State manual to feature Southeast professor's essay on 1904 election

Missouri's new official manual of state government will feature an essay by a Southeast Missouri State University history professor concerning the 1904 election.

Dr. Bonnie Stepenoff's essay, "Conscience of the People: Progressivism and the 1904 Election," deals with social and political reformer Joe Folk.

A Democrat, Folk was elected governor in 1904 and served one term.

"They called him Holy Joe," Stepenoff said.

Folk made his name as a prosecutor in St. Louis. He prosecuted corrupt politicians.

"People were in the mood for change," she said.

Folk's election occurred in a year when St. Louis played host to the world's fair and Missouri touted industrial progress.

"It was no longer a frontier state," said Stepenoff.

As governor, Folk successfully championed legislation that allows voters to put issues on the ballot through initiative petition.

He also backed legislation against child labor and crusaded against big corporations, Stepenoff said.

"He was not for Prohibition," she said.

But there was a moral tone to his reform efforts, said Stepenoff. "He tried to close down racetracks and enforce the Sunday sales law."

Stepenoff's essay is one of several in the new manual that will focus on pivotal elections in Missouri's history.

The secretary of state's office publishes an official manual every two years as required by law.

State officials will unveil the new manual, typically referred to as the "Blue Book," in a ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda.

Stepenoff said she can't attend because of her class schedule.