The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-11-28

serving my C.. est interests.
CIRCUIT ATTORNEY JOSEPH W.
FOLK.

behalf Of good government is Joseph
w. Folk. / say next to Mayor Weiss
work. because the latter's work ex-
tends into all Of the departments Of
the city government, Mr.. Folks only
into one The scope of MIR. Wells's use
fulness is unlimited; the scope of Mr.,
Folks usefulness is necessarily limit
ed to the duties of his office, which
consist in the ferreting out and pun
ishment of crime.
Mr.. Folk came to St. Louis in 1894.
| preceded him to St. Louis seven
years, both coming from Southern
States, and there being but three weeks
difference in u ages, we formed an
acquaintance which ripened into
friendship Of a personal and political
nature that lasted until the political
campaign Of 1902.
| have approved most heartily Of his
prosecution Of corrupt public officials,
and have personally and officially
been glad to serve him at all times. AS
president of the Police Board, and
speaking in the Boards behalf. l told
him on numerous occasions that he
could have what men he wanted to as
sist him in his work and to call upon
the Department at any time to assist
or serve him in his work in any way
that he might designate.
In 1896 we spoke side by side from
the same platform in support of the
Democratic party and its nominees, as
we did in all other campaigns ND to
and including the campaign of 1900.
There is no question about Mr.. Folks
Democracy or his straight party record
up to and including the campaign of
1900. believed him to be a consistent
Democrat and had no reason to change
my mind until after his election.
Since the campaign of 1900. however.
his course towards his party has been
such that ! can no longer support him
in his political aspirations. / do not
think that he is a good Democrat. His
actions since that time show that he is
not a good Democrat, because he re-
FUSED TO come to the assistance of his
party when it called upon him. be-
cause he is too closely affiliated at the
present time with Republicans. be-
cause he has gathered around him to-
day in political support conglcmera-
ton of political assets which is abso-
lutely repugnant to party men.
He has been a candidate for governor
Tor over a year, he has been seeking
and soliciting support in the most out
of-the-way places and from the strang-
est sources, for a man asking a Demo-
cratic nomination. The men who sup
ported Meriwether, the remnants of the
old discredited city committee. and Re-
publicans, are joining under his mug
wump banner for a partisan nomina-
ton. After the nomination, | conceive
that it then becomes a question of Sc
curing the most votes, and a candidate
for office may with propriety seek these
votes where he may. Votes from all
parties could be sought for at that
time, but not before.
Democrats alone should settle the
question Of whom their nominee will
be. Democrats alone should be solicited
for their support. It would be Just as
consistent for the German Emperor to
ask for the support Of French soldiers
as 1t would be for a man seeking the
Democratic nomination to introduce in
to the ranks of Democracy Hessian SOL
diers, wearing the livery of Republi-
canism, wearing the liveray of mug.
wumps, wearing the livery of Meri-
wether.
Probably the vilest partisan paper in
tie whole State of Missouri is the St.
Louis Star, which is supporting Mr..
Folk at the present time in his ambi-
ton to secure a Democratic nomina-
tion. Be the cause what it may, how
ever, the st. Louis Star, the Globe
Democrat, and the great metropolitan
dailies in Kansas City, are busy CEN
soring their news columns in the inter-
est Of Mr.. tolk. Nothing derogatory
to him is permitted to be printed. They
magnify his slightest acts into conduct
Of great virtue and patriotism. They
advocate his nomination by the Dem
ocratic party for governor. They OPP
pose editorially and in their news col
umns the candidacy Of any other Dem
ocrat.
Can it be reasonably supposed for
n moment that these Republican pa
pers will support Mr.. Folk If nominat-
ed? Can it be supposed that they will
not fall upon him, Islander him, abuse
him and villify him, as they do all
other Democratic candidates Why then
do they want him nominated? Why do
all the Republican politicians in the
State and all the Republican newspa-
pers in the State want Mr.. Folk nomi-
mated on the Democratic ticket? Does
any sane mar suppose that they desire
his nomination because he will be the
strongest man that the Democrats can
nominate? Is 1t because they believe
that after nominating him they can
beat him? Or is it because in two cleo
tions in the City of st. Louis he de-
liberately refused to support his party,
although his failure to do so jeopar-
died the interest of the ticket and be-
came the local campaign issue? Do they
want him nominated that he may be
elected and then controlled by them