OF course
so long as there are opportunities c
grating, certain kinds Of men will G
wrong, and grating Will recur in a puri
fled community IL the people are no
watchfuL One may cut down the weed
in his garden. but there will be MOI
weeds by and by, and ne must cut agar
Good government is not automatic. an
the citizen is compelled to work to &c
and to keep It."
Opposed TO Privilege.
What message have you for the Dem
ocrats Of the country" I inquired.
II should prefer that you ask me. Whe
DO you think viii be the leading issu
/ Of the naxt camnaign2 Shaking for my