The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-05

| Gommonssr:: Folk was q, stanch party man
curing , lSS6 and 1900; and his, course during
the boodling crusade has been cordially
commended by Mr. Bryan.
STEPHENS FOR FOLK.
Former Governor Lon V. Stephens has
come out openly and aboveboard for Folk
His brother-in-law. Paul Moore of Charles
ton. Mississippi County. an old schoolmate
of Folks. has told friends in st. Louis
that his county will hold an early conven-
ton and instruct for Folk. Last year Mis-
sissippi County held the first primary in
the State.
Former Prosecuting Attorney ]. II. Muir
ray of Columbia. who assisted Folk in the
prosecution of Colonel Edward Butler.
was i'll the city the other day and declared
that the politicians of his and Howard coun-
ties were for Folk. Outside of Fulton.
where Cook has many friends, Folk is said
TO be favored by some of the politicians.
According TO some of the Washington
avenue wholesale men. the organization
which was perfected there 10 present a tes-
limonial to Folk will go further and raise
FUNDS FOR his nomination as Governor or
Missouri. This same organization raised
$1,000 with which to buy him house. and
It Is said is willing TO use that as a nest
egg To forward the Folk movement.
Among the politicians Cook is undoubted-
~ the strongest candidate out in the State.
He probably has many personal friends
scattered throughout Missouri as any man
III Jefferson City. He helped Stone to secure
the senatorial nomination, and the United
States Senator would probably reciprocate
In kind if called upon-or ii gratitude pre-
walls without any request.
If Judge James 3. Can't were to run for
the nomination it is understood that Cook
would step aside and be content with
denomination as Secretary of State. Those
who are close to Judge CAN'T hardly believe
that this emergency Will arise, before
Nenyt
him to resign his present position.
Representative r. &. Oliver of Cape
Girardeau is being groomed by some of his
friends for the gubernatorial nomination.
So far. Mr.. Oliver has refused TO acknowl-
edge his candidacy. He is spending the
week in ST. Louis or private business and it
Is said has discussed political prospects
with several men.
Mr. Oliver. if he should run, would have
as his strongest cards his own personality.
freedom from outside influences and the
fact that he is the author of the proposed
constitutional amendment compelling the
railroads to furnish free transportation to
bers of the General Assembly. He comes
from the home of Excise Commissioner ].
NJ. Seibert.
IN THE BIG CITIES
The st. Joseph delegation would probably
be for Cook in the convention. If Joe
Shannon controls the Kansas City delega-
ton, as he usually has been able to do,
Cook might have some trouble in that city,
even if Reed should withdraw. AT present
no one knows what st. Louis will do. Folk
lives here. but has political enemies. He
has absolutely no organization, and that he
should carry delegations in some OF the
Butler wards is preposterouS. The business
men. who have been outspoken in their
eulogies of the Circuit Attorney. have not
been in the habit of carrying primaries, and
it would be something of a miracle for them
to do so under the present circumstances.
If Harry Halves becomes a candidate for
State Office from St Louis. some of his
friends say that he may DO, Folk would
have opposition centered at home. Halves
will leave the latter part of the month for
six weeks tour of Europe with Gussie
Busche. so that at present he is not trou-
of time.
If the basis of representation in the State
Convention next year is\fixed at one dele
gate for every 500. and fraction over 80
votes. the usual ratio. st. Louis. Kansas
City and st. Joseph will have about 1S5 DEL
will have, on this estimate, 525 delegates.
Three hundred and fifty-five will nominate.
If the three cities unite on one man, n pos
Sibility that is by no means remote, he will
have TO secure only 115 delegates from the
interior of the State.
Can Folks friends prevent Cook. Reed,
or any one who is favored by the three
cities. from securing this number out in the
State? How many can he get in st. Louis?
The more the candidates who appear the
better are his chances, so say all of those
familiar with the situation. Yet he has done
nothing. and until the early county conven-
tions and primaries are held in the spring
litical destiny, as far as it will develop
next year.