Hon. John T. Barker

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MOFFETT PHOTO
HON. JOHN T. BARKER ATTORNEY GENERAL MISSOURI
REDPATH



HON. JOHN T. BARKER Attorney – General of Missouri

President of the Association of Attorneys-General of the United States
If the sentiment and precedent of a commonwealth are of any consequence, Hon. John T. Barker, will be the next governor inaugurated at Jefferson City, Missouri.

When Hon. Joseph W. Folk brought to a climax his exposures and prosecutions as circuit attorney at St. Louis, and advanced to the governorship in 1905, he had as his Attorney-General, Hon. Herbert S. Hadley.

Mr. Hadley succeeded Gov. Folk in the executive chair in 1909 and served four years with Hon. Elliott W. Major as Attorney-General.

Mr. Major succeeded Gov. Hadley in 1912, for a four year term.  In Missouri now, it is Governor Major, and his Attorney-General is Hon. John T. Barker.


FAITHFUL AND EFFICIENT
Mr. Barker's loyalty to his constituents—the people of Missouri—has been in direct line with the policies of his predecessors—Folk, Hadley and Major.  From the side-lines his people have seen him fight to the last ditch for every inch of ground in dispute.  They have felt, and feel today, that their interests are safe-guarded with faithful efficiency.



IN PRIME OF LIFE
General Barker is a native of Missouri, being born at Carrollton 38 years ago.  Who's Who in America makes note of three terms which he served in the Missouri house of representatives.  He was speaker of the house in 1911.


As Attorney-General Mr. Barker, because of his fearlessness in fighting big interests, has been the subject of wide comment, particularly in the newspapers of St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago.  From New York to California and from New Mexico to Maine, his position has met with sincere approval.  By many politicians and laymen, as well as by the Missouri press, he is considered the logical man to succeed Governor Major.  Mr. Barker's term of office as attorney-general expires January 1, 1917.



BACKS TWO CENT FARE LAW
In fighting for the two cent fare law, of which Gov. Folk was the author, Mr. Barker has won great favor with the people.  Conditions in Missouri have been much the same as in other states enjoying this legislation, except that to General Barker has fallen the task of recovering from the railroads nearly $25,000,000 said to have been illegally collected from the people while injunction proceedings were pending.

Official duties have made of General Barker an exceedingly busy man, and he has gained a keen insight into judicial procedure.  Hence his lecture, Abuses of the Federal Courts.  He is a firm advocate of the election of federal judges by a direct vote of the people, for a term of years and not for life.



LECTURE SPICED WITH HUMOR
Mr. Barker's lecture commands the closest attention. It is liberally spiced with humor, but the arraignment of the trusts and certain federal judges is none the less severe for that.  The sincerity with which he drives home each point convinces those who hear him that he is intelligently leading a great battle that will ultimately restore to the people rights that have been bartered away by corrupt politicians, or deliberately stolen under the guise of law.



PROSECUTIONS ARE SUCCESSFUL
General Barker has conducted more successful prosecutions against the trusts of this country than perhaps any other prosecuting officer.  In many cases the United States government has used his evidence in federal prosecutions.  His aggressiveness in behalf of the people has attracted the attention of the entire nation.

At a meeting in Washington, D. C., in November, 1914, he was elected president of the National Association of Attorneys-General.




HON. JOHN T. BARKER AS VIEWED BY THE PRESS

A MAN WHO DOES THINGS

Hon. John T. Barker has become widely known as a man who does things.  His unassuming manner and business-like style of going right to the basic cause of conditions gives him a wonderful power over his hearers.  The people hear him gladly for he has already demonstrated the fact that he is their friend.  Mr. Barker is a young man who stands for the highest and best in American citizenship.—
Moberly (Mo.) Times-Democrat.



RETAINS HONEST IDEALS

At the conclusion of the hearing at Kansas City, one of the attorneys for the railroads, in smoothing down the ruffled feathers of the court said that the remarks of General Barker might be excused by his extreme youth.  Missouri is fortunate in having a General young enough to still retain his ideal of honesty and brave enough to say what he thinks.  Speaking as we believe we do for the people of the state, we say, here's to you, General Barker, and more strength to your arm!—
Pleasant Hill (Mo.) Local.



HANDLES SUBJECT WELL

Attorney-General Barker of Missouri delivered his lecture here yesterday on Abuses of Federal Courts and he handled the subject in splendid style.  General Barker is doing much good in exposing the unsound methods of certain courts and corporate interests.—
Washington (Kansas) