Arizona republican., 1902-10-02

and home industries were driven out by blackmail. Franchises worth millions were granted without one cent of cash to the city, and with provision for only the smallest future payment; several companies which refused to pay black mail (to the councilmen) had to leave: citizens were robbed more boldly; pay rolls were padded and work on public improvements was neglected while money for them went to the boodlers.''
 That sounds like an echo from Phoe- nix. The article proceeds:
 Then the unexpected happened-an ! accident. There was no uprising of the people, but they they were restive; and the opposition party leaders. thinking to gain some independent votes, raised the cry of reform and put up ticket the usual offerings of political parties to give color to their platform. These leaders were not in earnest. There was little difference between the two parties 1 in the city; but the republican rascals had been getting the greater share of the spells, and the democrats wanted more than was given to them. 'Boodle' was not the issue, no exposures were made or threatened and the bosses eX- pected to control their men if elected. Simply as a part of/the game the demo- crats raised the slogan reform
 When somebody mentioned Joseph l w. Folk as circuit attorney the leaders were ready to accept him. They didn't know much about him. He was young man from Tennessee; had been presi- dent of the Jefferson club, and arbi- trated the railroad strike of 1898. But Folk did not want the place. He was a civil lawyer. and had no practice in civil law, cared little about it, and a lucrative practice as a counsel for cor porations was interesting him. He re- jected the invitat tion. The committee called again and again. urging his duty to his party, and the city. etc.
 "'Very we'll he said at last. I will accept the nominations, but if elected I will do my duty. There must be no attempt to influence my actions when am called upon to punish lawbreakers.'
 "The committeeman took such state ments as the conventional platitudes of candidates. Three weeks after taking the oath of office his campaign pledges were put to the test. A number of ar
 
 the recent election. and charges of ille- gal registration were preferred against men of both parties. Mir. Folk took them up like routine cases of ordinary crime Political bosses rushed to the rescue. MT. Folk was reminded of his duty to his party. and was given to un- derstand that he was expected to con- strue the law in such manner, that nth 1ay inals who had hoisted democracy's flag and helped elect him might be either discharged or receive the minimum punishment. The election cases were passed through the courts with aston ishing rapidity: no more mercy was shown democrats than republicans. and before winter came q number of ward heelers and d-time party workers were behind the bars at Jefferson City,
 In this manner Mir. Folk made it clear that an oath of office meant something. but it was only the prelude of the her culean task which hc undertook this year. It came to his knowledge that franchises of almost immeasurable value had been obtained by wholesale bribery of city councilmen. Some of tlese councilmen were poor men when elected, and had been satisfied with bribes of s5, ,000 each. Others were mill lionaires, and it took s50OOO to buy them. Slowly and patiently MT. Folk gathered up and strengthened the nu- merous threads of the story. Then t2 called his witnesses before the grand jury and obtained his indictments. Wig orous prosecutions followed Practically the entire city government was gath fled to Mexico. but were induced to come back and confess. Already some of the star offenders have been sent tc the penitentiary, and at least a score booked for terms in prison. Only a few days ago The Republicans dispatches told of the arrest of Colonel Ed" But Ter. the democratic boss of St. Louis for bribery-the very man who had named Folk for district attorney.
 That it has taken exceptional bravery and force of character for this young officer to do his duty goes without say ing. Arrayed against him is the Doliti- cal and social influence of St. Louis and much of it's wealth. The Mcclure arti- cle states:
 At the meeting of corruptionists three courses were decided upon. Poii- tical leaders were to work upon the circuit attorney by promises of future reward or by threats. Detectives were to ferret out the young lawyers past for anything that could be used agaInst him. Witnesses would be sent out oi towr and provided with money 70 re- main away until the adjournment of the grand jury. MT. Folk at once felt the pressure, and it was of q character to startle one. Statesmen. lawyers merchants, clubmen, churchnen-iT fact. men prominent in all the walk; of lifc--visited him at his office and lt his rcme, and urged that he cease sucf activity against fellow -townspcuple Political preferment was promised if Inc would y'eld: political grave If he Der