The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-05
POLITICIANS ARE WATCHING
THE FOLK MOVEMENT.
Nobody VIII Seek the Governorshp-Seera
Already Have Informally Pledged Themselves
Question Whether His Friends Could Control the
Three Big City Delegations.

| Politicians, both Democrats and Republic.
ans. are figuring on Circuit Attorney Jo
seph ". Folks future. There is probably
! not an officeseeker in the State who is moi
wondering what effect the Doodle prosecution
| will have upon his own prospects.
| Most of the gossip has to do with Folks
| chances of securing the Democratic nomi-
| nation for Governor. or rather of its being
| offered to him by a movement which is ac-
| tive in various parts of tho State. So far
he has not announced his candidacy and IL
| Is not probable that he will do So He re.
| fuses to be quoted or to acknowledge that
he IS anticipating gubernatorial career
simply stating that he has enough to keer
| him busy at the present time, without wor-
| ryirg about the future.
| Yet his friends are interested in the po-
liical situation. He is himself perhaps, not
so far removed from human susceptibilitics
that he is not thinking of the years pos
sibilities.
Politicians generally are not declaring
themselves on the subject. Friends of Sec
rotary of State Cook. while asserting their
enthusiasm for Folks work. insist that he
should take the Attorney Generalship and
wait four years to be Governor So far has
, this talk gone that other candidates for
Attorney General are waiting to see what
Will be done before going to any great
lengths in pushing their own ambitions.
Resolutions declaring sympathy with
Folks prosecutions have been circulated by
citizens of Saline and Marion counties.
They have been sent to the CIRCUIT Attorney
unsolicited. The Marion County memorial
was signed by all Of the county officials SO
that the politicians may be said to have
had some voice in its preparation
The business men throughout the State
are OF one opinion in their admiration for
Folk. The men who make speciality of
politics qualify by refusing to anticipate
the future. except in some notable instances
which are well known to those conversant
with the situation. Gil Barbee of Joplin.
the ancient enemy of Colonel Bill''
Phelps. is said to have declared that Folk
can have the Jasper County delegation TO
the State Convention. and Barbee's word
usually goes in that section.
IN COOKS COUNTY.
Bob White Of Mexico was Endorsed for
Secretary of State by the members of the
State Press Association and is now a re-
ceptive candidate for the nomination. He is
naturally not supporting Secretary of State
Cooks gubernatorial ambitions, and is
said TO be willing that Audrain County
should boom Folk for Governor against
Cook. II this were done. White would
naturally. expect to come in a good second
by receiving the nomination for Mr.. Cooks
present office.
good second by receiving the nomination
for Mr.. Cooks present office.
Up In Pike County-in fact. through all Of
the Ninth Congressional District-Folk is
strong" Champ Clark. Dave Ball and all
OF that band of warriors have expressed
their appreciation to inquiring ones and
say that Folk can get q big bunch of dele
gates from that section.
When Speaker Whitecotton was in ST.
Louis about three weeks ago he spent a
couple OF hours in conference with Mr.. Folk.
Mhitecotton himself has guberratorial am
billions or, falling short of that is said to
he willing to take a chance at the nominal
ton for Attorney General. He has always
been able to carry a primary in Monroe
County, and whether he would advocate the
nomination OF Folk part of his antilobby
poIlcy is one of the open questions
Down in the Fourteenth District, in the
southeastern part of the State, there is a
strong Folk sentiment. Congressman Van
diver Is said to have predictions for the
governorship. but he would have TO fight
for s2lid delegation to a convention.
In Saline County. which is in the Seventh
tive Matt w. Hall and Representative Hams
ere said to favor Folk above all corners.
Both are not oyerfriendly to the Stone
Cook element. In Dent County, where John
Z. Organ holds forth, Folk is openly advo-
Gated for Governor.
Added to this is the fact that William ].
Bryan spent five hours in conference with
Mr.. Folk on his recent visit 10 St Louis.
1t is not among the impossibilities that he
VIII advocate the nomination of Folk In the