The San Francisco call., 1910-06-03
FOLK PREPARES TO
RUN FOR PRESIDENT
Former Governor of Missouri
Announces His Platform at
Democrats Dinner
Equal Rights for All and Tariff
for Revenue Only His Prin-
cipal Planks

ST. LOUIS, June 2.-Missouri demo-
Gratis of all factions at a dinner here
tonight heard former Governor Joseph
w. Folk announce the principles on
which, it is said, he will seek the presi
Dental nomination in 1912. The din
ner was in charge of men. who have
been promoting the boom of the former
governor.
The doctrine of equal rights should
be made a living. vital and controlling
force in the government" said Folk
after he had heard democrats from all
parts of the state tell the guests that
the former governor was the man they
should indorse for the presidency. He
said:
The democratic party should in
slst upon the stamping out of graft
and corruption from every depart
ment of government; the eradica-
tion of all special favorS, including
bounties, subsidies and a tariff for
any purpose other than revenue.
We need the honest. sincere en-
forcement of laws we already have
and the regulation of rates of pub
lie utility corporations upon a rea-
sonable basis that justice may be
done the people and fair return
for the amount actually invested
be afforded.
were the preservation of the rights of
the states to self government. the re-
striction of American territory to the
western hemisphere as a necessary cor
ollary of the Monroe doctrine: the eX-
tension of American trade by remov-
ing the restriction on commerce.; a just
income tax; the election of United
States senator's by direct vote and un-
relenting opposition to the domination
in 1io off foir nf oil nj
On the subject of issues before the
people the former governor said:
The great issue before the people
of this country is, shall there be
government by privilege for
|. class, or government by the people
for all. There is a question within
parties as well as between parties.
The republican party Is dominated
with them upon profit charge
basis.
we should not be oblivious to
the fact. however, that we have
Aldrichs and Cannons in our own
party, and it is the duty of demo-
Gratis to lessen their influence as
much a s possible. We can not pre-
vent some of them being in the
party. but we should keep them
from running the party.
A crisis has been reached in the
affairs of the nation Pick UP
newspaper any day, and you Will
find accounts of thievry and graft.
What does it mean? Is corruption
becoming a national disease? Is
there something in our system of
government that encourages men
to violate the commandment Thou
shalt not stealS
Is not the government itself in a
large sense to blame for this SEEM
ing general disposition? Has not
the example that the government
sets of enriching a few by taking
from all by means of the protective
tariff been an influence for corrup-
ton?
All political parties ostensibly
oppose the privilege of lawlessness,
but when it comes to privilege con-
ferrej by law there is a distinct
issue between the parties The re-
publican party stands irrevocably
for the privilege of a protective
tariff The democratic party, If
true to itself and its teachings,
must stand squarely against this
nriVileGe-