The Washington times., 1904-04-17
A Reformer Who Re
forms Likely to Be Mis-
Souri'S Next Governor.
Man Who Attacked Party
Machine and Forced
1t to the Wall.

" Mess every indication upon
which reasonable prediction can
~ be based is in error. the next gov
ernor Of Missouri viii be the Hon.
Joseph ". Folk, the present circuit at
torney Of st. Louis, and the man who
has won a national reputation within
The past eighteen months by his untiring
efforts 10 relieve the Mound City of it's
boodlers ard grafters in public Office.
Two years ago this future governor.
now scarce forty years or age, was not
only a stranger to the country, but
scarce anyone in Missouri outside of St.
Louis knew him. Today the mere men,
ton OF his name in any OF the remote
counties of the State arouses the widest
enthusiasm - the ranks of what the
Hon. Champ Clark calls the wool hat
and one gallus brigade" and II is these
same Missouri farmers who purpose 10
make Folk the chief executive of the
State. They are wearied of machine
rule and corruption, and intend to bring
about reform not by going over to the
opposition party and installing in Of
fee a Republican Administration, but
by doing a job OF political house-clean-
ing. by reforming their own party.
To lead in this movement they have
selected the Hon. Joseph w. Folk wholly
upon the record which he has made dur
ing the past two years in St. Louis
Folk occupies much the same position L
tie Democratic party In Missouri tha'
the late Samuel J. Tilden did to .h'
Democracy Of New York a generation
ago. and the same sort OF success il
predicted for him.
Born in Tennessee.
Folk was born in Tennessee Of long
line of Democratic ancestry. His
brother is now treasurer of that State
and a candidate for reelection. Ten
years ago, after graduating at law, Mr..
Folk left Tennessee and went TO St.
Louis. quite unknown. and began the
practice OF his profession. He Joined
the Jefferson Club. the leading political
organization Of Missouri. and in a short
time was elected as its president. This
was a recognition OF his standing and
an evidence Of the popularity which he
had gained. for the club embraces some
OF The leading men Of St. Louis.
In 1900 there occurred the great street
railroad strike In that city, accompan-
led by assaults. destruction Of property,
and great inconvenience TO the public,
continuing for many weeks. Folk. pure
" for philanthropic motives, took a
prominent part in the efforts made to
bring about a settlement between the
traction companies and their employees.
lie was in a large measure successful,
and thereby gained the favor OF the
great body Of laboring men of that city;
at the same time he incurred none Of
the enmittS> Of the employers.
The Butler Machine.
The Butler machine, which has long
controlled the Democracy Of ST Louis
and TO a large extent matters at Jeffer-
son City. the capital, was extremely de-
sirOus in that year TO win the labor
VOTE and believing that Folk would be
able 10 draw a large proportion OF 1t.
proffered him the nomination OF circuit
attOrney
Folk had never been identified with
the machine. and had never held public
Office. furthermore he was not espe-
ciaily anxious TO 90 upon the ticket.
lie was finally induced TO accept the
nomination. however. but uncondition-
ally: he made It plain to the machine
managers that IL elected he would run
the Office. do his duty. and not permit
OF dictGtion. With this understanding
his name was placed upon the ticket
and ne was elected. The machine man
ayers believed themselves so firmly IN
trenched that no harm could come q
them or their organization.
Waited Two Years.
II was two years before Folk found ar
opportunity TO begin his campaign
against corruption The story OF hi.
fight against the boodIers in the city
council has been repeatedly told. Som,
OF them fed for foreign parts, and ar,
still AT large. others were brought int,
court and tried seventeen IN alD, and
the fact that they are not now wearinf
stripes and working FOR the State ~
the penitsntiary g. not cue 70 lack ol
vigilance ard perseverance on the par
OF Circuit Attorney Folk, but rather Il
a technicality IN the law as construed by
one OF the men who is making a hope.
less attempt 10 defeat Folk for the
Democratic nomination for governor
Judge CAN'T. Of the State supreme
court
II Folk has not succeeded IN lodging
the boodlors behind the bars. he has
won in his fight 10 clean. out the city
council and put stop 10 corruption
Ever since Folk started his reform
movement, followed as II was by the dis.
closures of rottonness in the State Leg.
stature, there has been a growing de.