The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-11-30
FOLK AND LAFOLLETTE

look back and view with the pnll-
osophic eye some of the features of
the political campaign that closed
Nov. 7. Among all the startliog
results of that campaign non are
more interesting or instructive than
those in Missouri and Wisconsin.
Folk and LaFollette are the pic
turesque characters about which
interest centers in those states and
both have won unique places in the
public eye.
Both are reformers, both had a
fight with their own political or
ganization and both won out.
Folk came before The public as
fearless prosecutor and in four
years rose from comparatively
obscure young lawyer to a con-
spicious national character. When
he entered the race for governor.
he had opposed to him a political
machine whose mandate had al
ways been law. In every city,
town and hamlet he had arrayed
against him the men who do the
political fixing" These men
hooted at the idea that he would
ever be nominated. But the
yeomanry in the party in Missouri
rose up for Folk, almost to man
and before the nominating conven-
ton the opposition was compelled
capitulate. Then came another
fight for Folk, all that the NAL
contents with the party, all that
political opponents, all the minions
Of corruption, could do against him
was done, but all to no avail. The
people said Folk was the kind Of
man they wanted for governor and
while all the rest of the ticket
went down in defeat, Folk emerged
triumphant. Democrats and re
publicand alike who were tired of
the reign of Doodle and who adj
mired a man who fearlessly and
honestly did his duty as public
servant voted for Folk.
In WisconsinLaFollette had car
ried on a war for twelve years
against a corrupt republican ma
chine. More than once defeated.
he continued his fight and was
elected governor two years ago.
When the time came for his re-
nomination he still had the mighty
ones in his party opposed to him.
SenatorSpooner, HenryC Payneand
many lesser lights united in a cum
ming and base attempt to beat him
out of the nomination. They car
ried their case to the republican
national convention and had their
cause approved by that body, but
LaFollette never wavered. The
people of Wisconsin were for him
and they elected him to continue
his battle against corporate wealth
and for honest administration.
Those who have been inclined to
grow respondent over the future
ofAmerican institutions Of govern
ment may have their droop-
ing spirits revived by
a study of these two cases. Dem
ocracy in the broad sense is not a
failure. Political tricksters, bos-
sism, predatory wealth and cor
ruption are not absolute masters of
the nation s destiny, however ram
pant they may be run. There is a
limit which the people set to their
authority. Venal voters may
abound but there are enough honest
menl who wear the collar Of no
party Or faction to hold the balance
of bower and when the issues are
clearly drawn they speak as they
have in Missouri and Wisconsin.
The day is past when a man can
be elected simply because he is the
nominee of a certain political party.
If a party falls into the hands Of
corrupt leaders and unworthy men
are nominated for Office, the party