The St. Louis Republic., 1904-08-18
Former Republican Manager Re
fuses to Keep Silent Under De
nunciatlGn of Politicians.
OPPOSED TO CORRUPT DEALS.
Said That the Buffers Will Soon
Give Interviews Announcing
Their Intentions to Sup
port Folk.

Clinton A. Welch. who managed the
campaign for the Republicans In St Louis
two years ago and who furnished the first
evidence TO the Federal authorities re-
sarding naturalization frauds. said yes
terday that he did not intend to be sacri-
feed by the huckstcrs now in control of
the party organization. because OF his ex-
posure Of the Walbrdge- Butler deal
Since the st. Joseph State Convention.
the Missouri State Republican. edited by
f. c. Brokmeyer and a number of coun-
try Republican papers. which are allied
with the Walbridge crowd. have been at
lacking Welch and impugning his mo-
tives.
AS for Mr.. Welch he does not propose
to keep silent under fire Il am not
Sore" said Mr.. Welch yesterday Il
simply did my duty by exposing the 'un-
holy alliance before the State Convention
acted. 1t may not harmonize with the
present organizations idea of politics. but
1t has the merit of being honest.
Il fail to see how my making the charge
that a corrupt deal was made by the anti
Roosevelt forces in the State. aided by
some Federal ufficeholders. with the Grim
inal clements Of the Democratic party can
be constructed as IN aid of any Democratic
nominee. as the deal was to give up ev-
Republican nominee for Governor was to
be supported by the criminal element of
the Democratic party: No account was to
be taken of the Republican electoral vote
and the Republican city ticket this fall
and next spring were to he sacrificed.
1t Is evident that II Is the exposure
of the corrupt alliance that has struck
consternation in the camp OF the political
hucksters and not the existence of the
alliance. The only thing l regret is that
l did not hear of the corrupt deal in
&iyr,n Lay- ,y,g- .aCf
patriotic Republicans together to have de-
ieated the scheme.
Missouri could have been carried for
Roosevelt and Fairbanks and also most. II
not all. the Republican State ticket IL the
opportunity had not been huckstered
away. Some OF the men now in active
control of the party were deposed from the
City Committee two years ago by the
State Committee for bartering away the
rights o: the party.
DEAL MADE TWO YEARS AGO.
"A deal was made that year with Butler
and Meriwether. by these same elements
to divide the city offices in this city be
tween these parties or representatives of
their parties and the Republican party.
The political hucksters are in another
deal. this time affecting the entire State
and the worst one in the history of the
party. This kind Of deals have come to be
biennial events in ST. Louis politics.
Il stand with vast majority OF Mis-
souri, Republicans. who are opposed to
such treachery and corruption and look
to the future for a remedy. The honest,
scourge such corruptionists. both great
and small. out of the party. do not be-
lieve reform can be procured through the
channels of corruption.
II entered my protest at the State Con-
vention before it acted. I sounded the
alarm of the coming danger. 1t was not
needed. I had desired to remain silent
during the remainder Of the campaign. l
have aimed at conditions, not particular
men. l am opposed TO corrupt deals In
politics made in the name of my party. l
believe in a fight on principle. l now serve
warning that l will not remain silent un-
der fire"
facts he has already given regarding the
number of years he was one of the lead
ing directors of the St. Louis Republican
Club. He was opposed to the comoina-
ton of the Hamilton Club crowd that
now controls things among Republicans
in st. Louis. Whether he will give some
of the details concerning the conduct of
these organizations is not known.
According TO a Republican worker who
is in touch with the Walbridge boomers,
both Edward Butler and James j. Butler
will give ostentatious int, intsryisws vie stating
The Republican politicians evidently fig
ure that the support OF some men is
more dangerous in the public eye than
fresh in their minds for them to doubt
the proposition.
Republicans point to the vote which
was given in the Butler wards for Zach
ritz and Tally. Republican nominees for
Circuit Judges. two years ago, against
Judges Mcdonald and Taylor. as evidence
as to what the Buffers can do II they
wish. James J; Butler ran for Congress
at that time There were three judicial
nominees for both parties.
Foster DemJ not opposed by the But
lers. received a majority of H.0l3 over
McQuillen Rep). Mcdonald Oem). op-
posed by the Buffers. received a majority
of 6255 over ZachritZ. Taylor (Dem) op-
posed by the Buffers. received majority
of only 1883 over Tally.
lican politicians are not losing any op-
portunity to abuse Mr.. Welch. who ex-
posed the scheme whereby it was con-
templated that Walbridge should get the
benefit of the Butler knitting of the Folk
ticket. While the Republicans expect the
Buffers to voice with much repetition
their undying loyalty to Folk. they are
also counting upon a repetition of the
support that was given to Judges Tally
and Zachritz when they were nominees
fnr