The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-03-26
ThE SITUATION.

nave Oeen lu6 JOplO VI iuV0iSSel eNN
IL has enabled Mr.. Folk to redeem the
mistake made at St Joseph by chang
ing from an indirect to a direct
attack upon democratic administra'
tion Of affairs In Missouri and upon
the record OF Governor Dockery In
particular. This change has been a
distinct gain for Mr. Folk, from a
tactical point Of view. There was
never any reason In his claims upon
the g~overnorship while he was en-
dorsing every democratic administra-
tion from Woodson to Dockery and
only denouncing some boodling
aldermen whom be discovered in ST..
Louis and some bOodling state
senators whom Some n else dis
covered in Jefferson City. The
advantage to Mr.. Folk in this change
is apparent to anyone who observes the
greater enthusiasm Of the republican
papers in their support Of him when
he confirms what they have been
saying for years and when he demands
that the democrats of the state
ratifY his charges by nominating him
for the ONCE TO which he aspires. The
republican press of Missouri could
not give very hearty support to any
man who really endorsed every demo-
cratic administration from Woodson
to Dockery inclusive. But now that
he has turned squarely upon Cover
nor Dockery and charges him with
misfeasance 10 Office in particulars
which antedate the st. Joseph speech
by eight months, such papers as the
Kansas City Star fairly revel ia a
debauch of glee. The Star has never
forgiven Governor Dockery since the
first year Of his administration for
refusing to appoint IN election COM
missioner for Kansas City until the
democratic factions should patch up
a truce. The Star wanted an i'm
mediate tactional appointment.
But the gain to Mr., Folk by this
change is not alone in the matter of
republican newspaper favor. Both
his democratic friends and democratic
enemies will like him better for the
change. Some of his democratic
friends believe that the democratic
organization ia Missouri is corrupt
and if so, why not say SO? On thu
other hand many of those who havt
opposed Mr.. Folks nomination boil
on grounds of policy and on ground
Of principle had become disguised
with a campaign which consisted il
chasing down elusive phrases ant
ambiguous words. Mr.. Folk now say
that Governor Dockery has been tn
apologist of boOdlers in public speech
that he did nothing about boodling 4
the state legislature until everybod
in the state knew Of it, demande
that something be done, and until b
+ thought it would be popular to d
it; that he begged him (Folk) t
postpone the first Butler trial unit
after the election, so that Butle
might not be antagonrzed politically
that he has set his appointees owe
the state to work against him (Folk'
and that he grossly and purposel
. neglected his duty in not takin
proper precautions to insure ia.
elections 10 the democratic primariC
8 In St. Louis and Kansas City. Man
OF Mr. Folks friends believe actual
this. Many Of them do not believ
6 these things, but they favor NJ
Folk anyhow, because, as they slleg
he stands for a moral issue. Anyho
they are in a frame OF mind to a
plaud anything 10 the way of destru
tive criticism OF those who oppo
him. They are welded to Mr.. Fol
and 1t seems to matter very lit
that what he says Of Govern
20 Dockery and the democratic organic
tlon is going to be very hard to tire
as true before the dominating CO
vention and as false afterwards.
&c Our metropolitan papers lend We
- generous assistance to the propap
tion Of these ISLANDERS now, but wor
II their devotion to Mr.. Folk be su
as to lead them to help him to ests
x. lish the fact, after nomination, III
At the democratic party is worth savin