The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-01
BY Leased Wire to The Tribune.


BY Leased Wire TO The Tribune.
NEW YORK. April 30.-''The con
science of the people of the Unltec
States is pretty thoroughly awake,
said Ex-Governor Joseph W. Folk OF
Missouri, after declining 10 say any
thing concerning himself and the presi
Dental boom that has been launche.
for him. sit first began to stir from
its long slumber only few years ago
Now the fully awakened conscience OF
the people has been exposing the abuses
10 which the public eve has been sub
lected, one by one. and it has now com
menced TO assail the very foundation OF
all these abuses.
''What this great abuse 10 which the
public has been subjected is. every ono
knows; whether YOU 90 INTO the most
enlightened communities or far out into
the backwoods counties OF the newer
states, YOU will find that the people have
come to realize that for years and years
the country has been slowly but surely
throttled by graft II dates back to
the vefv foundation Of the republic, and
graft is gathered by privilege. With
out privilege graft could not exist,
Where the Danger Lies.
1.-THE safety of the republic. as such.
depends upon preserving the independ-
ence of the individual state. IL has
been sought 10 concentrate more and
more power in the federal government
at Washington. The most recent move
in that direction. and the one that by
it's far-reaching effects ] believe threat
ems the greatest danger to the republic,
is the proposition that the federal gov
ernment should take charge of all cor
porations. especially railroads. The is.
suance by the federal government OF
charters so all railroad corporations
would be fraught with the gravest dan.
gers to the liberties of the people. Let
there be placed in the hands of the
president Of the United States the pow.
er 10 control every corporation in The
land and there would be lodged in his
hands d power that would sooner or
later destroy every democratic govern.
ment. If the people of the state allow
the management of corporations within
the state TO be taken away and limit
the powers reserved TO the state to be
centralized by the federal government.
:hen the republic would be robbed OF
much of its strength. and of that which
made 1t great. The state can be relied
upon 70 treat railroads and all other in.
terests fairly. A corporation after ali
consists only of number of individuals
exercising charter powers conferred bv
a state. If the states are competent 10
enact valid laws as 10 the indiVidua Is
they are Just as competent to legislate
for a number of individuals, groupec
under the legal fiction of corporation
Let the federal government act with
the states. Federal remedies should be
added TO, not substituted for state rene
dies
Graft and Privileges,
Now. whenever there are privileges
20 be granted by law. someone will give
graft TO secure these privileges, and
graft cannot ever be done away with
entirely while opportunities for graft
remain. Until privileges conferred by
law can he taken away graft can never
be done away with
''There should be law enacted by
congress such as we have in Missouri
requiring all lobbyists TO register in
public record, stating who they repre-
sent, how much they are receiving and
from whom, and how much they arc
paving out and TO whom. and how lone
they intend to stay. This would, as in
Missouri, to a large extent, correct tho
lobbyist evil.
"While not interfering with the rep
resentatives of legitimate interests who
have the right to be heard before the
committee IN proper manner in legis
3ctiNc hIdtlfic. SUCH d law tnEPkb lnt
secret working of 2 corrupt lobbyist
The honest legislative agent does moi
object to publicity, and the dishonest
one has no right to object 10 it.
Why the agents of privileges, cal
them lobbyists and make it plain that
they are lobbyists, hover over Wash
lIngton like harpies, seeking Legislative
tavors. They seduGe well.meaninp men
They turn decent representatives OF
the people into grafters by methods that
for lnsiduousness compare only with TN.
efforts OF rogues to entrap young gentle
men.
How Game Is Worked.
''There is no trick for compromising
man unknown to these agents OF in
terests enjoying special privileges. They
lend the lawmaker money; they pla,
cards with him and let him win hun
dreds of dollars; they introduce bill,
INTO the legislature plainly unfair tc
their corporations and that are certain
10 meet with the opposition of ever,
honest statesman. Then they make
present 10 the lawmaker. who, in al
honesty, has voted against thorough,
bad bill. II il is his first term in tbt
legislature he may not know that the,
have purposely introduced that bill t.
catch him
'You ask me whether believe voun.
men ought to go into politics. Most as
suredly they should Not that / moal
that they should be politicians in tn,
commonly accepted sense in which tha
word is used nowadays. To describe ,
man as politician carries with il dis
appreciation in these times. A politician
IN the true sense of the word, however
! believe is man who takes deep IN
terest in the welfare of his country.
believe every bow should do that.
81 would, in fact, urge the trainin,
OF the boys of this country with ius
such an end in view. In the countrie
of the Old World the future kings ar