The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-27
KINDLY WORDS FOR FOLK

Some of the fineSt endorsements that
have been given Mr. Folk come from
Republican newspapers. For example,
The New York Commercial speaks of
his nomination as "one of the most in
| spring events in the recent political
history of the United States. 1t is a
signal triumph for civic Righteousness,
and for fearlessness and integrity in
public Office" The paper adds that
Folks nomination is of interest to the
whole country because, as 1t words it,
at shows that the mass of American
voters is sound and honest at the core,
and that they appreciate conscientious
and courageous service in their be-
half
This is kindly praise from a political
opponent. but The Emporia, kan.D },
Gazette goes much further The Ga
zette speaks of itself as "a straight
Republican paper" but 1t speaks in the
highest terms of Folk. and among 9TH
er things says:
therefore, whether he casts that vote
as Il Republican, n Populist, or a Pro-
h1bitionist, casts 1t in favor of re-
turn of the boodlers. Those who vote
against Folk under these circumstances
will have to vote with the boodlers,
and their victory, whether it is Re
publican or what not, will be in reality
victor for Doodle.
The Gazette argues that there is
something in the State and the Gov
eminent beyond mere party. and that
merely an aid to good government, and
that such an organization should hold
no mans vote as a mere chattel. Then
it concludes with these words:
The fact that every corruptionist.
whether a private citizen or a boodlinS
railroad, is against Folk, makes it
| plain that the best interests of good
| government in Missouri demand Folks
election. 1t is question above party,
and if a similar situation existed in
| Kansas. The Gazette would be for the
| Democratic nominee with all the vigor
it could command. It is better to be
d hotter to party tnan traitor to a
State.
The conditions existing in Missouri
are causing the Republicans no little
worry and solely for the reasons thus
Doodle element, the corruptionIsts, as
our contemporary calls them, are all
against the Democratic candidate puts
| the Republicans in hole. 1t has set
tied down to a contest between civic
honesty, as represented by Folk, and
| civic rottenness, as represented by the
men who are fighting him. 1t matters
not what kind of man the Republicans
nominate, nor what manner of plat
form they adopt, they cannot force or
drive from the minds of good people
the feeling or conviction that the par
amount issues are honesty against dis
honesty. That is the way it will be re-
garded. both in and out of Missouri.
| And when The Gazette declares that
| "it is better to be a bolter to a party
than a traitor to a state" it breaches
sound Democracy. To bolt party
nomination merely on question or
questions of party policy may not be
when 1t is so plainly apparent. as It is
now in Missouri. that the fight against
Folk Is because of his efforts to de-
tcct and punish crime. the case takes
on different phase. and the Rcpubll-
can who refuses to antagonize or vote
against him is to be commended
| 1t is not certain yet what the Re
publicans of Missouri intend to do. The
course they ought to pursue is to put
out no ticket against Folk This is
Presidential year and they can keep