Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-10-29
R. h. KERN
| SPEAKS FOR FOLK
Able Democratic Leader Talks With
out Mineing Words.
CONTRASTS FOLK AND TaDER
ExpIodes $4,000 Fund Lie-.-Dcfends
Folks Democraey--Boodliug 10
Be Both State and Ma.
tioBai Issue.

The following speech was delivered
by Hon. Robt H. Kern at Macon City,
on September IA, 1903:
1 congratulate the people Of Macon
City upon the formation OF a Folk
club. AS | scan the lbs names signed,
| see that it embraces practically all
the democratic business men Of this
bright city. Bankers. merchants, nam
ufseturers, clerks, laborers and profess
sSnai men. II ever a club was strictly
representative of every element and
the best elements of citizenship, this
one is.
After a careful study Of the move
ment in Missouri to make Joe Folk the
democratic nominee. | can with truth
say that Just as it is here, so 1t Is
everywhere. II has been my good, OF
bad fortune to be active In Missouri
politics for a quarter of a century. and
never before have | een an uprising
In behalf of any man comparable to
this one. Il has leaped into life, stall
wart life at that, not by the gentle
nursing Of the deft hand of the poll
sician. for that hand would crush II, bul
it has come with a proud step int
manly vigor from the strong nand o.
the everyday people.
It affords me pleasure to add my fur
tile second to the great work in behat
of good government, that you and th'
AGO. 600 ether democratic voters OF Mis-
souri, are doing. | am glad to tell yoE
of this young mar whose work is al
~ltr,ctfng the attention Of the c~ivilize'
rid. and commanding its sinoeres
admiration. | have known him wei
since he came to Missouri. Modest a
La woman. he YET possesses the strength
oil q lion; courage Of the highest quail
it, integrity great a man possesses; in
dustry untiring; simplicity the rsres
and ability of such high order as al
ready to have created the greatest rec
ord as a ring smasher and fraud prose
cutor ever seen in our land. Above a
itnis. he is an everyday man, into who's
,looniidence the poorest citizen may ente
even more a~cceptahIs than the creates
! Around this character intere'
~centers to-day than around any oth'
: figure in American life. The humbI
!. cottaeer, the great business man flu
: Of affairs, and all between them, al
shouting into his ears the plaudii
well done. thou good and faithf'
servant: thou hast been faithful in fe
things. | will make theq ruler oy'
many
I stand absolutely amazed AT u
e opinions Of some democratic gentle
!. men with whom | have been associaI
iled In politics for years. have see
the hands Of some of these anne lea
8 ers draft the planks In many DENT
cratic platforms in favor of good go
eminent. At their request ! have gor
upon a thousand stumps. and adv
r Heated this holy declaration fresh fro
their hands. Aye, fellow citizens, ju
Ii the work Joe Folk is doing. But no
not a word comes from the lips
II these same gentlemen in his prats
y and all their ingenuity is being exc
cised and exhausted in an effort
: teach the very people who ereat'
6 them, that Folk is the enemy of u
democratic party. and that his work
nothing. They have created an issu
Without one finch we viii meet th
Tissue. The democracy of Missouri
Il an honest democracy. 1t is made UP
intelligence and character. 1t does n
draw its inspiration from an Olga
ehy of politicians, whose highest CO
: ception OF good government is mani
re ulation to defeat the voice of the pc
or pie. 1t may be a calamity that we
e. not sit at the feet of this oligaTei
ne who at this very moment are sayi
that most OF the people are for 70
e. but that they viii pull the wires a
defeat him.
This is the hour for straight bio
y from the shoulders of brave men, m
r. afraid Of no men. or power, but GS
lasting no fayors a the right
in choose their own rulers. Is this no
IasI when a united democracy is point
m 10 frauds in the postal service; fral
,;s Ii the interior department, saving 7
terial for the corning president
campaign-a time to proclaim to
world. that the democracy Of Misso
nv IS against the one man who has gil
to the fraud issue national prominen
What has Joe Folk done7 He
not n dollar beyond his meager
AIRY. His friends are not the great
wealthy. who would contribute to
urI u~nbuiiding. On the contrary. milf
ha are ready to be -ouipoured TO del
al him. Yet his name is on every tons
WHY? IN 1876 the democracy OF
Nation made Tilden its candidate
the presidency. Il did so because
TAI his wonderful fight on the Tweed r
lOl How well | remember the cartoon
AL the great Tilden holding a broken
LOG in his hands. our state and nati'
l59l committee gave me. and how
lA2i cussed his wonderful work on
stump. History places about three
ual yictions to his credit. Folk. unaidet
ils 40 years of experience at law,
l69 up the investigation of municipal
$50 tenness in st. Louis. It was the !
37ll growth of a quarter Of a century,
,47 deep in the trenches. that the cor
ton Of the bride taker and the ava
'p- OF the millionaire alone could dig.
had become so intrenched In the
~notttfe ri gt Iouis that for twl