The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-10-13

Having been forced to take the de
fensive for the head Of the Democratic
ticket. the machine press Of the state
has been placed in a position where
IL becomes imperltive to prove FIRST
that Joseph W. Folk was honestly
elected TO the Office OF circuit attorney
Tor St Louis. and second, that he did
bot participate in the mailing up OF the
ballot boxes. for the reason that. hav.
1ng been honestly elected, he had moth.
ing to conceal and so was not con.
cerned In the suppression OF election
frauds. It is incumbent upon the
Democracy 10 prove both Of these
propositions. since the failure to do so
butts Mr.. Folks election in the. category
with thai Of Jim Butler and the rest
81 the candidates on the Butler
machine ticket IN that election, and
hereby knocks the props from under
be reform" movement i%naugurated in
soik's behalf
Ii is obviously impossible to hold
hat Folk Is a civic righteous reformer,
) the face OF proof that he accepted
5dice at the hands Of the same In
fiausr whom the reformers are de
ouncing.
That the truth Of the Folk election
s circuit attorney may be known to
h we reproduce the essential parts Of
\ article written for the metropolitan
ress by one Of the most eminent law
ers in Missouri.
This article shows, conclusively. that
ross frauds were ~practiced IN the
twelfth congressional district in
hlch Jim Butler was the Democratic
andidate; that Folk. as a candidate
81 circuit attorney, received q large
roportion of the fraudulent votes
hEch we're cast for Butler; that had
not received this fraudulent vote he
onld have been defeated; that II was
5~soIutely necessary 10 his success
at this fraudulent vote should be
sunted for him, as well as for Butler.
3 "a. having been counted, the ballot
bxes should not be opened and h
amt disturbed. These facts prove
Z necessity for the writ of pro
billion which Folk and the other
ndidates on the Butler machine
.ket applied for Immediately there
Is danger that the ballots would be
rnntinized and the count revised
der judicial direction.
on the other hand. u Is also
rlcus that had there been nj fraud
mmitted, the Republican candidates
,uld not have invoked the inteTfer-
&c Of the courts. This side OF the
Sc is made more prominent by the
4 that sworn testimony IN the
yelfth congressional district contest
yel0ped. beyond doubt, that Butler
d not been fairly elected and the
lgress OF the United States so held,
8 congressional inquiry established
need for a recount OF the ballots
justified the application OF the Re
b.icans for a writ TO open the ballot
kes TO the end that justice might
done.
o It was plain. first. that fraud
been committed Ia the election
ond. that Folk had benefited by the
I'd Jointly with Jim Butler; third.
/ necessity existed for a judicial
estigation. The situation then re-
ged itself into this:
harges had been made. backed by
bru testimony. that Folk was not
fly and honestly elected and that he
.a eiFed his certificate of election as
uit attorney because 81 fraud.
der the circumstances no HONEST
n WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED OF
II WITHOUT A THOROUGH IN.
LITIGATION DESTROYING THESE
ARGES. Bat instead Of counting
an investigation. instead 81
comlng 40 opportunity 10 demon.
ste the truth. OF faisity. Of the
rres. FOLK. WITH THE OTHER
CHINE CANDIDATES. APPLIED
THE SUPREME COURT FOR A
~ PROHIBITING AN INNESTI.
HON.
NOW RESTS WITH EACH
bfVInuAL MIsSOURfAN TO DE.
b FOR HIMSELF ~ AN HONEST
n AND A SINCERE REFORMER
I'D NOT ONLY LIE UNDER
TMpUTATIOH or HAVING
euRED AN OFFICE THROUGH
40. BUT COULD HAVE GONE
{TTTER AND FOUGHT IN THE
SRTs or THE STATE AGAINST
INQUIRY INTO THAT ELEClON.
The Facts.
n correspondent holds that the
are that Folk was declared
ed circuit attorney over MeQuil.
on the face Of the returns by
plurality Ia the 1900 election.
plurality was all made up for Mr..
IN the Butler wards. In James J.
er's district the Twelfth. as fol
Commencing al the Fourth
b. / viii give a table Of comparison
wards In that district Of he vote
Butler for congress and Folk and
uillan for circuit attorney;
Buffers Foik's McQuii.
Vote. Vote, lars Vote
1902 1884 1897
- 1858 1888 1871
-. 1868 1850 1851
...ss.a ~ 80 80