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The Commoner.
JUNE 23, 1911
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Ex-Governor Joseph W. Folk on "The Crisis"
The following is from the Minneapolis Tri
bune of June 2: Former Governor Joseph W.
Folk of Missouri, possible candidate for the
democratic nomination for president and a star
figure at the democratic manquet in St. Paul,
is probably the only representative of old-stylo
democracy so far as the tariff is concerned. Mr.
Folk belioves in the old democratic proposition
of tariff for revenue only. He thinks that if a
tariff is bad on one thing it is bad on all things,
and if one industry is entitled to protection
other industries are equally entitled to protec
tion. Governor Folk was the only real live candi
date present at the democratic dinner and made
an excellent impression. With his soft-spoken
southern speech, his keen, brown eye, and his
general attitude of alertness and Integrity, the
former Missouri governor, who put the boodlers
and gangsters out of business, was accepted as
a real man.
Of all the candidates for the democratic nomi
nation for the presidency, Mr. Folk stands out
as the man who went through the test of fire
when doing so involved the taking of a man's
political life in his hands. Today progressiveism
and honesty in politics are popular issues. For
mer Governor Folk was one of the trail-blazers
who made these issues popular when they were
unpopular.
PROSPECTS CALLED BRIGHT
Concerning national politics Governor Folk
yesterday said: "The prospect for democratic
success is very bright. If the party is true to
its ideals, it will, I believe, win in the next
campaign. The ideals of democracy are em
braced in Jefferson's maxim, 'Equal rights to
all and special privileges to none.' This maxim
opposes privilege in any form, whether it be a
protective tariff," subsidy or bounty.
"If protection is right in one thing, its justice
on somo other things can not be denied. The
only true democratic idea is that there be no
protection at all merely for protection.
"The great question before the country is,
'shall there be government by the people for
all, or government by privilege for a class.'
This is a question within parties as well as
between parties.
"We have agents of, privilege within the
democratic party. We cannot keep them from
being in the party, but we ought to prevent
them from running the party. If the party is
dominated by the agents of privilege, it can
not hope to benefit by the growing sentiment
against privilege.
"There is a tidal wave of democracy rising
in the country, and as to whether the demo
cratic party will ride on its crest or .will be
buried beneath it depends on the party's being
democratic. It must be true to its principles
and convince people not so much of what it
can do for itself but what it can do for them.'
"The democratic congress has done well so
far in the resolutions for the direct election of
United States senators, publicity for campaign
contributions, and so forth.
"Democracy is coming into its own and a
realization of its ideals will lead to success."
JOSEPH W. FOLK'S ADDRESS
Joseph W. Folk, former governor of Missouri
spoke of revenues as "graft." He said in part;
"A crisis has been reached in the affairs of
the republic. The newspapers are filled each
day with accounts of thievery and graft. What
does it mean? Is corruption becoming a na
tional disease? Is there something in our sys
tem of government that encourages men to
violate the 'commandment, 'Thou shalt not
steal.' Is not the government itself in a large
sense to blame for this seeming general dispo
sition? Has not the example which the govern
ment isets of enriching a few by taking from
all by means of privilege been an influence for
corruption?
"With the example of the national govern
ment giving privileges to a few, there is en
couragement afforded all forms of graft, for
all graft is based upon privilege. .Officials are'
not bribed to give equal rights to all, but to
confer some privilege on the few denied the
many. The elimination of privilege is the fight
confronting democracy. All political parties
ostensibly oppose 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. Tho demo
cratic party if true to itself and its teachings,
much stand squarely against this injustice. A
tariff for revenue only is for tho benefit of tho
public; a tariff for tho expense of the protec
tion of a class is for the benefit of that class at
the expense of the public.
"The chief purpose of a high tariff is to stiflo
competition and to that extent give monopoly.
The republican idea' is to protect monopoly from
tho people; the democratic idea is to protect tho
people from monopoly. When a government by
means of a monopoly tariff attempts to tako
from one class and givo to another, a moral
question is presented. Wealth created by legis
lation must in tho nature of things be drawn
from the public, and It is unjust for all tho
people to bo taxed in order that a few may
profit.
HIGH TARIFF DECLARED GRAFT
"A tariff other than for revenue is merely
legalized graft. Let the democratic party tako
an unmistakable stand on this question and
invite everyone of all parties opposed to tho
system of protection to unite with it in the
fight, then there can be a square issue be
tween privilege and equal rights. A battle over
tariff schedules claiming that some are too high,
and others should remain as they are, does not
involve any principle, and can only result in a
sham fight. There should be no tariff at all
merely for the sake of protection. The con
gressman who votes for protection on wool
produced in his district can not deny the de
mands of other congressmen for a larger share
of tho tariff plunder for their districts.
"The doctrine of equal rights should bo made
a living, vital, controlling force in government.
The doctrine opposes the privilege of subsidies,
bounties and all forms of governmental favors
to a few at the burden of the many. Tho
government has no more right to take from one
man indirectly to add to the wealth of another,
than it has to compel one man directly to con
tribute to the fortune of another.
"When such governmental favors are con
ferred they go to those of wealth and influence
enough to secure them, and are beyond tho
reach of the average man. If one of you were
to engage in the manufacture of somo article
and were to go to Washington, you would re
ceive scant attention unless you had means suffi
cient to employ legislative agents enough to
obtain consideration from the powers that be.
