One of the most prominent and promising young men in the political life in the United States is Joseph Wingate Folk, who was elected governor of Missouri in the fall of 1904. Though Governor Folk’s rise has been a very rapid one, it has been the result of qualities which make for the most substantial and enduring kind of political success. Dominating factors of Governor Folk’s career have been honesty and a rigid performance of duty. For these he has courted defeat and failure, has even undergone danger to his life. He has refused to listen for a moment to some of the largest financial offers that have ever been made to tempt a servant of the people to betray his trust. Not only has the power of money, but also the corrupt personal influence of many able men, been brought to bear upon him in his work as circuit attorney in St. Louis. Many of his friends, even, endeavored to persuade him that his course of action toward the political leaders in St. Louis would result only in disaster to himself. But Governor Folk’s invariable answer was that he accepted public office for no other purpose than to do his duty.
The result has been a great surprise to both his friends and enemies, and the introduction of an uplifting influence in American politics. Governor Folk has won a great personal triumph in his election to the governorship of Missouri, and the indications are that he will rise to still greater heights. His prominence and influence are rendered all the more notable by the fact that he is only thirty-five years old, and rose from the position of an obscure lawyer to American leadership in the short space of four years.
Governor Folk was born in the town of Brownsville, Tenn., in 1869. He finished his college education at Vanderbilt University, where he was known as a clever, whole-souled young man who devoted much attention to his books, but by no means neglected athletics and the general life of a college boy. He was admitted to the bar in 1890, and began the practice of law in St. Louis, where for some years his experiences were those of the average struggling young attorney. During this period of his career he became a friend of Henry W. Hawes, who was afterward one of his bitterest political enemies. Hawes rapidly rose to a position of considerable power in St. Louis, and when, in 1900, he was asked by the Democratic boss of the city, Edward Butler, to suggest a likely man for the place of circuit attorney, he at once recommended his friend Folk. Butler knew very little of the young lawyer, but on the strength of Hawes’ word he accepted him as being sufficiently pliable to serve the corrupt uses of the political machine.
Folk was elected and immediately inaugurated the now celebrated campaign against the corrupt practices of both his political supporters and his enemies. It was the former who suffered chiefly in the execution of Governor Folk’s ideas as to his duty. They were at first astonished, then incensed, and finally panic-stricken. Many of those who helped to elect him to office were sent to prison. Others were compelled to take flight to avoid the same fate. The St. Louis political machine, one of the most corrupt in existence, was shattered. It was a herculean task which Governor Folk had mapped out for himself, but his courage, steadfastness and ability carried him to a triumphant conclusion of it, and now he stands before the country as a political leader of the highest type.
LAWYERS AND JURISTS.
Frank Swett Black.
Frank Swett Black was born at Limington, Maine, March 8, 1853. He graduated from Dartmouth, 1875. He entered professional life as the editor of the Johnstown, New York, Journal. Later he became reporter of the Troy Whig, New York. He was a clerk in the registry department of the Troy postoffice, during which time he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He was a member of congress in 1895 to 1897, and in 1897 was elected by the republicans as governor of New York state. He also won distinction as a trial lawyer and has defended a number of notable cases, among which was the celebrated case of Rollin B. Molineaux.
Frederick René Coudert.
The young man who wishes to succeed in the profession of law would do well to study the life of the lawyer, Frederick René Coudert, whose every act has been marked by fairness and courtesy. He was born of French parentage in the city of New York in 1832, receiving his early education at his father’s school in that city. At the age of fourteen he entered Columbia college, graduating with highest honors in 1850, his address on that occasion calling forth much comment from the press. During the next few years he busied himself with newspaper work, teaching and translations, besides studying law; and at the age of twenty-one was admitted to the New York bar. His brothers, Lewis and Charles Coudert, Jr., joining him in the practice of law, they formed the firm of Coudert Brothers, one of the oldest and largest law firms of New York city, and of which Frederick R. Coudert is the recognized head. He has achieved quite a reputation as a speaker and lecturer; and among his most notable addresses might be mentioned one at the centennial celebration of Columbia college, 1887; an eloquent speech in favor of the Democratic union during the campaign of Tilden in 1879, and his public addresses on the arrival of Bartholdi’s statue of liberty and the statues of Lafayette and Bolivar. He has been quite active in the political work of the democratic party, but avoiding, rather than asking, public functions, several times having declined nominations which signified election to the bench of the Supreme Court. Mr. Coudert played a prominent part in the election of President Cleveland in 1884. Mr. Coudert’s abilities have been of great service in other fields. He was the first president of the United States Catholic Historical Society, holding the office several terms; for years president of the Columbia college alumni association; for years government director of the Union Pacific railroad; for a long time trustee of Columbia and Barnard colleges and of Seton Hall College, New Jersey, besides being the director in numerous social and charitable organizations. In 1880 Seton college awarded him the degree of LL.D., which degree was also given by Fordham college in 1884, and, in 1887, he received from Columbia college the degree of J. U. D. As a mark of recognition the French government presented him with the Cross of the Legion of Honor, which decoration he has also received from the governments of Italy and Bolivia.