Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-04
Prominent Men in Los An
geles Declare Form er
Missouri Governor Has
Qualifications for the
Presidency

tial possibility in the election OF
1912 is shown by interviews with
prominent Democrats of Los
Angeles.
In The Herald of Sunday,
June 27, appeared an editorial
suggesting Mr.. Folk as the stan
dard bearer of the Democracy in
1912 and contrasting his firm at
titude on public issues with the
shambling policy of Mr. Taft. Los
Angeles Democrats agree with
The Herald in its estimate of Mr..
Folk as placing him in the
Roosevelt class. In the following
Monday edition The Herald print
ed a resolution adopted by the
Democratic League Of Southern
California indorsing Mr.. Folk for
the presidency. This resolution,
which fairly states the attitude OF
California Democrats as to Mr..
Folk, is worth reprinting in con-
nection with interviews with
prominent Democratic 'leaders.
The resolution is as follows:
Whereas, Special privileges, con-
ferred ostensibly by law, in the ma
ture of private concessions to So
called public utility corporations;
protective tariff on the necessities
of life. granted to favored pro-
ducers and manufacture illegal
combinations trusts, monopolles
and the like have resulted in a
state of corruption in the nations
political affairs, which the Repup-
lican party during the last twelve
years of it's control of the nations
affairs has been unwilling OF uh-
able to curb and
Whereas, The only progress MADE
in stamping out graft has peen
made in a few cities and states,
inspired by the chief exponent OF
the fight against graft and special
privileges, the Hon. Joseph w.
Folk Of Missouri, in his magnih-
cent fight and victory won over the
political grafters in the city OF ST.
Louis, and
Whereas. The Democratic League
of Southern California realizes that
an unceasing fight must be made
against graft in national, state and
city affairs, now, therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That the Democratic
League of Southern California here
by indorses and puts forward the
Hon. Joseph w Folk as the Demo
cratic candidate for president in
1912, knowing full well that he Is
the man most capable of carry
ing out the fight against special
privileges, graft and political cor
ruption.
The Herald has endeaVored, through
leading Democrats to feel the pulse OF
the public as to Mr.. Folks standing
as a presidential possibility. Among
the men whose opinions are given are
some of the most prominent party
leaders in the city. Without exception
thev indorse The Herald's attitude
toward Mr.. Folk and give it as theiI
opinion that he is one of the most
available leaders of the Democracy in
the country for the fight of 1872 These
interviews are as follows:
CAPT. c. H. HANCE-I commend
Folk for his efforts in the cause OF
good government. l have taken more
interest in Folk because ne represents
fairly the best of Democracy in my ma
tive state, Missouri Prior to the last
convention, if it had been left to me to
decide between Folk and w. j. Bryan
L SnOulQ
in bestoWing the nomination, for a
number of reasons. One was that his
actions have shown courage and he has
made a manly fight against corruption
in his own party, and. besides, had
made many friends, not only among
Independent voters, but among those
classed as his party's political enemies
| doubt very much if better timber can
be obtained for the next presidential
frfp
mainly out of his fight against the cor
rupt ring of his own party in the state
of Missouri.
CHARLES WELLBORN-Folk is a
man who enjoys the confidence and re-
spect of those who know him best. His
efforts at reform are undoubtedly the
result of a deep conviction that it is
possible to destroy graft in public Of
fee, and he has himself contributed
largely to this result, not only in Mis-
souri, but elsewhere. He is a man of
splendid attanments and one who may
be trusted to the limit and relied upon
to do what he ConceiVes to be right and
proper and just
CHARLES WOOLWINE-Folk is ag-
gressiVe and courageous enough tO
strike at governmental evils regardless
of who might be hurt. At the same
time he has the balance of conserV-
atism His career has shown ability OF
a high order and a patriotism that can
not be questioned and l think he meas
ures up to the great Office of chief eX-
ecutiVe Of the nation.
ALBERT NJ. NORTON-Mr. Foil
Will be an ideal standard bearer for the
Democratic party in 1912. He has ac'
COmphshed something besides holding
office, His prosecution of the boodlers
in St. Louis was the inspiration which
led to the Investigations in oregon lanC
cases, the Texas and Missouri trust
probing, and the mum al unheaVals
in san Francisco, Philadelphia, Pitts
burg, Los Angeles and other places. His
election to the presidency would NEAR
that graft, corruption and bOodling un-
der the guise of a protective tariff
would cease; that favored manufacture
ers and industries would not be al
lowed to become a burden on the Deo.
pie; that government contracts woulC
be open to all bidders, and that the
plain citizen would come into his oWr
rights i'm spite Of the vested monopolies
and trusts Folk looks upon the ricf
and the poor alike, He will make g
splendid candidate.
o. y. FARISH-From what know
of his (FOlk's) life and his actions in
public life I am thoroughly convinced
that he is one of the most able men IN
the Democratic party today. believ,
he would make very able and efficienr
president. Whether he is the mos
available man that the party could pu
forward or not as its nominee in 1912
am not prepared to say at this time
but l do say that he measures up t
the presidential standard. He is hon