The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-30
TWISTED PARTIsANsHIP.

Ii was TO be expected that Joseph W. Folks an
nOuncement of his out-and-out Democracy would
more or less disgrunte the Republican organs of
this State The game that they have played from
the start has been to use Folk 10 split the party
They counted upon bunkong public opinion into the
belief that all boodlers Democrats and that the
white and shining light Of political integrity and
the dOubledisted essence of virtue represented
in Republican ranks. The humbug involved in this
proposition has been very apparent. being unsup-
ported by any facts whatever On the contrary, the
majority of the exposed bOOdlers are Republicans
and they operated under a Republican city regime.
IT, until Mr.. Folks formal announcement, their shall
low scheme obvious, how great absurdity
is it now when Mr.. Folk defines himself as frst,
last and always a Democrat?
1t would seem that these organs would perceive
that now their intmations TO the low ebb Of
Democratic morals strike at Circuit Attorney Folk,
prosecutor of the boodlers. exponent of the Mis-
souri, Idea" Striking at Mr.. Folk, they only
coil upon those who dare utter them. 1t would seem
that these organs would have the ordinary common
sense TO debate along some new and more profit
able line. 1t would seem that they should realize
that their little game won't work. They are
the position Of declaring barefacedIy in denial
Mr. Folk in denial of The Republic which accepted
Mr.. Folks speech as an expresson Of true De
mOcracy.' that the Circuit Attorney is not Demo-
crat but that all the bOodlers Democrats This
appeals TO a sense Of humor but in no other way
does it commend itself TO any understanding.
Mr.. Folk stated in so many words that he is a
Democrat and that he is against thieves. He is
also against murderers and criminals in general
How the Republican spols organs can find an anal
ogy between any question of thievery or murder
and Democracy is beyond comprehension.
His true Democracy" said one Republican COM
mentator 's the kind current among the leaders
of the party. and its significance in the party re-
mains to he tested" In so far as the question OF
his Democracy includes opposition to corruption 1t
is The kind current among the leaders Of his party
On the whole much so in any State in the
Union it has been the kind current among the
leaders of his party during its thirty years admins
tration of State affairs If any internal party ques
tion is raised Mr.. Folks Democracy it is not
based upon such tomfoolery.
The question put by Mr.. Folk to the Democrats
of Missouri is whether or not his services as an
official and his prominence as Doodle prosecutor
enttle him a nomination at the hands of his
brother Democrats. The Republic does not main
tain that he is the only Democrat worthy of the
honor. But The Republic indorses his expression
Of the principles of Democracy and points to the
fact that impugning his Democracy on the score of
his enmity to bOodlers impugns the sincerity of
his speech and indirectly charges that every Demo
crat in Missouri favors an unreguated reign OF
boOdling.
From one viewpoint, this latest development
seems to be attempt to discredit Mr.. Folk What
ever it be, these Republican organs are far from
any logical stand. They should be telling US at the