The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-12-12
THE POLITICAL TOMORROW.

political outlook ia Missouri au,
reviews fully the situation ss it seem
to him, II is impossible for Mr.
Williams to be mean spirited. Tbougl
his congratulations are astonishing
they are conceived in a spirit of per
feet fairness toward those who d.
not agree with him. A part of tn,
article is quoted below. SO that tht
readers Of this paper may compare hi,
deductions with the facts of their owl
observation and experience.
"Mr. Folks nomination, if made.
will be brought about by the cor.
science, caution and cowardice Of the
democratic party, a strange combina.
tion forSooth. His supporters are
drawn from three classes "a There
are many who feel that the nom
nation Of the great anti.boodle
champion is the right thing from the
standpoint Of public honesty. They
are men who believe in righteousness
in public affairs who do not regard
bribery as a conventional crimen
and TO whom the noble work of driv.
Ing boodlers from places Of trust and
profit appeals. They have idolized
Folk. 1t is from this class that the
democratic party will lose most
largely il Folk Is not nominated (2)
The second class of his supporters IS
drawn from that large element IN tue
democratic party who are concerned
with bringing about success. They
wish to win. They regard defeat as
certain unless Folk is nominated.
They do not wish to have a campaign
Of explanation. They do not care Tor
Folk any more than for any other
candidate but they regard Folks
nomination as a matter Of political
necessity. This class Of Folk sun.
porters is growing daily. (3) The third
class is composed of the political
towards, those who are, for various
reasons best known to themselves and
the members Of the grand jury, afraid
to oppose Folk. In thus class might
also be placed the band wagon politi-
clans, who think that Folk is going
to win and wish to be on the winning
side.
1.-THE opposition to Folk comes
from several classes. Q) There are
many Missouri democrats who are for
other candidates for governor but
who are not against Folk. They are
for Reed or CAN'T. ~ Another sec.
tion Of the opposition is composed of
men who a not understand how the
democratic party would dare to make
a guberuatorial nomination without
consulting them (3) Others are oppos
ed to Folk because they do not like
his prosecution of boodlers. The
boodlers themselves are in this class
but there are Others, (4) Another
class contains democrats who do not
like the methods Of the Folk shouters
or the character of some of his chief
boomers. There are more people
against Folk than there are against
any other candidate for governor lust
as there are more people for Folk
than there are for any other canGi.
date. This statement is less nara.
1oxical than it appears upon the
surface. o. There are some people
now in appointive office 10 the state
who are particularly violent in their
opposition TO Folk because they
realize that if Folk is chosen gov
ernor they will lose their jobs. This 5
opposition is the most ylrulentn S
Doubtless political conditions vary {
n different parts of the state. but
above is believed to be the I
'rudest classification imaginable. In /
iome Of the cases Mr. Williams seems I
% be talking about leaders and in S
about the rank and file. The /
INTELLlGENcER believes that Mr.. i
Williams has left out the largest q
lass OF Folk supporters and the '
argest class of Folk opposers-hon. '
'rable classes both OF them-and that t
lie has inserted Others that are either
non.existent or numerically y
nconsiderable. d
1t is very difficult to pass upon e
motives without running the q
isk of being unkind or violating the u
ommand against judging our neigh c
But there are some matters 10 r
'hich ii is never worth while to ask g
man what are the motives which n
'tuate him; you must Judge him b