Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-12-03

before MFR. Reed became Democrat
AZ an aud have been keeping 1t up
ever since, though have never
thought OF claiming the Governorship
as a reward for It. Furthermore, IN
my humble Judgment, one speech Oh
Joseph w. Folk to st. Louis jury
which sent millionaire boodiers, bripe
giyers and bribe takers to the four
winds for safety, hns been worth more
to the Democratic party OF Missouri
and OF the nation than all the wind.
tamming oradons that ever blew from
across the plains OF Kansas. uaugh-
ter and loud applause.)
Reed is good fellow, and II he
should be nominated expect to sup
port him, but was surprised to see
that In his speech at Independence.
last Saturday, as reported by his
champion organ, the Kansas City
World, he showed how little he under
stood the sentiment of Missouri Dem
ocrats whom he attacked Mr.. Folk
and pooh-poohed the idea OF reform.
and compared II 10 passing wave that
would soon spend itself and be forgot
ton. n had read 1t in any but Q
Reed organ would have said he was
surely misquoted. Let the people say
whether this sentiment is ephemeral
or not. II 1t does not sweep every
thing before II In the next campaign,
then I have vastly overestimated the
character Of our people.
But have been told that Mr., Folk
is the candidate of the Globe-Demo-
crat, and that kills him. Well.
grant that ordinarily that would be
pretty heavy handicap. but are we
going to reject the only good thing
they have proposed in twenty yearsl
say let's call their bluff and then
close their mouth and spike their guns
for the next campaign. applause
1t is strange to me that some have
not seen through their game. 1t Il
the shrewdest politics they have evel
played. Here it is in a nutshell'
They have simply taken advantage Of
the popular sentiment all over the
state and the indignation aroused
against official corruption, and boomet
Folk for Governor, feeling confident
all the time that the Hawes machine
in st. Louis and the Reed machine IN
Kansas City, combined with the nu
merous little county machines ant
local politicians over the state woult
defeat him for the nomination, ant
then all the moral sentiment Of the
state would react and rise up to smite
the Democratic party. Shall we pla,
into their hands by helping to car
ry out their scheme, or shall we dis
appoint their expectations and clos'
their mouths for the next campaign
But, again, ! have heard II sale
that Gov. Stephens and Gov. Francis
and a few others were running Mr.
Folk. For my part am very sorr!
there Is no truth In this objection.
wish they were both supporting him
They both served the state creditabl'
in the chief executives Office, ans
know something about the responsi
biiities OF the place. But neither ON
Of them has any connection with thi
movement whatever. though the for
mer is supposed to favor II privately
while the latter has his hands full
with the Worlds Fair and takes ah
solutely no interest in the governor
ship campaign.
II is also said that Mr.. Mcleod
chairman of the business mems CON
mittee, is a Scotchman and is not evel
naturalized. This is one Of the sillies
campaign lies that was ever started
as Mr.. Mcleod, though Of Scotch dc
scent, was born in Maine, and has beel
Democrat all his life, and neye
voted anything but the Democrats
ticket, and has voted that with patr
otic regularity here in Missouri 70
twelve years.
There has been only one other II
told that equals this one, and that
that MIR. Folk is a Jew. Gentlemen
am astonished and ashamed tina
honorable men right here in Missour
will take up and repeat the silly an
filthy fiings Of the st. Louis World
which was started with Ed. Butler
money at the time the prosecution o
Butler was begun, and has been dc
Tending him and the hoodlers eve
since by spewing its filth upon MI
Folk and every Democrat who stand
for decency and good government
Folk and his family have been prom
inent Tennessee Democrats for 10
years.
am surprised, too, that the friend
Of Mayor Reed should hope to gail
support for him by allying then
selves with the corrupt elements her
In st. Louis I do not charge, an,
MFR. Mcleod has not charged, in fac
no friend Of Mr.. Folk has charged
that Reeds followers were all thugs
thieves and tricksters," as has bee
made to appear; but what do say I
that the many good, honest and IL
telligent people supporting Mr.. Rec
are in awfully bad company. (AI
plause.)
For It Is true that along with thes
good, honest and intelligent peoplS 1
a vast throng Of boodlers, Doodle syn
pathizers, and nearly every "thus
thief and trickster" in the state; no
because they are especially for Reed
but because they are for anybody +
beat Folk; and all say TO you a
gentlemen, high-minded gentlemen, l
to invite you to come up on highe
ground and get out Of that cesspoo
The quicker you and the Democrats
party cut loose from all association
with these political cutthroats tn
better It will be for the party and tn
public. want the Democratic part,
to drive all the boodlers into the Re
publican ranks. (Applause)
have been asked. is Mr.. Fol-
q man of executive ability, such a
we may safely put In the exect
tive chair OF the state2 Let m
say that no man can enjoy persona
acquaintance with MIN ana not be i'm
pressed with the great qualities o.
his head and his heart. with.the sim
piicity Of child and the purity ans
modesty Of a maiden. he combines tn.
quality OF sternness and uniiinchint
integrity. With marvellous level
headedness he unites the most perfect
/ eQuipoise. the most placid serenity O
spirit and absolute imperturbabilIt,
of tamnnr ae wall nn Ahn nio.-o.l