The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-20
Circuit Attorney Lauds the Cock
rell Brand and Recommends 1t
to the Party Voters Every
Understands Pat on Asser-
ton There Is a BoOdling Issue.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL,

| tffl- Bill s-ffSlAL
| Warrensburg. No.. Dec. 19.-Circuit At
torney Joseph W. Folk spoke to a mag
nificent audience here to-day at the Opera
| house despite the fact that the weather
| was very threatening.
| He arrived from st. Louis on the $685.
| train and was met at the depot by a
committee of citizens, composed Of c. H.
butcher II. T. Eaves. George W. Lem
mon. J. NJ. Davenport. C. A. Shepard, c.
H. Achenbach. Nose Wiley. Joseph L.
Ferguson, j. d. Eads. ]. H. Parker, r.
B. Smith and Decor ]. A. Adcock who
escorted him to the St. Cloud Hotel
reception was held in the parlors from
10 a. NJ to l. m. Many prominent citizens
from the country districts met Mr.. Folk.
Mr.. Folk spoke at the opera-house Mt
1:50 o'clock this afternoon.
A light rain that froze into sleet and ice
as it fell made the day an unpleasant one,
but the opera-house was full. and scores
of people were standing In the aisles
when Mr.. Folk came into the building
with the Reception Committee. 1t was
clearly a country audience, and 50 per cent
of the people in the hall were men past
40 years. Many OF these farmers had
driven miles to get here to attend the
meeting.
Mr.. Folk was warmly welcomed. He
was introduced by A. W. Geer. president
of the Cockrell Club of johnson County.
who said one of the vital things Of this
campaign is the wiping out Of the
boodling boodleIs.
FOLK INDORSES THE
COCKRELL DEMOCRACY.
Mr.. Folk said in part:
1T is q great pleasure to be in the home
county of Senator Francis NJ. Cockrell,
the man whom all Democrats delight to
honor and whose record both as a man
and an official affords shining example
that might well be copied after in this
the most critical period in the history of
Missouri Democracy. The things that
Senator Cockrell stands for / ask the
Democratic party of Missouri to stand
for.
Having faith in the honesty Of the
great masses of the party, have APP
pealed the case of the State of Missouri
against the givers and takers of brides,
to them. The party must pass upon the
question one way or the other. The
Democracy CT the nation is looking to the
Democracy Of Missouri to be on the right
side of this great question.
IF the Democratic party of Missouri
ignores all this corruption that has star
tied the civilized world. and declines to
make the cure of it an issue. discredit will
be reflected upon the Democracy of every
State in the nation.
1.-The issue cannot be obscured; it cannot
be evaded: all of the subtleties of special
pleaders who attempt to attract attention
to something else cannot hide the fact
that the people must do something about
this corruption or confess themselves i'm
potent to cope with the power and wealth
OF the boodlers.
'.In my official position 1 have been
battling with them for two years. Though
/ have had no personal malice or ill will, ]
they have made 1t a personal matter with |
me. i propose to combat them to the |
end. As long as am in official position
shall hurl at them every shaft of the |
law. and If 1 am retired to private life |
shall continue the fight the best can. I |
should do this II were the only man in |
had to make the struggle alone and I'M
aided.
RANK AND FILE: OF
AROUSED.
But am not the only one concerned in
this contest. The rank and file of the |
Democratic party are aroused as they
nave never been before. They are de-
that bribery must and shall be
,radicated and the boodlers driven frcm
Missouri, IL possible.
II have been charged with ingratitude in
Prosecuting the Democrats who were boo
Hers have no apologies to make for
what I have done. and here say that. in
whatever official position l may hold,
corruption will be exposed the
anne as Republican corruption. would
ave preferred for another to have made
his fight before the people. hut unfortu-
,ately the others I'm this subernatorial
contest deny that the cure of corruption
8 an issue.
at is clear to every thinking man that
Z IT is not made an issue 1t is not very
likely to be eradicated. / want this ques-
ion passed upon by the party fairly and
If my party desires me to con-
nue this crusade in the Governors office
will do 1t. If such is not the will of the
,arty. shall have no complaints to make,
md will be relieved of a great RESPONSE
,ility.
II have felt that 1t is just as much
ny duty to try this case before the people
If Missouri as 1t has been to try cases
before juries in court. l do not claim to
,ave done anything to merit any special
avor from my party.
MY platform is Democracy-plain De-
nocracy, the rule of the people and not
he rule of bosses or selfish politicians.
;ome of my opponents say / am not en-
tiled to any credit. and In this 1 agree
With them. in the sense that have only
lone my duty. The gentlemen who make
hese assertions. however will find that
pinion. as evidenced by the cordially of
heir hatred.
DEMOCRACY NOT ATTACKED:
CORRUPT DEMOCRATS ARE
DO not let designing men lead you
stray or obscure the question. They
ave endeavored to do this by claiming
hat the Democratic party is being at
acked. 1t is not the Democratic party
hat is being attacked. but the corrupt
nen in the party. No party can be in
ured by the exposure and punishment of
orruption, If the majority of that party
e honest. as / believe the great masses
the Missouri Democracy are.
"Ihey claim, in an effort to AOdge
MS issue. that ! have charged ..lc
GOVERNOR of the State with venality.
his II not true. have never ques-
Toned the integrity Of Governor