The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-10-10
THE M'LEOD LETTER.

This letter has created quite o oCuSo
ton In the state and has been CON-
mented on variously and 10 many
particulars loosely. 1t is not true
that Mcleod charged the supporters
Of the other candidates 10 a body
with the Intention OF attempting the
defeat Of Mr.. Folk by "thievery,
thuggery and t~rlckery." What be
said was that certain INSCRIPTIONS
political manipulators in the large
cities OF the state loudly boast that
they will be able so defeat Mr.. Folk
by thievery, thuggery and trickery. y
Though this sentence is constructed
in the plural number everybody
knows that it refers to only one man,
Harry Halves. True, it is not fair to
Mr.. HAYES and his political methods
AS a Characterization Of him, 1t
resembles very closely the course
vituperation Of the republican press
10 the campaign a year ago. 1t is
not unnatural that it should do so.
Mcleod and his COMMITTEE are said
said to represent those who have
been Of that school for years.
Nor does Mr.. Folk deserve blame for
disowning Mcleod and the "Citizens'
Bureau" He would have been
stronger if he had done so long ago.
He will yet grow stronger, If he will
not be content with denying his
responsibility for him and it but will
utterly refuse such suspicious aid.
The strongest argument against Mr.,
Folks aspirations has been that he
has seemed to be in the hands
of the worst gorillas on the outskirts
Of the democracy who are bent upon
nothing else so much as that of rend-
ing by insidious means the reputa-
tions of men who stand high
in the estimation of the rank and
file Of the party aud high in the
present excellent organization. Fol-
instance, the INTELLIGENCER has
it upon authority that puts the
matter beyond all doubt that Mr.,
Bryan stated at the time, that his
primary motive 10 visiting Mr.. Folh
a few months ago was to inquire
whether in his prosecutions he had
found any evidence rejecting in any
way upon the integrity OF Senator
Stone. MIR. Bryan has long been al
intimate personal and political FRIEND
of the senator and has often mention
ed him as one Of the strongest aDC
most fitting eligibles for the demo
cratic presidential nomination. Mr.
Bryan said that Mr.. Folk replied
"Not a particle, not a particle.
There are hundreds and thousands o
people in Missouri who ARE no NOR
for Mr.. Stone than for any othe
working democrat but who would b.
disguised to know that instead 0
these facts being given out in thi
way, it was reported in all the Folk
booming St. Louis papers and copiel
all over the state that Mr.. BryaI
visited Mr.. Folk to assure himsel
that he was a true blue '96 democrat
II Mr.. Folk had seer to IL that 1t wa
reported in the proper way, it woul
have done him more good then
dozen Mcleod b%ureaux. When b
opens his campaign October "a, b
may put an entirely different fac
upon this matter and such matter:
He may swing entirely loose from tn
maligners, and thus dlsarm many
his unwilling critics.
Passing over the absurd canar
that $50 per cen or the democrati
voters Of Missouri are for Joseph "
Folk for governor" and the equal
absurd opinion that he would pc
400, 900 more votes than any otht
man who could be nominated, " "
come to the only very very serior
charge in McLeod's letter;
1.-THE crowd opposing Mr.. Fol
is dominated largely by Doodle il
t~iuences. They are not good deu
ocrats, for they would prefer
have the state 60 republican rath,
than to have Folk elected governo
II they cannot control the par
they will try to wreck 1t. The bi
terness OF their opposition shov
this. Look around you in your ow
county aDd see the class Of fellow
opposing Mr.. Folk and draw yol
own conclusions"
For insolence aud overbearing tn