Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1911-03-10
GOVERNOR FOLKS LECTURE

when Governor rOlh arose 10
speak last night he faced one of
the most attentive and largest
audiences ever assembled in the
Bradley Opera house. On the
platform we're J. A Mcbride and
A. w. Hesson, representing the
public and high schools. and
Andrew Crofut, president of the
high school literary society. and
George H. Anderson and Stanley
Davis, officers of the literary
society. Andrew Crofut in a neat
speech, introduced Governor Folk
TO the audience.
When the Governor stepped
forward, he was greeted with a
hearty round of applause He
began by complimenting Mr..
Crofut for his Introductory address
and then launched into a dicussion
of his theme. 1.-The Era of Con-
science" For nearly two hours he
held the undivided attention of
his listeners and at times rounds Of
applause punctuated his remarks.
Following are some of the salient
features of his address:
There has been a great awakening
on the subject of individual
responsibility for the affairs of
city, state and nation within the
last few years. The public consci-
ence has been aroused against
evils, and things are not tolerated
now that a few years ago were
submitted to in silence. Will tie
movement toward higher ideals go
on? Will not the people soon
forget? Have not the people
already forgotten, and will no.
things be allowed to go on in the
same old way as they were before
the awakening of the people?
These questions are beng asked all
over the country today.
Reforms sometimes die but
revolutions never go back ward,
and a revolution has been wrought
in the conscience of men. The
awakening is merely a determine
ton to have the governn ent Of
city, state and nation repres ent the
public interest and no. special
privilege. In the battle against
privilege some fights must be lost.
With each fight lost we should not
lose courage, but fight all the
harder; with each fight Won we
should not become apathetic, and
think all has been won. If tie
issue could be repro sented
squarely between public rights and
special privilege everywhere there
would be no doubt as to the out
come. For the ma jority of the
people here and everywhere will do
right when they knowithe!right. The
representatives of privilege are too
shrewd to permit a plain issue
between public rights and special
privilege to go before the people.
They adroity manage to compIicate
the main issue with other qucsti ms
so al to bewilder men of even the
best intentions. By confusing the
issue the representatives Of privi-
lege divide the forces in oppc sition.
Those who object to reform do
not usually put their protest upon
the true ground but they seek some
other pretext. They ask why is not
this or that done. j one
examines the source of a con plant
like this he will usually find that it
is not because of a desire that re-
form be made more thorough,
but to discredit what has been
done. If one sincerely desires
progress in the way of better
things, insetad of critici m he
will give his help in the accomplish
ment of the things wished for.
Reform always progress SIS by
degrees-everything cannct be
done in a day.
One of the obstacles 10 the
progress of Righteousness every
where is the mistaken view that il
Injuries a city or state e pre- secute
wrong doing. l have heari men
deplore the exposure of public
corruption because it hurts a city.
i have seen men oppose the enforc-
ement Of law againit gambling
and liquor lawlessness beca use IL
Injuries the state; | have heard
men object to prosecuting trusts