Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-07-31
Mr.. Folks aim was to get as

like stuck pigs. Corrupt officials
were in q panic. Their hatred
Of the man who had dared assail
them was intense, and increased
in bitterness as one by one the
Circuit Attorney brought them
in court and convicted them.
There have been nineteen trials
and eighteen convictions. Among
them being Ed. Butler, the mil.
lionaire political boss, and Rob
ert M. Syndcr, the banller.capi.
italist of New York and Kansas
City.
Then Mr.. Folk turned his at
tention to state matters. The
most astounding venality was
found to exist there. Senator's
were caught chasing 100000
bills. Legislation was sold 70
the highest bidder. The resig-
nation of Lieut.. Governor Lee,
and his confession to disgrace.
full corruption, involving sena-
tors and representatives. is still
fresh in the public mind.
70 accomplish all these things
Mr.. Folk has worked necessarily
for two years. tie hardly has
time to eat, and has been com
PEELED to give up everything ex-
cept his work. Incidently, he
secured a treaty between the
United States and Mexico cover.
ing bribery. This latter achieve
mcnt would be con ,idcred a life
work by many men, but in the
multitude Of other things Folk
has done it is hardly noticed.
Mr.. Folks achievements are
known all over the world, and
his name represents the idea Of
opposition to corruption where
ever the English language is
spoken. Mr.. Folk abhors cor
ruption in every form, and con-
Siders honesty as the thing most
to be desired. He is "a poor
man, though he could have made
millions by being less strenu-
Gus. So strict IS he in his ideas
Of official conduct, that he re
fused Il gift Of q $4,000 home,
offered him by citizens, although
he does not own a home, living
in IL rented house. Under the
law the Circuit Attorney can
take civil business. This meant
thousands of dollars a year to
the Circuit Attorney, but he has
plwayS refused to do 50, in order
that he might be absolutely free
from all possible cmbarrass-
mems in the discharge Of bis
public duties,
Mr.. Folk is Of medium stature,
and weighs about $50 pounds.
He is modest and atTable in con
versatiOn. He never swears nor
uses Objectionable language He
is moral and clean in thought
and deed. He is an incessant
smoker, but rarely touches in
tOXicantS. He loves to hunt and
fish, though of late years he has
had no time for pleasure or even
recreation. lie is a member o.
the Baptist church, and attends
with more or less regularity
He is q member OF the knights
of pythias and Free Masons.
Mr.. Folk was married in 1SS(
to Miss Gertrude Glass, OF
Brownsville, Tenn. His wife i.
talented and charming in man
ner. She cares little for society
| but is devoted to her home anc
TO her husband. They have ~
children.
Folk is in earnest in his hgh
on corruption. Six weeks befor'
. the Democratic convention las
> fall he went 10 the party nun
ayers and urged that Butte
should not be allowed to dictat
; the platform and ticket. II
e. pointed out that Butler was un
der Indictment for bribery, ant
7 if he were taken into party coun
f ellis the party could not yer,
! well stand for stamping out cor
r ruption. The party manage
told him that he thought il goo'
3, politics to take Butler in AM
| have n platform to read %"ever,
( sort Of q way" "Then | canno
g be expected to say anything il
5 favor Of the ticket" said the OH