The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-02-20
Reed On Folks Review.

my arrival at the depot tonight
ought to have been signalized by the
presence of a committee dressed in
funeral garb, accompanied by a brass
band emitting the doleful cadences of
the Heart Bowed Down for l am ex-
ceedingly sad. Since reading Mr. Folks
Piedmont speech in Sunday mornings
paper, it has seemed to me that the
very heavens are wrapped in clouds of
deepest gloom. There has been but
M star shining through the night Of
my grief, | still insist that it was not
my fault. | want to sOlemnly certify
that l was guilty at the worst of no
Intentional wrong. l set no trap for
the unwary feet of my friend Folk. 1t
all came about in this way: | recently
delivered an address which consisted
largely of quotations from Mr.. Folks
various attacks upon the democratic
purity. said that these assertions OF
Nc. Folks so nicely fitted the palate
of the republicans that they had been
repeatedly served as choice and defect
able morsels at republican banquets
By republican orators and that these
orators had been able to originate
nothing which suited them so we'll;
that IS a minister goes to the Rible for
the text from which to denounee evil,
% the republicans had been able to find
ia these speeches of Mr.. Folk which I
have quoted at once the inspiration of
their TRADES and the proof of their
calumnies.
"In support Of these declarations, l
stated that: "a few evenings ago ex.
Mayor Walbridge. an eminent republi-
Z can aud probable candidate upon the
republican ticket for governor, had de-
livered an address to a gathering Of
the republican politicians, at which the
campaign to be inside by the republican
party this year was being outlined,
and in this speech ex-Mayor Walbridge
made the following statement:
"(N B.-Mr. Folk will please take
notice that the language which follows
is his own, together with the comments
of ex Mayor Walbridge thereon.)
Mr.. Folk said in plain terms to a
mass meeting of voters but a few days
ago:
Il have appealed the ease of the state
of Missouri against the givers and
takers of brides to the people, the
highest tribunal of the wealth.
The case must be decided by the people
one way or the other. The Issue is
made and cannot be honorably evadeo
or escaped. | say the cure for corrup-
ton is an issue confronting the demo
cratic party of Missouri"
"(Notice-The above quotation is
from one of Mr.. Folks speeches. What
follows is Mr.. W~albridge's comment
''This places the democratic party in
a position where the defeat of Mr..
Folk for the nomination will be con-
strued to mean that the democratic
party of the state is not in favor OF
driving out corruption from the halls
of legislation and various offices of the
state. On the other hand. If Mr.. Folk
be nominated, he must secure his cleo.
ton without the aid OF the democratic
machine, and l want to mind you my
fellow republicans, that without the
aid OF that machine, no democrat could
have been elected to Office in Missouri
during the dozen years, and | want 10
say that it Is my honest belief that
without the aid of that machine Mr.,
Folk, If nominated ,cannotpoll as man
votes as any equally honest and capable
\ republican, and Of such we have many.
~ "No, my bretheren, conditions in
Missouri in 1904 are not normal, and
all the changes from the normal tend
to benefit and strengthen the republi'
can party. If we are true to the
responsibilities upon us, the benefit;
will be more than sufficient to wipe out
the Is, 900 difference between republican
and democratic votes"
up. S.-Mr. Folk will please take
note that l have now finished the quo
tations from ex-Mayor Walbridge.
ZIP. S. No. 2--Due and proper notice
is now given that l am again using my
WI language.)
ut appears that my good friend, Mr.
Folk, having seen a report of thi,
speech which l made, Immediately SCI
down to demolish its author, but thu
only part which he saw fit to attacl
was the speech Of ex-Mayor Walbridge
which have quoted. l am really very
sorry for ex-Mayor Walbridge. l bel
to assure him that | had no intention
of subjecting him to so vigorous al
assault as was delivered by Mr.. Foil
in his Piedmont speech. It is not
however, the first time that an indi
vidual striking out blindly in the darl
at a supposed enemy, has unfortunate
ly landedIon a real friend.
81 want also to express my deel
regret that, inadvertently, l was tn
occasion Of Mr.. Folks replying TO
once in his life to the speech of a repub
licsn. OF course he did so under tn,
impression that the words had eman
49,.