The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-08-20
THE FOLK.STONE CONTROVERSY.

The controversy between Sen
ator Stone and Mr.. Folk is bOtt
unfortunate and reprehensible.
There was DO necessity fer the
publication OF the particulars reclted
in Senator Stones first letter. II
is 20 Justification that the newspaper:
were misrepresenting the matter tC
the disparagement Of Stone. The
nominations have been regularly
made, aud the success Of the party
is OF more consequence than news
paper injustice to anybody. OF course
Mr.. Folk ought to indorse the ticket
and will indOrse IL. AS a matter of
fact, his u~tterances at Jefferson City
would have been amply sufficient
until the formal opening Of the cam
paign in Springfield next month, II it
had not been for the daily mouthings
OF the St. Louis Post. Dispatch, which
poses as his particular friend and
adviser. Undoubtedly Senators Cock
rell aud Stone, Governor DOckery and
MesSrs. Seibert, Cook and others held
the conference at St. Louis with
Messrs. Folk, Vandiver, Mcleod and
others just before the session of the
state committee for the purpose Of
urging upon Mr.. Folk the necessity
OF making a further statement at this
time 10 order to put a stop to the
Injurious course of the POST Dispatch
and other newspapers and party lead
who are fighting a part Of the
state ticket. But while it was their
right to advise, it was Mr.. Folks
to decide, whether he would do
this now or at Springfield. He Ger.
tainly feels under obligation to rebuke
the Post Dispatch and Others at some
He has consistently said all
along that the democrats must nomi-
nate their licked without interference
from him. He has accepted the work
the Jefferson City convention and
endorsed it; and Senator Stone has no
to assume that he will lend him.
self to a conspiracy to knife a part Of
the ticket of which he is the head.
There is absolutely no justification
for Senator Stones course, which is
more embarrassing to Senator
.ockrell, Cook, Crow and others than
to Mr.. Folk. Probably Senator Stone
was piqued at Mr.. Folks refusal to
his advice and probably he was
thus determined to make him speak
now. But a man who will take
behind a plea of self defense
against the Misrepresentation of a
disreputable and unscrupulous news.
paper to make a statement that must
greatly em0arrass half a dozen men,
who doubtless thought that the pro.
ceedings Of the conference were con.
fdential, is not of the kind Of stuff
that MiSSourians like. 1t does not
make a particle Of difference whether
what he alleges is true or false; his
offense is the same. He has injured
and embarrassed half a dozen men in
making these allegations against Folk,
'or the purpose, as he says, Of defend.
ng himself against the Kansas City
Star.
Mr.. Folks position is doubtless ex.
iremely embarrassing to a young man
without political experience. He has
ONE %fanatical followers who would re-
lard his warm and unqualified endorse
nent of the whole ticket and plat.
orm as a compromise with dishonor. ,
stone and Cockrell are better advisers :
u this matter than Vandiver and !
icLeod. But this is another matter.
ienator Stones letter and his advice
t the st. Louis caucus are very diff. =
erent propositions. Il.
The INTELLIGENCER has never :
rofessed any partiallty for Mr.. Folk, :
ut now that he is the party's b,
ominee it means to support him
nth every particle of persuasion
nd influence it can command.
md the INTELLIGENCER would be
shamed not TO condemn Senator .
tone as much as it would condemn
Ir, Folk If their positions on this I
Ontroversy were exchanged, |
III