The St. Louis Republic., 1903-07-27
CARROLL COUNTY
IS BOOMING FOLK,
Business Men and Farmers Lead
Movement to Nominate Him
for Governor.
POLITICIANS ARE TRAILING IN.
Doodle or No Boodle' Is the Slo-
gan Which Is Sounded En-
Enthusiastically Through
out the County.
BY A STAGE coRREsPoNDENT.

BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
Carrollton. Mo-. July 26.-"Folk for Gov
ernor' has become the slogan of the busi-
ness men and farmers of Carroll County.
The best citizens of the county seat have
signifed their intention OF doing all in
their power to make the St. Louis Circuit
Attorney the next executive of the State by
signing their names in black and white to
a paper calling for the organization of n
Folk Club in Carrollton and in every town
ship in the county. The first formal meet
ing will be held this week. when officers will
be elected and preliminary work for carry
ing the county delegation to the next State
Democratic Convention begun.
While the same sort of work is being
done over all the State. the Carroll County
movement is perhaps the most significant
of any branch of the Folk boom. This coun-
ty is only enc removed from Jackson Coun-
ty. the home of Mayor James a. Reed of
Kansas City. There is probably only one
outside county where he has more friends.
That one Is Ray, adjoining Carroll. where
Senator John F. Morton had Reed put on
the county delegation after he had been re-
fused this privilege in Jackson. Carroll
County is in Senator Morton's district and
has always stood by him in the party
primaries.
CoNKLING UNDECIDED.
Virgil Conkling. State Committeeman.
lives here in Carrollton and is supposed to
be a friend of Reed. There is much specu-
Iation at present as to whether he In the
end will join the Folk movement now in
process of formation here
Il am not unfriendly to Folk" Conkling
said to-day. Il shall not try to dictate any
action by the Carroll County Democrats.
The best people here are in the Folk move
men. and it is not 'sorehead' proposition
by any means. 1 have always been a friend
of Reed, SO that l cannot be expected to
leave him just yet If 1 ever do"
The origin of the Folk movement here Is
similar to that in other counties. The rev.
elations Of corruption by Folk astounded
and disgusted the better element here. as
elsewhere. Business men discussed it in
their leisure. Travelling men coming from
other sections of the State told of the senti-
ment which they found elsewhere. Practi-
cally one sentiment ruled here-that Folk
should be elevated whether the politicians
wished 1t or not.
So one day w. A Kinsey. book and sta
tionery dealer. and S. Rosenstock, dry goods
man. both standing high in the communi-
ty, started around the square with a paper
to secure signatures for Folk Club. In an
hour and a half they had seventy-five
names. Less than half dozen refused to
sign. Many Republicans wished to do so,
but were not permitted. as the promoters
desired to keep the roll one of Democrats.
One Republican merchant said that II he
could not join the club he wanted the privi-
lege of subscribing literally to any expense
which might be incurred in bringing Folk
here for a speech in September or October.
LEADING CITIZENS SIGN.
The leading citizens signed the roll
Among them are William E. Hudson, presi-
dent of the First National Bank; E. j.
Ray and Herndon Ely. president and CASH
Ter Of the Carrollton Exchange Bank; H H
Wilcoxson, cashier of the clearinghouse of
Wilcoxson & Co.: Doctor r. f. Cook; Ralph
T. Lozier, a prominent attorney; T. W.
Orchard, books and stationery; Doctor ].
A Lowell, dentist; H. David. dry goods;
and S. S. Lewis, travelling for Hargadine-'
McKittrick Dry Goods Company Of st.
Louis. but having his headquarters in Car
rollton. Mr.. Lewis has been one Of the most
active participants in the movement
Sentiment is all one way among the
business men," said Mr.. Lewis. my terri
tory is chiefly north of the river, and Folk
has the merchants as his most ardent sup
porters. We expect to organize Folk club
in Richmond, Ray County, in a few days"
The business men are not all of those in
the Folk movement hereabouts. When