Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-08-27
WANTS A WINNER.
Folk Has ToppTed Over an
Edlflce of Crime.

st. Joseph, Mo-, Aug. 23.-Con.
gresham Charles F.. Cochran Of
this city, whose name was mem
toned a short while back as a CUB
ernatorial candidate, has come out
unreservedly for Joseph w. Folk.
This evening he dictated the fol-
lowing expression Of his opioion:
My views as to the gubernato-
rial contest may be stated in a few
words. Personally / would prefer
Reed of Kansas City because l
have long known anda dmired him.
Many of my staunch friends and
supporters in the Fourth district
are also his friends. We have
much in common in many ways.
But l believe the Democrats in this
State should choose as their leader
next year the strongest man that
can be found; one who completely
embodies and represents the public
discomfort with the political condi-
tons inconsistent with the general
welfare and disgraceful to the
State.
There seems to be a growing
belief in the public mind in all
parts of the State that Mr.. Folk
has won the right to lead crusade
against the coterie of hired politi-
cal bosses who are responsible for
the evil practices recently unearthed
in st. Louis and jefferson City.
cannot but think this is a right
eous public sentiment.
The Republican papers have
pretended to desire Folks nomin-
alton by the Democratic State
Convention. OF course, this is a
mere pretense. They would re.
joice to see him turned down be-
cause it might give them some
hope of success at the polls. be-
lieve it would be wise to nominate
him and not leave them a leg tC
stand on.
Missouri is not alone in suffer
ing from the dictatorship of cor
pOrations, agents aud hired lobby
lists, the exposure of which has sc
profoundly disturbed our people
Few of the States are exempt from
this curse.
In Republican States the cor
pOratiOn agents seek places on Re
publican State central committee
and dominate Republican Stat,
! conventions. Before 1896 the lie
gal staff of the L. & N. II. r. il
Kentucky was unanimously Demo
cratic. Since then it has beer
unanimously Republican. Mean
, time it is significant that the few
new names appear on the pay roll
{ One of my Kentucky colleagues i
! responsible for this statement o
facts, which voters would do wei
to ponder.
1t will be remembered tina
last campaign Col. Bill Phelp
was not an enthusiastic suppOrte
of the Democratic ticket. Had h
; lived, in Iowa he would have beel
an enthusiastic Republican al
, these years. This may be de
scribed by recourse to an anecdot
about Jay Gould lately the Col
Onel IS employer.
Gould was asked by st. Loui
reporter whether he was a Demo
crat or a Republican. His repl
was, That depends whether / an
in Iowa or Missouri
4 by branding Bill Phelps an,
! his tools SO that Identification vii
not be difficult, Mr.. Folk has per
formed a work of inestimable val
i ne to the people of Missouri. H
Z has shown wonderful moral cour
age aud has the gift of perseveI
ance in well doing. A generation
s to come will be benefited by hi
/, manly and efficient work.
Q "Of course the boodlers Wi
build again. but it will take then
a long time to restore the edifiC
u of crime toppled over by Folk. A
: any rate, the unfaithful publ
servants buried in the ruins an
INSCRIPTIONS politicians who hav
assisted the lobby on committee
. and in conventions will be hence
y forth shOrn of their strength.
: Entertaining these views,
@ conclude with the great majOrit
who seem disposed to make MI
Folk Governor of this State. "