The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-11-28

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the opening OF the boxes, the counting
and comparing Of the ballots. Sur
prised at his victory and eager to re-
tain his place, the circuit attorney
listened to throw around his contest
every legal restriction that he could
invoke by law,
The contrast comes in the threat
ened contest of Mayor Wells's election.
His defeated Republican opponent stat
ed that he had been defrauded out OF
the election by crooked and dishonest
political work at the polls, and further
stated he would contest Mr.. Weiss
election were it not that the expense
would be so great that he did not feel
justified in using his own money in the
contest. Mr.. Wells, instead Of taking ad-
vantage of the g~entleman's statement
that he could not afford to contest,
wrote to his opponent and published
the letter, stating that he CWells)
would contribute out of his pocket the
sum of 500 0 to Mr.. Parker for the
purpose Of contesting his (Wells's) cleo
ton, provided that Mr.. Parker would
push it to a final and absolute conclu-
sion. and that. if the contest showed
that he (Wells) was not honestly elect
ed to office, he would resign his place
in favor of Mr.. Parker. This contrast
of action under the same circum-
stances of Mr.. Wells and Mr.. Folk tells
more than could a volume of the char
acteristics of the two men. have no
comment to offer either upon Mr..
Folks practical view of the matter or
OF the sentimental view Of Mr.. Wells.
The incidents are valuable simply as
assisting in understanding the charac-
teristics of the two men.
MAYOR WELLS.
Rolla Wells was born in the City OF
st. Louis. He is the son of Erastus
Wells. who so long and ably repre-
scented the st. Louis district in Con
gress. In Gemeanor he is modest, and
by disposition is retiring. He avoids
newspaper notoriety and does no.
cater to sensationalism. His main
characteristics are his fine sense of du-
ty. his strong will and fearless courage.
Tenacious in his friendships, he is ag-
gressive in his attitudes, and in the
performance of his public duty does
not know the difference between Dem
ocrat or Republican, friend II enemy.
If the Democrats of st. Louis have any
cause Of complaint against him it is
because he has not removed all of the
Republicans left over from the
Ziegenhein regime. He does not be-
lieye in giving a $500 position to a $75
man, nor will he remove a competent
Republican from office to make room
for an incompetent Democrat. In poll
tics he has always acted as a Demo
crat, until the campaign of '96, when
he, together with many thousands OF
others in the City of st. Louis, re-
fused to support the National ticket,
which in my opinion, vas a grave err
ror.
AS | have discussed previously the
apparent necessity for his nomination
l will not enter into it again. 1t may
be well to say, however, that he did
not seek the position which he now oc-
cupies. He did not want it when il
was suggested to him, and believe
that he has no further political ambi-
lions and would gladly resign his Of
flee tomorrow would his sense Of duty
and propriety permit.
My acquaintance with Mr.. Wells be-
gan at the time Of his nomination, and
l can testify to one thing, that, since
his nomination, he has done more than
any other one mar in the City of st,
Louis in the cause Of good government,
He has Loyalty supported all of the
Democratic nominees since his cleo
ton. He has contributed literally to
each campaign fund. He has made
speeches in almost every ward in the
City, and his speeches have been OF
great assistance to the Democratic
party, as the high confidence and es-
TEEN in which he is held by the bust
ness world make his statements a
weight in determining the mind Of a
large class of Independent voters of his
city.
In the campaign of 1902, when Cir
cult Attorney Folk refused to support
the city ticket or to speak for the
State ticket, Mr.. Wells made the fol-
lowing statement from the stage in
Music Hall to an audience of over sew
en- thousand Democrats:
81 can honestly and conscientiously
advocate to every citizen Of this City
that, if they will act for the best in
terests of this City on Tuesday next,
they will go TO the polling places and
vote for every man that has been nom
mated by the Democratic City conven-
ton"
He added to this public endorsement
a support of the city ticket by speak
ing wherever he was called upon, and
took an active and personal interest in
the election of the tickets, because he
believed he was serving his city in SO
doing. A man Of wealth, and having
investments in a great many large en-
terprises, he probably has sacrificed
more personally in accepting the posi-
tion of mayor than any other man now
holding political ONCE in the State OF
Missouri.
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