Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-12-10
Folks DEMOCRACY.
He Makes a Splendid Speech at
Plattsburg, Mo.

!
Speaking 10 an overlooking Court
House crowd at Plattsburg last Sat
Hon. j. W. Folk, in part, said:
81 have always believed in the
teachings OF the Democratic party
and can have no dispute with those
who hold to the principles Of the
true Democracy, There appears, how
ever, to be a new brand Of Democracy
Just out, and with this / am NOT in
accord. l prefer the old-fashioned
kind Of Jefferson, Jackson and Tilden.
Such Democracy is not turned out by
machinery, but comes from the hearts
and cousciences Of the people. Such
Democracy does not demand the sup
port OF corrupt men nor the condon-
ing Of wrongs done by members of the
party.
sIn my official position it has been
my disagrceable duty to prosecute
members of my own party. | have no
apologies TO make for It. Some pro.
fessional Democrats nov critieise me
because, while engaged In the prose.
cution OF these men, l would not so
out on the stump and support them
politically. In the campaign OF 1902,
in the midst Of the bribery prosecu-
tions. / declined to advocate in pub
lie, even by indirection, the things !
was denouncing in court. In order
that my position might not be mis-
understood, however, / gave public
statements defining my position. say
ing that, as a Democrat, / would sup
port all the nominees on the Demo-
cratic city ticket except those domi-
mated by the influence | was prose-
cutting. | could not have done more
at that time consistently with my
public duties.
"In the discharge of my official
functions | do not claim to have done
anything to merit special distinction
at the hands Of my party. My OPP
ponents say that | have only done my
duty, and should not be rewarded for
that. In this | agree with them, but
do they not go too far in insisting that
one should be disbarred from receiv-
ing a Democratic nominStlon simply
because he has done his duty? The
doing OF ones duty in official position
ought not to be an objection.
Il should like to see the day come
in Missouri when it will not he I'M
usual or startling for an official to per-
form his duty for the public good, re-
CARELESS OF his own political welfare.
| should like to see time when Off
cials who endeavor to enforce the
laws fairly and impartially will not be
subjected to calumnies and abuse. 1t
is far easier to serve the gang than it
is to serve the people. No enmities
are then Incurred and no bitter
hatreds engendered. If | had favored
the gang instead Of trying to serve
the people they would now be shout
ing for me instead Of swapping and
snarling against me. | would rather,
however, have the approval OF my
own conscience than to gain any
position, no matter bow exalted, by
the sacrifice Of principle.
PEOPLE WANT NO BOSSES.
aft the people Of Missouri want me
to be Governor, | will try to faithfully
carry out the obligations resting upon
me, with the public good alone In
view. Whether | shall or not, is fol
the people alone to say,
"Some gentlemen have gone out into
the State attempting % dictate to the
rank and file Of the Democracy whom
they shall nominate. They tt
r think no one is a good Democrat who
/ does not wear their brand of collar. ]
: have always been under the impress
r sion that the Democratic party be
longed to the people and not to any
self-anointed d~ictators.
> There are some who do not agret
with me in this, and l may be wrong
but l am not yet convinced OF it. Tit
people are the ones to decide who i
, and who is not a Democrat. Th'
! honest yeomanry Of Missouri are moi
, yet ready to bare their backs to thu
whiplashes OF self-seeking bosses work
ing for their own interests, not thu
party good.
1.-THE election laws should be ad
: ministered all over the State so tina
every vote may be freely cast and hon
estly counted. Police machines should
e not be permitted in politics. Tit
corrupt lobby should be driven from
legislative halls and the laws should
be administered 81 that corrupt lob
/. bles will pot be needed"