Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1904-01-14
MR. FOLK AT MEXICO.
THE ST. LOUIS ATTORNEY MADE
AMAGHIFICEET SPEECH
IN THIS CITY.
STRONG RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.


The largest audience OF Democrats
assembled in Mexico for years listened
to Joseph w. Folk In speech at the
Court House last Saturday. The large
Circuit Court room was literally
packed, and many ladies' and men were
compelled to stand, all the available
space being filed.
Mr.. Folk was introduced by General
William II. Kennan In a neat address
and paid a high tribute TO former
Governor Charles III. Hardin, OF this
county. His remarks in regard to cor
ruption In State affairs were received
with cheers, and. when the Circuit
Attorney said 1--WE wanted no boodlers
In the Democratic party" the ap-
plause was deafening. Mr.. Folk said
he had no apologies to make for the
prosecution Of boodlers, that he would
continue to do 50 so long as he should
remain in official position and that he
will keep the work up after he has re-
tired to private life
Mr.. Folk referred in complimentary
terms to Governor Dockery, in whose
integrity he said he had entire conf
dence. The corruption exposed, he
said, was in the Legislative, not exec
utive, department Of government.
Mr.. Folk said In part:
There comes time when the sover-
eign people must take a stand for or
against corruption. That time is
now at hand in Missouri. The honor
Of the State is at stake. The issue is
made within the Democratic party
and cannot be honorably evaded or
escaped. The paramount question
now before the party is whether OF
not the eradication OF bribery shall be
made an issue. After the greatest
exposure of corruption the world has
ever known, can the people Of Mis-
souri, afford to go on as II nothing had
happened2 Without intending any
reflection on established authority, or
dlsrespect to courts or judges, / say
the people Of Missouri constitute the
highest tribunal Of the State, and the
case of the State Of Missouri against
the corruptionists is now before the
people for decision. 1t has been apr
pealed TO you-the people, the source
Of all law, all authorlty-and you must
decide 1t one way or the other.
You can, by your verdict, ap-
prove of the prosecution Of corrup-
tionists, or repudiate the efforts that
have been made TO expose and punish
them. You will either make Missouri
the first of all the States in civic
or the most desirable OF
all the states for b0odlers to operate
In. The result Of this contest will
either be Waterloo for the boodlers,
or they will come out triumphant and
more arrogant than ever Is there a
man in the State who does
not realize this? The corruptionists
that this is the crisis.
They are using all their energies, all
Of their wealth and all of their power
to control the political machinery OF
the State. win you permit them to
do it? If the cure Of corruption is not
an issue in Missouri why is it that all
the boodlers and their allies are so
actively engaged in this fight? II the
cure of corruption is not made an
issue In the Democratic party at
this time, it will be heralded
the world over as a victory for the
boodlers,a and cause for rejoicing among
the corruptionists everywhere. If 1t
is made an issue, the boodlers win
realize that they will be buried under
an avalanche of civic righteousness,
and the word that will go from Mis-
souri, will give encouragement and
cheer throughout the land TO those
who place civic honor above sordid
greed.
1t has become necessary to have
decisive vote on the question of Doodle
SO that the boodlers may either run
the State or be run out OF the State.
realize that tine tens OF thousands
that have flocked to the standard l
have raised is not a tribute personal
to myself, for this is a matter Of prin-
ciple, not OF men. Some have said,
and / notice the statement repeated
In the opposition press, that | am at
tacking leaders OF the party. | have
attacked nobody but corruptionists
and nothing but corruption. That isl
not an assault upon the leaders of the
Democratic party; II it were, it would,
Indeed, be a matter of regret. l do
not believe, however, in overlooking
corruption merely because the cor
ruptionist calls himself Democrat.
say to you now, that as long as l
live, whether in public OF private life,
shall as.ail the corruptionists