The Tupelo journal., 1904-09-30
At OLD TRICKS
|. IN ST. LOUIS
Election Laws Disregarded in the
State Metropolis.
PLUG-uGLI9s RUNNING THINGS

plua-uetl4s RUNNING THINGS
Even Under {he New haw There
Comes the pId story of Fraud
butler OuH for Foik--Folk
Blind Ii the Conditions.
Again has 81. Louis e the scene
of Observation-Disclosures N-otwithstand-
ing the new lay, there are many names
on the rolls frhudulently. Then again
the registration is not up to expecta-
items. There are probably $4,000 vot-
ers in st. Lojis, yet the registration
will not exceed. according TO estimates
made the morning after the close OF
the books, 134, 900. Thousands have re-
manned away. Many fear to venture
neal the registration booths. and many
have not forgotten their experiences
two and four years ago, when bands
Of repeaters and thugs took charge oil
the polling places, and, under police
protection, did as they pleased.
A movement is on foot for a citizens
mass meeting, regardless Of politics, to
take action to protect voters in their
rights.
Take no stock in reports that the
democrats of ST. Louis are divided.
They are together. Butler is working
for Folk. and so is Halves, and every
democratic thug, plug-ugly, repeater
and suffer is out for the ticket. Any
thing to the contrary is fairy stories
for rural consumption.
In no instance has a violator OF the
election laws in st. Louis been pun
nished. The other day Il gang of
thugs. in attempting 10 register fraud
ulently. shot at a republican judge,
and killed a young man from Illinois.
Not one of these murderers has been
apprehended, although witnessed by
many people.
Folk Blind to the Reign or Crime.
The Globe-Democrat, the morning
after the close OF registration, SAID:
THE circuit attorney of St Louis is
Joseph w. Folk. What is he doing TO
protect citizens while their rights are
trampled by murderous rufhans n
the bullets of criminals deal death at
random in the public highway? Cir
cult Attorney Folk is doing nothing
The general Indian assault on the pal
lot and the bloody work Of the thugs
do not concern him. A big padded reg
istration will swell the Folk vote, and
so Circuit Attorney Folk is practically
non-existent. But Nominee Folk is
alive. In daily orations ne tells me
people of Missouri what wonderful
things he will do if they give him an
other office. Folk IS too busy as a can
didate for governor TO perform his
duty as circuit attorney. Besides. tne
Indians are the active agents OF ms
party. His personal advancement rs
his paramount issue. He has used the
office OF circuit attorney as a stepping
stone, and now that he has squeezed
1t dry. except in more immunity for
Indians. he dismisses his official obil-
cations from his thoughts.
..There is a crisis in St. Louis that
threatens an honest ballot and that
places election judges at the mercy OF
organized bands Of plug-lglies. No
citizen is safe from their privileged
crime. They will be brutal than
-x.1- 49, oloa+;an joN And uuhprQ &c
Circuit Attorney Folk? He is running
for governor on the Indian ticket. If
elected governor, where would he be
in a state emergency? Why, OF course,
he would be off reaching for some
tNing he personally wanted. That is
the a he is built. as circumstances
a%bundantly prove. He has construed
the circuit ~attorneyship to be a place
to boost himself for governor. He takes
public Office to be a private opportu-
nifty. not a responsibility. If he were
really in favor of civic integrity and
good government, he would be at his
post as circuit attorney, and working
day and night to protect an honest
ballot and the security of life in st.
Louis.
Circuit Attorney Joseph w. Folk:
The people of ST. Louis are paying you
to represent them. in the enforcement
of the avs and in the protection OF
their rights. You have turned the Of
flee into q. political continuance for
yourself. But several months OF your
term still remain. They cover the
election, as they have just covered the
hideous Indian outrages of the regis
traion. Do you propose to continue to
ignore the duties of circuit attorney
while criminals run the town and ter
rorize the polls in your behalf? This is
a question of great importance to St.
Louis. The city must take steps in
self-defense if the partnerships of the
Indians are to be the ruling force in
this community. Folks inaction as
circuit attorney at this time is a pub
lie menace"
Hon. John Boutwell,, of Sedalia, will
speak at the following places:
Rockport. Atchison county, Septem-
Der 26. 1880 p. m.
Savannah. Andrew county, Septem-
Der q. 7:30 p. H..
Oregon, Holt county, September IS.
1880 p. m.
,Fayette, Howard county, October 10,