The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-06
CLOSES
HIS CAMPAIGN
Declares If He Is Elected He Will
Prosecute Doodle Investiga-
lions to the End.
SAYS IT is PEOPLES FIGHT.
Democratic Party Has Taken Up
Corruption Issue, and Now,
He Declares, the Popular
Vote Must Decide.
SAYS IT is PEOPLES FIGHT.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Fredericktown. Mo-, Nov. 5.-The last
day Of the last week of the campaign
finds audiences as keen and as large to
hear Mr.. Folk as when he first went forth
to seek popular Endorsement. a much-ed-
vertised a though little known person
ally to the voters Of the country districts.
More than this. a quickened interest IS
shown in politics in general. Flags are
| plenty, picturss Of candidates conspicu-
ors and campaign buttons appear on
every lapel.
If Tuesday brings weather like that OF
to-day. a big vote will be poIied. The
day was to have been begun early with
speeches. planned at Fredericktown,
| Lutesville. jackson and Cape Girardeau.
A local freight was to be the means Of
conveyance from Bismarck. where the
night was spent, to Fredericktown. It
was to start at $50, but 1t proved to be q
most deliberate freight. 1t snorted around
full three hours before finally pulling out
and it reached Fredericktown. twenty
eight miles, at 1890 p. m.
This is in Madison. another close county.
Here. too. the Folk strength totally ex-
ceeds the normal party vote. Scores Of
1AGPdoAASd4A VA Nolc hhC aC1u Va
the Democratic State ticket.
The nominee spoke in the courthouse to-
day. The room was densely crowded. Tn
town is a mile away from the depot. As
the lateness Of the freight cut short his
time here. he could speak but forty
minutes. being hurriedly driven from the
depot up town and back to catch the
lar passenger train on the Belmont branch.
which took him to Lutesville and Jack
son.
FIGHT ON CORRUPTION.
In the course of his speech to-day. tell
ing Of the fight against powerful corrupt
Influences. a part Of his address received
with intense interest. Mr.. Folk said:
THE crusade against corruption had not
been long in progress before 1t was dis
covered why boodling had not been e.
posed and prosecuted before. The coz
ruptionists. with all their wealth and
power, began a vicious warfare against
the prosecutor.
cit must be remembered that In the ef-
fort to uncover corruption powerful me-
mics are made. I believed that the prose-
cuticns would mean the end of my political
ambition. if 1 had any. for, according to
the old order Of things. to offend that
crowd meant political humiliation.
Closing my eyes to all thoughts save
duty. I went on. Finally the fight be-
came 50 warm that I saw II was neces-
sary for the people to pass upon the ques-
ton and either indorse or repcdiate what
has been done.
mot to do this would give corruption
lists a chance to point me out to prose-
cutting attorneys hereafter as a warning
to confne their operations outside OF boo
die lines. II the people should ratify what
had been done. then every other Prosecu-
ting Attorney would know that he could
go after them, having behind him the
moral support OF the people.
IT feel It just as much my duty TO make
this fight before the people as it has been
my duty to prosecute cases in court.
PARTY TAKES UP FIGHT.
"The great Democratic party to which
I belong took up this question and made
1t the paramount issue Of the campaign.
Now the burning question is: Was IL good
politics for the Democratic party to do
this. or was 1t bad politics?"
This is the peoples fight. not mine. II
you give me your support. I shall con-
tinue the battle against public evils with
your help; II you refuse. I shall keep UP
the figh. as best I can. as long as God
gives me life n strength to do IL.
Il have no favors to ask of corruption
lists. and nc quarter to give them. It IL
unrelenting warfare to this end.
"If o think I have been true to the
faith and viii keep up the fight. you can
vote for me. II you think I have not been
sincere. you can vote against me. But
even the bocdlers give me the credit Of
being sincere. else they would not fight me