The Montgomery tribune., 1903-12-11
A FOLK MEETING.


See, prest.; J. +. Ball, vice prest.
j. 7. McQuic, sec'y; DIR. c. o.
Davidson, treas. The manages
ment Of the state Folk z. x. demo.
campaign has been turned over to
congressman w. ID. Vandivecr OF
Cape Oirardeau district, and he Is
now visiting the principal cities
and towns OF the state to that pur-
pose. lie was In Montgomery City
last Saturday night, and In res-
ponse to published call n public
meeting was held at the court
house In his honor. About fifty
men and one woman were present,
several Of whom are republicans,
and 1t was the biggest treat Of the
year for them. j. +. Bail called
the meeting to order, and after sta
ting It's objects, outlined his views
upon the political situation. While
he claimed to be n democrat he
was nevertheless very much dis
gustcd with the machine demo-
cratic politicians Of the state
who have been running the poll
tics. the Offices and the boodling OF
the state for years past, and want
to continue II. lie was for JOS. w.
Folk for governor all the time be-
cause he is able, honest and has
been tried; that he was tired Of
having to vote for nominated poll
tical scoundrcls and henccforth
was going to vote for only good and
honest men. Mr.. Ball then intro
duccd congressman Vandivccr,
who delivered a lengthy aud inter-
csting address. lie began by Gu
logizing the democratic party In
great shape; told of what IL had
done for the state; told Of its low
taxes, good schools and honest and
able officials, and that but one man
of thcitgrnnd old party had ever
robbed the state, and he was sent
to the pcnitentiary, and his bonds
men made the loss good. But Mr..
Nandiveer soon spoiled his first
story. II was too good, and
his conscience seemed to smitc
him. so he thought he would tell
the truth. Then he proceeded to
give n history of the state demo-
cratic machine ring, which Is now
and has been for years past con-
trolling the state o1iccs and lcgis-
turc, and IL now lighting Mr.. Folk
for governor. lie named many OF
the leaders whom he denounced In
plain terms, and said this ring
along with It's followers and lcgis-
lativc members at st. Louis and
Jefferson City have been for twcly,
years past openly and without
mercy robbing the people and the
, state. That during these years al
: Jefferson City members Of the leg
islnturo drawing but 81 n day sal.
aries went around with Thousand
, dollar bills In their pockets. Gov
; Dockery,.a good man knew II, bu
! he was machine nominee ant
was afraid to say anything. II,
, said that some Of the dcmocrati,
T candidates for governor and news
, papers contondcd that boodllnl
was not and could not be made ~
a Issue In the state, but ms Ed. But
Ter. the chief of the boodlcrs, ha,
announced through the papers tina
II Folk was nominated he would b.
defeated, and az Butler IL high al
In the democratic councils, It IL
challenge to the honest men as b
whether boodling should cease o
not; and II Folk IL defeated 70
O nomination the republicans vii
/. make the campaign on that issue
O He said the people OF other state
n are pointing the finger Of scorn a
o Missouri for these Wholesale rob
berries, and hintcd that II Folk |
o not nominated IL was questionabl
!. how he and many ether democrat
will vote next fall. Attorne
40 Claude Ball followed with oppo
site ideas. He was for reform an
A honesty of course, but was not fo
|. pledging himself until all the can
Il didatcs are known. Quite an al
/. tack was made upon Mr.. Ball b
y several Of the audience as havin
= before been for Sam Cook and the
10 for Reed, and other matters ques
r. tioning his democracy, but h
10 W arded them all OIL and talked fo
i II /.