The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-11-15
EIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION is ON WITHIN THE PARITY

HooH ~ All auulence WHICH coihPiS''i9
filled the Criminal Courtroom at the
Courthouse. Scores were unable to gain
admittarce into the auditorium.
Mr.. Folks address received the closest
attention from the mixed audience OF
Democrats and Republicans. and made a
most favorable impression on all who
heard him. The speakers arguments were
plain and convincing, and his visit to Sc
dalia gained for him many adherents. 1r-
respective of party.
Joseph W. Folk arrived here this morn
ing at $40 o'clock over the NJ, X. L.
and was met at the station by a reception
committee of the Folk Club. headed by J.
| II. Rodes Lee ntgomery, c. b. Rodes.
r. A Higdon, p. Courtney. H. w. Harris
and Z. W. Shultz.
The distinguished Missouran was es-
| corted to the Elks' Hotel. where apart
| ments awaited him. Throughout the fore
noon he held an informal reception at the
| Elks and met many of the most promi-
l nent Democrats of Pctts County.
| Mr.. Folk delivered an address at the
| Courthouse in the afternoon to an audi
ence that packed the criminal courtroom.
the aisies being filled to overlooking.
| FOLK CORDIALLY RECEIVED.
The audience was composed chiefly of
| farmers and their wives from the vicinity
of Sedalia. Democrats and Republicans
turned out to hear Mr.. Folk. and the
most careful attention was paid to his
| speech.
Mr. Folks address made an excellent
impression.
The speaker was introduced by Senator
| nd in infr
he paid an eloquent tribute to former
Senator Vest. as follows:
"It is an honor much appreciate TO ad-
dress the Democrats of Pettis, the for
mer home of the Old Cheftain of Missouri
| Democracy, George Graham Vest Here
he commenced that career which has add
ed so much luster to Missouri's history
and credit to the great party he repre-
sented. You have county that is world
| famed in agriculture and a city that
ranks with the best in progress and COM
mercial enterprise. 1t Is great privilege
to be Missouri citizen and especially
citizen of this splendid county.
YEATER'S SPEECH.
| In introducing Mr.. Folk Senator C. E.
Yeater said:
This meeting was called by the Folk
Club of Pettis County and Mr.. Folk was
invited to address the people here to-day
and is present for that purpose.
| I'VE have associated ourselves together
| as Democrats under the name Of the Folk
Club. not only for what we deem to be
the general interest of the party. but also
| for our own local self-interest
This country has during the last sew
| eral years been close country,a battle
| ground which is always fercely contested
| between forces almost equally divided
We want the advantage of having at the
head Of the State ticket candidate who
will not only inspire the confidence of the
masses of the people but who will arouse
enthusiasm In our own ranks ind draw
accessions from the enemy and from the
Independent voters, hence, like practical
| politicians in every close county In the
State. we want the advantage in our local
contest of having Mr.. Folk to lead the
ticket for the weight and strength his
| name will bring to our county ticket.
THE events Of public nature which
have come to light in the last few months
have gone into history. The most shame
less corruption in the legislative branch
of the Government has been exposed to
the public gaze. While 1t is true that the
| individuals who have violated the trust
imposed In them by the people have been
members both OF the Democratic and Re-
| publican parties, 1t is none the less true
that our party has ben in power in both
| branches OF the Legislature.
"It. therefore. follows that great
measure of responsibility rests upon the
Democratic party which must purge itself
| before the people by the platform 1t
adopts and the candidate it chooses at
the next State convention.
| Every person in the sound of my voice
knows that the Democratic party must
| Of necessity adopt as one of the main
planks of its platform denuncation Of
the legislative corruption which has been
rampant at Jefferson City.
This being done 1t seems to me that it
logically follows as necessary and con-
sistent action that Mr.. Folk, by whose
efforts this wrongding has been largely
uncovered, shall be made the standard
/ bearer of the party. To do otherwise and
to reject his name would lose the conf
dence of many OF the best and most In
| fiuential citizens
Continuing, Mr.. Folk said:
MOTTO OF MISSOURI.
"On the great seal of the State of Mis-
souri, is this motto. 'Salus populi su-
prema lex esto'-'Let the welfare of the
people be the supreme law" Those words
were made the motto of the State in the
.ong ago. but they are as appropriate to-
day as they were then. The pioneers
selected this motto as a message to COM
I ing generations. They should be kept ever
| in mind and come to Us now with new
meaning. Those words express the es-
| sence Of true democracy and are the guild
| ing star to correct decisions of oil public
questions.
Did you ever realize that this is your
State? 1t belongs to you, not to any in
dividual or class Of individuals, but to all
of you. Each Individual voter has as much
| title to the State az any other. The DEM
ocratic party likewise belongs not to self
constituted leaders, but to the people.
When the people become careless they
give over control of the party, and
through the party control of the State, to
undesirable elements. In order that the
welfare of the people be the supreme law
the people must exercise their civic duties
and take the government in their own
hands. The ward politician has come to
have an unsavcry meaning by reason Of
those who are in politics for revenue only
NEED MORE POLITICIANS.
"We need more men In politics for
the public good, and fewer of those
who are In 1t for what they can
make out of IT.
every citizen shoeld he q politi-
cian in the sense that he takes an
intefest in the selection of those
who represent the State I'm nm oniciai
capacity.