Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-11-26

DeUlOCTdllC t-u ~INcpubiiSdh OhSAoio'
Certainly the Democratic party must
not be held responsible for the selec-
tion of election officers made by the
Republican party.
The election law issue Is in keeping
with that OF the Metropolitan Police
law Issue. In 1861 the present police
law was first passed. 1t has beer
! amended from time to time, but has al
ways contained the essential parts OF
the old law Of 1861. This law was re-
viewed by a committee appointed by
the Senate when that body was Re-
publican. They reported in its favor,
Republicans having at that time tho
power to have repealed or amended 1t,
but they did not do so. No one dis
rrtes the fact that I know of, that the
Police Department needed more men,
and for that matter 1t will need still
more men for the proper policing OF
the City during the Worlds Fair.
A QUESTION OF POLITICAL ETHICS.
The full purpose of this address can
not be accomplished without a dis
eussion Of Mayor Rolla Wells and Cir
cult Attorney Joseph w. Folk. Before
discussing each man separately, a con-
trast of the political ethics Of the two
men may be best shown by conduct
when the election of each was contest
ed, a little matter which probably has
escaped the attention Of Eastern mag
azine writer's who have been SO busy
painting the "shamelessness" of Mis-
souri, and st. Louis.
Mr.. Folks election vas contested by
his Republican opponent, the matter
taken into court, and n of the cir
cult Judges ordered the ballot boxes
opened, the ballots counted and COM
pared with the registration list, thus
destroying the secrecy Of the ballot. Mr..
Folk went personally to the Supreme
Court, and was the first man to APP
ply for a writ Of prohibition directed
against the circuit judges, preventing
the opening of the boxes, the counting
and comparing of the ballots. Jul
prlsed at his victory and eager to re-
tain his place, the circuit attorney
lAstened to throw around his contest
every legal restriction that he could
invoke by law.
The contrast comes in the threat
ened contest Of Mayor Weiss election
His defeated Republican opponent stat
ed that he had been defrauded out OF
the election by crooked and dishonest
political work ut 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 gentleman's statement
that he could not afford to contest,
wrote to his opponent and published
the letter, stating that he (Wells)
would contribute out Of his pocket the
sum of $4,000 to Mr.. Parker for the
purpose of contesting his (Wells's) cleo
tion. provided that Mr.. Parker would
push ii 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 nc
comment to offer either upon Mr..
Folks practical view of the matter OF
of the sentimental view of Mr.. Wells
The incidents are valuable simply as
assisting in understanding b 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-
press. In demeanor he is modest, and
by disposition is retiring. He avoids
newspaper notoriety and does not
cater to sen~sationalism. His main
characteristics are his fine n 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 or enemy
II the Democrats of ST. Louis have any
cause of complaint against him 1t is
because he has not removed all OF the
Republicans left over from the
Ziegenhein regime, He does nc be-
lieve in giving a $500 position to a va
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
erat. until the campaign of '96, wher
he, together with many thousands o.
Others in the City Of st. Louis, re
fused to support the National ticket
which in my opinion, was a grave err
ror.
As I have discussed previously the
apparent necessity for his nomination
| will not enter into 1t again. 1t ma
be well to say, however, that he die
not seek the position which he now oc
cupies. He did not want 1t when !
was suggested TO him, and believ'
that he has no further political ambi
tions and would gladly resign his of
ice tO-mOFTOW Woulu us oShoS L Nuea
and propriety permit.
My acquaintance with Mr.. Wells be
gan at the time of his nomination, ant
| can testify to one thing, that, sinci
his nomination, he has done more thai
any other one man In the City of st
Louis in the cause of good government
He has loyalty supported all of tn
Democratic nominees since his cleo
ton. He has contributed literally +
each campaign fund. He has mad
speeches in almost every ward in tn
City, and his speeches have been o
great assistance to the Democrati
party. as The high confidence and es
teen in which he is held by the bust
ness world make his statements
weight in determining the mind Of
large class of independent voters Of hi
city.
In the campaign OF 1902, when Cir
cult Attorney Folk refused to supper
the city ticket or to speak for tn
State ticket. Mr.. Wells made the fol
lowing statement from the stage !
Music Hall to an audience of over sew
en- thousand Democrats:
81 cen honestly and c~onscientiousl
. advocate to every citizen Of this Cit
, that, If they viii act for the best In
...sto ~ 4hfa Cttv nm Tuacday nay