The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-26
Fellow Democrats.

/ Fellow Democrats:
speak to you as democrat FOL
| the interest | feel In the democratic
| party. | am one OF the kind that never
scratches the democratic ticket | fee
| a just pride in the achievements u
our party and especially the manage
ment Of the affairs OF this state foi
the last thirty years have oftet
said that Missouri was the hcst-gov
erned state IN the Union II is the only
state In the American Union that ha'
! paid of its debts and lowered It's taxes
al the same time; and II Is matter o
! Just pride also that II Is the only STATE
north of the Mason and Dixon line
which has. through all the fluctuations
Of politics. remained slcadIasl IN th,
democratic column
hut no sane man can deny that q
new and strange condition contronts
us No amount OF slandcrous abuse
| shall prevent me from doing what
can to save the party from shame ant
disaster in the midst Of this crisis.
believe that It Is the highest party ex'
pcdicncy for the democratic party OF
Missouri TO take advantage Of this Op.
portunity and appropriate as a part
OF It's working capital and cherish as
one Of It's prOudcs' possessions the
nam" and fame of Joseph W Folk
Npplausc)
meet democrats from all over tho
country. from Maine to California. and
the first question they al, mo is What
is Missouri going 10 do about ~ Is
she going to stand by Joseph w Folk
aud the work he has done. or Is she
going 10 bow down at the hehest OF the
huodlcrs?" Now, | shall be perfectly
fair and frank with you. Mr.. Fulh
does not claim to be the only man
who could represent the issue Of re,
form Tie has himself distinctly said
that others might have stood for this
issue as well as he. but they have de-
Clined to do so They have refused
10 recognize the very issue which is
uppermost In the minds Of the people
What is that issue We do not have
to define It, Our enemies have defined
It for Ms The boodlcrs themselves
have defined It, The 81 Louis World
which IS their chief organ, bought, paid
for and maintained with their money
throws down this challenge to the dem
OCratic party of Missouri. "NuU must
defeat Joe Folk for the nomination for
governor. or We viii not support the
ticket" They have repeatedly and In
bold type announced that they would
support the democratic ticket with any
other man NJ the head of II but that
of Joseph W Folk They served no.
tiCr on MIR Folk when he commenced
his prosecutions that It meant polit-
ical eliminIudtion for aim They now
grow boldrr and declare that they will
knife the democratic ticket unless we
bow to their hchcst
Great Heavens! Has II como to this
BY the shades ~ Jefferson. Jackson
Tildcn. and the glorious spirit Of VIII
lam J Bryan, is the great democratic
party. which has ruled Missouri for
thirty years. como ~ this low pitch
that It must bow down NJ the shrine
ni IN" hoodlcr. ana ASK ms consent Tor
us to continue in power In Missouri
! do not believe It. ! believe that the
solid ycomanry OF our great state, who
have saved the party IN every campaign
Tor the last quarter oi century. VIII
save II IN ihlS trying houF. You may
eau us 'Sor"-h"a'> ana d'ad poIiil-
clans MS IN" antl-Folk papers have
been doing Tor lhrro months. hut we
are the same people VINO nave STOOD
by the ticket ana inc honor or the
party In every crisis nt the past. Sup
pose we yield {" the dir'atlou of IN"
b"odi"rS, ana beat 10" f"Ik Tor the
nomination Whose victory VIII II be-
WIZ not every h"ouI'r IN 81 LOUIS
consider 1t his victory VIII not the
st Louis World. IN great headlines,
proclaim It's lriHWph as the triumph
OF Butlorism nnd hopdllng' Ana what
lesson Tor iu'ur" prosecutors; "hat
encouragement for corrup'lonisis' VIII
1t not practically say to every rising
young attorney Go ahead ana preach
honesty IN oiilce as much as you please,
but keep your hands OIL ni the boo
fIers' business. VIII II not practically
say; "Th" sure road 10 political obliv-
Ion in Missouri is by prosecuting those
who make commerce OF legislation
No. fellow-democratS, ! shall not be-
lieve that we are so cowardly. There
Is no question but that the platform
of our convention VIII declare for hon
est government ana vigorous prose-
cuti0n OF those who seek to undermine
IL bnt our actions VIII speak louder
than oUr words. Nhat we DO. ana
not what we say, VIII D" the test OF