The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-12

day Mr.. Folk took Office. Col. But
Ter asked him to appoint an organ
i2atlou man AZ assistant attorney
and Mr.. Folk refused. there was
CONSERVATION in the ranks Of the
machine. Here, indeed, was II pc.
rullur man, II most singular sort of
Il fellow. Such Il man was un.
known in the political circles of
st. Louis. Butler was puzzled
but not alarmed. The people
heard Of it aud laughed. To them
the idea of II Circuit Attorney OPP
posing the wishes of Edward But.
Ter was ludicrous.
When Mr.. Folk began the inves-
tigation of the election frauds they
opened their eyes in ama2cment.
bHl within II week were again scoff.
ing. The Circuit ATTORNEY was
making II mistake. If hr was in
earnest in his work he could not
succeed, aud if he was simply max.
ing play for popular favor he
would find that the people were not
to he fooled Not them. And so
the people also had misiudged their
man.
But it was not the boodlcrs who
in the end threw down the gaunt
let, IT waS the people. And when
the time came Mr.. Folk picked it
up and the fight had begun As
Mr.. Lincoln Stetfeus has said, Mr.
Folk is a man of remarkable eQua.
nimity. When he has laid II course
he steers by it truly, and nothing
can excite or divert him. He said
he would do his duty, aud not that
he would expose corruption or re-
form st Louis; aud beyond watch
ing drvrIoprmcnts, he did nothing
to answer the public challenge. "
But after a while, when the devel.
OpcmrmtS were ripe. he began.
There was no foOliShness now; no
display to catch the popular fancy;
business was on hand, and for the
first time the people of st. Louis
came To realize it. Men went into
Mr.. Folk's private Office with a
smile of defiance on their faces, and
came out self confessed bOodlcrs.
Indictments for bribery aud per.
jury, involving men of high.stand.
ing in social and business circles,
We're returned. The thing had
come to head. The people of st.
Louis were astOundrd, and many
of the most influential citizens
sought tn restrain Mr. Folk in his
course. His political death was
openly prOphesled, and even threats
were made against his life. His
own friends pleaded with him aud
begged him TO stop, but there was
no stopping with him. Slowly,
surely and without II mistake, Mr.
Folk kept on. The ring broke at
first, but Butler brought it o.geth.
cr again. Butler said then as he
has since repeated, leave Folk
alone and he will indict himself. -
Even men who were interested in
Mr.. Folk $ welfare as in their own
feared the result. They plead
with him again to save himself
from political oblivion. Mr.. Folk 5
stand then is shown in what he
has since said; when you are do.
ing a thing like this, YOU cannot
listen TO anybody; you have TO
think for yourself and rely on
yourself alone. knew simply
had to succeed; and success or
failure, fel: that Il political fu.
ture was not to be considered, so |
shut out all idea of it,"
The unlocked for aud unexpected
came when Butler was indicted
Possibly Butler himself was the
most surprised man in the State.
With his Indictment the old ring
was broken, but there are whispers
that a new one has lately arisen
With but two or three exceptions
convictions followed Butler $
trial at Columbia and his convc
ton for bribery are known to every
Missourian. A number of the
bribery and perjury convictions
have been reversed by the Supreme
Court, and there are rumors and
indications that still Others will be
reversed. The case against But
Ter has been reversed on two
grounds, and the defendant has
been discharged.
Mr.. Folk has answered the call
of the people, and is engaged in a
race for the governOrship. His
duties in st. Louis are not being
neglected. 1t is said that another
exposure of recent corruption in
municipal affairs is imminent.
Mr.. Folk is still doing bis duty.
He is also political candidate,
but at no time do the political ap.
pointments of Mr.. Folk, the can.
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