The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-12-01
Says He Will Punish Legislators
Who Barter Votes to
Elect Senator.
CORRUPTION STORIES AFL0AT.
Committeeman in Western Part
of State Said to Have Rribed
One Lawmaker-Attack
OH Niedringhaus.

If any Legislator is suspected of taking
money or any sort of consideration OF gift
in connection with the caucus nomination
or election of United States Senator. If
necessary. will take charge of the inves-
tigation myself and run every rumor
down.
/ propoS" to sec personally to it that
corrupt legislators, if there are anv. are
exposed and punished. Members elect
cannot take advantage of the fact that
they have not been sworn in. The con-
summation of any contract they might
make before they are sworn in would come
under the provisions of the statutes"
In the foregoing statement Governor
elect Folk yesterday reiterated in sub
stance the promise that he made .epea ted
" during his campaign regarding the
purginS of the General Assembly when
Republican asked MIN what he proposed
TO 10 with the rumors that were going the
rounds about the methods that were be-
ing used by ore Of the aspirants for the
United States senatorship.
Legislators who are thinking that their
votes can be determined by barter and
sale will have hard row to hoe this win
ter. Already some OF them are telling their
friends quietly that their fear of Folk is
greater than their moral scruplcs on the
propositions which they are at liberty to
accept. Others are not so sure and have
argued that until they are sworn in they
are privileged to make any sort of a bar
gain they choose.
Circuit Attorney Folks reiteraiion OF his
determination to purge the Assembly ap-
plies to such men as VOL as 10 the time
when they are full-fledged members.
TNSTINTED SUPPLY OF MONEY.
Already stories have been floating
around about the probs ble corruption of
Republican legislators. Friends OF one
candidate are Dragging about the ''tInstnt-
ed supply of money he has to spend TO
land the place This argument. while
coarse enough. is considered an acme Of
political shrewdncss when talking with
legislators.
Another story has It that a member of
the Republican State Committee received
siCo with which 10 secure the vote of
member elect who lives in the western
part Of the State. So cheap did this conf
mitteeman esteem his protege that he
gave him So and kept the remainder. The
member elect took the money. so the story
goes, and gave the necessary promise.
. But this member elect was wise in his
generation. He argued that such money
could not bind him. and that to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity was only right
and eminently proper. To show his good
faith. and incorruptibility. he went to the
headquarters of another senatorial candi-
date. told the story and pledged himself
against the State Committeemans candi-
date. The tale is repeated among Repub
licans as a joke. though it is not unlikely
that there may be serious ending.
ATTACK ON NIEDRINGHACS.
Republican members elect and politicians
were surprised yesterday to receive an
anonymous communication. which is sup
posed TO have come from friend of for
mer National Committeeman Kerens. at
tackirg State Chairman Niedringhaus
The communication has to do with the
old Kerens- Meriwether agreement of two
years ago. that was declared null and void
by the State Committee. and with Mr..
Niedringhaus's connection with the Ma
tional Enameling and Stamping Company,
Of which he is director.
. The circular is calculated to remove all
suspicion of its origin from Kerens's head
quarters Friends of Niedringhaus said
that ii had been issued in an effort to Off
get talks about star route. the visit of the
three mysterious millionaire Senators-El-
kins of West Virginia, Clark of Montana
and kearns of Utah-and talk about rail-
road influences.
In other words, the senat atorial campaign
is getting down to brass rocks. where the
party will be split to pieces before the
General Assembly meets.