Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-20
FOLKS COURSE
LOSES MISSOURI
BlTTENGER CALLS GOVERNOR
A FAKER
Veteran Observer Says Doodle Prose-
cutor Is a Poser, Not True to
Standard He Set for
Others

Missouri to Democracy if the Republi-
cans become united.
Folk is failing in strength all the
time, and although looking forward
to the Democratic nomination for
president, l am confident that he will
slose out there and also fail to secure
an election as United States senator
at the expiration of present Senator
Stones term of office"
This is the profound conviction of
Major John L. Bittinger, a noted Mis-
souri, politician, veteran journalist and
"a prominent figure in Republican ma
Js.Onal politics.
Major Bittinger at the Alexandria
last night during discussion of state
and national politics, made the above
statements.
Governor Folk is poser. He is
not true to the high standards he has
set for others to follow continued the
veteran statesman. although 1 dis
like to use the word, l consider Folk
a faker. He is for himself above all
else.
Creating a Machine
HE is using very possible means to
create a Joe Folk machine, and his
aspirations do not fall short of the
presidency. If he fails in securing the
presidential nomination he will try to
be satisfied with the United States
senatorship.
Folk is not the man that he was
when prosecuting attorney at st.
LGuis. He has made a lot of political
capital from the fact that he did his
duty, as a public official is sworn to
do"
Major Bittinger believes that Mis-
seuri will again become Republican if
III IL Hn tod
Neidringhaus is the stumbling block
on which the friends of Republican
unity trip, according to Major Bit
finger.
Z But with Folks waning strength. his
many enemies among his own party
and the seeds of discomfort that have
been sown by the reckless lieutenants
of Folk, there seems to ge good
prospect of the state going Republican
once more two years from now.
Major Bittinger shows no signs of
physical weakness, although for the
past two years he has been suffering
frora illness. He said that the trip to
the coast has benefited him greatly
and his admiration for Los Angeles
hardly knew bounds.
" Half Century's Battles
Major Bittinger has been in the bit
terest political fights in the history of
The country. and from the time that he
entered Missouri politics in 1856 up to
r. the present time he has been in the
thick of strenuous fights.
He was prominent in journalism for
many years. On the st. Louis Demo-
crat until 1859, he then, with Colonel
Peckhayl, started an evening paper,
which was sold year later.
He then went to st. Joseph and en-
tered heart and soul into the Lincoln
campaign After Lincoln was elected
president one of his first political acts
was to appoint Maj Bittinger post
master at st. Joseph, the appointment
being among the first three postmaster
ships chosen by the president.
He also purchased one-half interest
in tie st. Joseph Herald, which the
veteran politician and journalist has
safely piloted for thirty years. He also
found time to run for the state legisla-
ture and was there for seven terms. He
was consul general to Montreal.
In Days of Treason
'I suppose that | have been in the
greatest contests that a man ever had
in any legislative body" said the major
with smile as he leaned back in his
luxurious chair.
1.-The first time was in 1862. 1t was
Republican legislature. Two United
States senators had been expelled for
treason. Lieutenant Governor Hall be-
came governor. There were two SEN
atorial vacancies to fill.
"The Republican candidates were
John B. Henderson and B. Gratz
Brown. When we came to vote for
them some of Hendersons friends re-
fused to vote for Brown and some of
Browns supporters would not vote for
Henderson. We balloted for six months,
being determined to get two Republl-
cans, and the next fall we continued
the fight Finally Governor Hall ap-
preached mel was speaker of the
house-and told me that if he would
bring his Democratic votes to me for
Henderson he would expect that the
other senatocship would go to a good |
Democrat. Hall would have been the
man, being a strong Unionist although |
a Democrat.
''This deal would have gone through |
if Senator Van Horn had not marshaled |
his forces together at the last moment, |
according to my advice.
Elect Two Republicans
81 told him how matters stood, and |
just at the last minute he came to me
all tired out and said that he had the
men in line at last. The deadlock was |
broken and the next day we elected our !
two Republicans all rlgnt. 1t was hard |
work though"
Continuing, Maj. Bittinger spoke of
Folks waning influence. He said that |
the erstwhie poular idol was now being |
shown as he really is. Folk has not
made good his promises. He has fought |
against the "home rule" bill and other
measures that were wanted in the state
and has been laying plans to secure
higher office for himself, thus alienat-
ing many Of his former friends and
constituents.
Mai. Bittinger therefore believes that |
Folk has more than reached the zenith
OF his popularity and that he will be
responsible largely for the turning of
the state to Repubiicanism again.