The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-11-28
HON HARRY HAWKS SPftCH

The City OF St Louis. the weakness OF
its administration. and painted Mr..
Folk as the n incorruptible and hon
est official who, standing alone. was de-
Tying not only the forces Of corrup-
ton himself. but was doing it without
The sympathy Of the community or the
support OF our people.
Republican papers have given this
view OF St. Louis to the world. They
have at various times charged that Mr.
lFolk did not have the support of the
Police Department, they have charged
THAT he did not have the sympathy OF
his brother Democratic officials. These
lcharges have all been false
Mr.. Folk knows them to be false, ant
yet nj has not taken the time from
bis official duties and from his daily
engagements with the press to correct
This impression, hurtful as he knew it
70 be not only to his city, but to all
Of his brother Democratic officials, and
Injurious to the party which took him
Prom comparative o~bscurity and placed
him in the office he now occupies.
Is 1t because Mr., Folk has acted in
ehts 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 politicians? Or is
4 because, in 1902, with the State and
City campaign in progress, he refused
70 support his party nominees in pub
Nc speech OF public statement?
Let us so back a little. In the fall
Or 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
% support the best men that they could
ind for nomination. l was one Of
those present
When the discussion turned upon
The Office Of circuit attorney, l proposed
The nan of Joseph w. Folk. He was
Unknown to the other gentlemen pres
ent. I youched 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 fill this
position for the preceding twelve
years, 70 that when | 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
were 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 ex-
pendituce Of one cent of money. To
his second query, / toll him that the
Democratic party was s%plendidly or
ganized, would present an harmonious
front, and that the Republican organi-
Eation was in bad condition, and that
I thought his chances OF election were
good. To his third question, | replied
that [ thought that it would not in
lure him to be defeated, he being COM
paratigeIy unknown TO the City Of st.
Louis, a discussion of him by the peo-
pie and mis- 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
er way, and that a large circle Of ac-
quaintances and friends would be OF
assistance TO Kim in his profession.
Even though he should be defeated, 1t
was my opinion that his nomination
would be 10 him a personal benefit. He
hesitated about accepting and wanted
time for consideration.
l again called upon him and 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 1t,
and that the man who disclosed and
punished it would be well rewarded in
the esteem of the people Of the city
and in the future political preferment
Of his party. After further discussion
along the SAM lines, Mr.. Folk decid-
ed TO become a candidate.
He was nominated by the Demo
cratic party for the position of circuit
attorney and at once began an active
campaign In his own behalf. He made
the usual personal canvass, he spoke
In various parts of the city, he circu-
lated his cards, went over into the
Democratic strongholds in the Butler
districts, solicited their support, re-
lceived 1t, and was elected with the rest
of the Democratic ticket
Since his speeches in the election Of
1900, he has not spoken one word in
behalf Of the Democratic party or his
Democratic associates. His last Dem
0eratlc speech was made in 1900. His
nOxt political speech was made on oc-
tober "a, Of this year, a period Of
three years intervening. during which
A.. -