Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-11-26

TO be not only to his city, but 70 AL
Of his brother Democratic officials, and
injurious to the party which took him
from comparative obscurity and placed
him in the Office he now occupies.
Is Il because Mr.. Folk has acted in
this way towards his brother Demo-
cratic officials and the Democratic
party generally, that he is now receiv-
ing his reward in the support OF Re-
publican papers and p~oliticiansg Or is
IL because. in 1902, with tbs State and
City campaign in progress, he refused
TO support his party nominees in pub
lie speech or public statement?
Let us go back a little. In the fall
of 1900 a number of Democrats who
were anxious to nominate men OF I'M
usual integrity and standing in the
community, so that a clear-cut issue
of good government might be made in
the city. met together and discussed
the merits of different men. agreeing
TO support the best men that they could
find for nomination. l VS. n Of
those present
When the discussion tn ned upon
the Office of circuit attorney, ! proposed
the name of Joseph W. Folk. He was
unknown to the other gentlemen pres
ent / vouched for his Democracy,
spoke Of his ability and personality,
and was then authorized to wait upon
Mr.. Folk and ask him if he would con-
sent TO the use of his name for the po-
sition of circuit attorney. The Repub-
licans had elected a man to NIL this
position for the preceding twelve
years, so that when l called upon Mr..
Folk he expressed a natural hesitancy
about entering into what then seemed
to be a hopeless contest.
He wanted to know three things,
first what would it cost to secure the
nomination, second what in my opinion
we're the prospects of his election, and
third, what in my opinion would be the
effect upon him personally If he were
defeated.
To the first query, | replied that |
was authorized to say that his nomina-
ton would not entail upon him the x-
pcnditure OF one cent Of money. To
his second query, | toll him that the
Democratic party was splendidly or
ganized, would present an harmonious
front, and that the Republican organi-
cation was in bad condition, and that
| thought his chances Of election were
good. To his third question, replied
that | thoug..t that it would not IL
lure him to be defeated, he being COM
paratiyefy unknown to the City OF st
Louis. A discussion Of him by h peo-
pie and his canvass of the city PROB
ably would make him a great many
friends and no enemies, that 1t prob
ably would give him some advertise
ment and make him known more
quickly TO the public than in any 9TH
err way, and that a large circle OF &C
ouainiances and friends would be OF
assistance 10 Tim in his profession.
Even though be should be defeated, II
was my opinion that his nomination
would be to him a personal benefit he
hesitated about accepting m wanted
time for consideration.
| again called upon him n sug-
gested that the real issue In the cam
paign would be the corruption OF the
Republican party, that it had run ram
pant in the City, that it would be an
easy matter to disclose and punish II
and that the man who disclosed ant
muished 1t would be well rewarded in
the esteem Of the people Of the eity
and in the future political prefermen'
of his party. After further discussion
along the same lines, Mr.. Folk decid'
ed 10 become q candidate.
He was nominated by the Demo
cratic party for the position OF Circuit
attorney and at once began an acttv
campaign in his own behalf. He mad
the usual personal canvass, he spok'
in various parts of the city, he circu
lated his cards, went over into th'
Democratic strongholds in the Butte
districts, solicited their support re
ceived it. and was elected with the res
Of the Democratic ticket
Since his speeches in the election O
1900, he has not spoken n word il
behalf Of the Democratic party or hi
Democratic associates. His last Dem
ocratic speech was made in 1900. Hi
next political speech was made on DC
tober "a, of this year, a period o
three years intervening. during whiel
time although repeatedly called upol
by party leaders, and although hi
failure to speak or to make a state
ment was a local campaign issue, h
did not at any time or upon any oeca
sion or anywhere that I have heard o
or have any knowledge Of, speak on
word or make one statement in behal
OF the party that had put him into of
fetal position.
In 1902 the Democrats placed in tn
field a splendid city ticket This tick
ct received the endorsement Of tn
st. Louis Republic and The st. Loui
Post Dispatch. Compared man TO
man with the Republican ticket It wa
infinitely superior in its makeup, bot
in personnel. ability and freedom fror
Objectionable criticism.
Mr.. Folk was called upon early 1
the campaign to speak for the party
He gave some eyasive answer, and
few days later the st. Louis StaI
which seems 10 be his personal orgal
in ST. Louis, printed an editorial. il
which It said;
Call Joseph w. Folk. Why does
not MIR. Folk support the Demo-
cratic ticket? II you want to vote
against the Doodle gang. vote the
ticket which is for Folk, and IL
you are a Democrat do not vote
the Democratic ticket until the
Democratic organs are able TO
show you that Circuit Attorney
Folk wants you to vote for that
B~utlerized ticket"
other editorials follow:
"The Republic has fallen fat in
its attempt to show hat the Dem
ocratie tickets are endorsed by Cir
cult Attorney Folk and are in line
with the Doodle crusade. The
challenge first came from The Re
public, which stated that the DEM
ocratie tickets were the Folk
tickets. The Star challenged The
Republic for proof for this in the
most convincing way possible.
namely in the words of Cir