So such governmental favors usually are de
nied those who have not the money and time to
obtain them, but are granted to those who are
powerful enough to secure them. The benefi
ciaries of privilege keep their agents constantly
infesting the halls of congress, influencing the
legislators in order that they may reap where
the many sow. If these favors benefited all alke,
no one would want them.
"It is because they give a class privileges
denied to others that those few clamor forthem,
and it is for this reason the rest of the people
should not submit to such discriminations. f
"Privilege bestows upon its holder somo- mo
nopoly of opportunity and gives him somo ad
vantage over other men. As privilege increases
opportunity must diminish, and as opportunity
i diminishes the rights of the individual are de
stroyed. That Is the reason ,why under tho
republican system the classes are becoming more
opulent, and the masses are finding the oppor
tunity for individual effort growing less as the
years go by.
EQUAL RIGHTS IS SLOGAN
"Let us in this crisis be conservative v in
charging wrong-doing, lest injustice be caused
In charging where it does not exist, but once
sure of the evil let us be radical in Its extermi
nation. Let us havo neither the conservation
of stagnation, nor the radicalism of Indiscrimi
nating destruction. We want progress along
right lines. States and nations, like men, should
never be satisfied, but ever strive for higher de
velopment. Our surest and safest guide is
still the old maxim that there shall be 'Equal
rights to all; special privileges to none.' With
this axiom as our chart, we cannot lose our
course; with this rule for our guidance, the in
famies of privilege in every form can be de
stroyed, and unto all men there will be re
stored the equal right that belongs to each; tho
fair and equal opportunity of each and every
man to live and labor upon the earth which
God has given to all, and may anjdy untrnin
meled and unrestricted tho gains of individual
industry.
"Tho gospel of equal rights sounds tho death
knell of privilego and means tho uprooting of
monopoly throughout tho land. This gospel
teaches that tho prosperity of all tho peoplo Is
of more importance than groat riches to tho few
and that it is better that all of the peoplo should
havo tho wealth than that all of tho wealth
should bo In tho hands of a few. Tho other
republics that have lived and died during tho
flight .of tlmo through tho ages havo beon
wrecked upon tho rock of privilege. But tho
hopo for the perpetuity of this government was
never brighter than it is today, becauso tho
peoplo are awakened to tho dangers ahead. As
long as the peoplo are aroused thero will bo only
safety lights for popular govornment.
OLD PARTY SHOULD BE PRESERVED
"It is a question for us, not of founding a
new party, but in the preservation of tho Ideals
of the old party. Not tho formation of a now
government, but tho purification of a nation's
life. Not tho conquest of foreign foes, but tho
subjection of those within. Tho capacity of a
peoplo for self-government is to bo proved, not
by tho glitter of wealth, nor bravery on battle
fields, nor by tho extent of tho nation's do
minions, but by the happiness and welfare of
the average man. The dangers today are not
from without. Selfishness, greed, avarice, privi
lege, tho decay of public virtue, those who
would subvert the public functions of govorn
ment to sordid uses these are tho enemies wo
havo to fear.
"There can bo no peace between these enemies
and tho people's safety. Wo can not avoid tho
conflict with them without being recreant as
democrats and traitors to our better natures. It
is not enough for us to rest upon tho splendid
history of the democratic party; there must bo
hopes and aspirations for tho future as well aa
history and records of tho pa.,t. No man, no
nation, no party, can stand still wo must pro
gress or decay.
"Progressive democracy is constructive, not
destructive. It would not array class against
class, but would preserve the rights of all by
causing each to protect tho rights of tho other.
It does not attack wealth honestly acqulrod, but
tho privileges that produce tainted riches on
ono hand and undeserved poverty on the other.
It favors tho protection of property rights, but
recognizes the fact that property rights should
not bo inconsistent with human rights. It seeks
as a remedy for existing evils more government
by the peoplo instead of less government by
tho people. It appeals to conscience Instead
of avarice, and to the common good instead
of privato greed."
INDEPENDENCE
Writing to the New York World, H. LeDa
guerro of New York, says: "Col. Watterson's
argument to sell tho Philippines to Japan is
un-American. It will not enhance his reputa
tion as a democrat. Having blundered in pur
chasing them, is it commendable to shirk tho
duty of developing them, to sell Into bondage
their Inhabitants? " What country other than
the United States has a right to rule these
islands? If the burden is too great, if in the
future it bo deemed advisable to sever the union,
let the emblem of a new born republic, reared
under the protecting wing of the American eagle,
supplant the flag hauled down. Given self
government the Philippines in tho course of
time would no doubt become a great nation that
would reflect glory on the one to which it was
indebted for existence. Such an act of magna
nimity would be a fitting tribute to the illus
trious dead who helped to establish and perpet
uate this republic and its ideals."
A "REASONABLE" RESTRAINT OF
STOCKINGS
On May 16 the supreme court judicially legis
lated favorably to "reasonable" restraint of
trade, and sent all trust stocks soaring.
. On May 24, In convention in Philadelphia, the
National Hosiery association resolved to boost
the price of their product by restraining the
production.
June 1 this "reasonable restraint" so success
fully engineered had already sliced production
30 per cent.
The hosiery manufacturers are now mak
ing our socks and stockings and other knit wear
for next. winter's use, and it will be then that
this "reasonable restraint" of productfon will bd
made more clear to us. Omaha Daiby News.
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