The Forrest City times., 1904-03-04
Judge Folhrc Interviewed.

~s.~'NN'' IT NNu Wlli ALLOW Ile 10 hS- sume that role, after puzzling over the question as Co what would interest your patrons, conceived the idea of interviewing one of the prominent can diiates Tor the most important office Tn the county. Accordingly, 1 called at the home of Judge Folbre, and was invited into the library. where 1 found the Judge reclining in an easy chair patiently nursing an angry looking carbducle with the stoicism of phifos. opher. Although suffering the keenesl pains at times. which prevented him from rising t. greet me, the judge gave me most hearty and cordial welcome.
 found him deeply interested grati- lied at the prospect of immediate ac. tlon looking to the completion of the Panama canal, heartily endorsing the acton or our senators in giving their ald to this great international enter prise. the situation in the far east. the relative merits Ot tle little Japs aud the Cossac, ths danger to be ap. prehended ty the Caucasion from the yellow peril, the probable outcome of the Wariike demonstration in tie Balkans, and how far the Christian Nation ot Europe would permit the Sabine Porte to cultivate his thirst Tor Christian massacre, all came in for ie" common place observations. on all Of which the judge was thoroughly democratic and American.
 Finding ourselves in such perfect accord and harmony of opinion ven. tured to suggest that the people of this county would like to know something Of the antecedent5 of persons who 'ked their sutfrages. The judge with a humorous smile remarked that he had no genealogical tree. That he did not claim 10 be descended from the pi1- grims of Plymouth Rock, nor yet from Pocahontas and John Smith. But that hls ancestors in the first half of the l9 Il century moved frpm Virginia to Ohio, thence To Indiana, near Auro. "a. where he was born, thtnce to O.d Kentucky, thence in 1s50 to St. Fran els county, Arkansas. Here as a boy he worked on his fathers farm, ard in his store, until in ls6l when wars rude aIalumS were sounded he entered the confederate army and served until April, 1865, when the noble Lee and his gallant veterans yielded to an overruling fate. and began again upon glorious destiny, That with the few survivors of those who marched with him to the tented field of his beloved southlahd he returned to dear old St. Francis county, 10 his mother aud little brothers aud sister and be- gan the battle of life anew. One by one he laid them asleep in the silent cities of the dead -m9ther, brothers and sister.
 Judge, what official positions have You held?
 l was first lieutenant of my company when the war closed 1 was twice elected assessor of St. Francis county a5 democrat. 1 was then elected clerk of the circuit court, and lastly was elected judge ot the county and probde court by my party, and now | am asking the usual and customary endorsement of my administration of that tlice, according to the custom and usage of the democratic party.
 Judge, how does the financial c0ndi- ton of the county today compare with what it was when you were elected judge in 1902
 When l was indncted into the cflice of county judge in 1902, I found that there was outstanding in county scrip about sl2000, scrip was then worth on the market sixty cents on the dollar.
 At the July settlement in 1903, the scrip had been reduced to about S6 000 To-day scrip IS worth 93 or 99 cents cn the dolllr. At the settlement in July. 1904, if the percen, tage of collections equals that of last year. there VI be no outstanding scrip, but there will be | $. currency in the treasury with wEieh to pay jurors and and all others having claims against the county. dollar for dollar.
 There was also some 27 bonds of : ,o00 each bearing j per cent int crest have in two years paid off three of those bonds, saving to the county 3l50 par year in the Way of interest. This year I expect 10 stll further reduce said debt by paying off more of said bonds.
 There was el5o, besides the bends referred t0, eight other bonds of the county of $l,009 each outstanding. which had been a standing menance to the county for many years-in fact, ever since lS7S or lS79 These last bonds wire never legally issued but
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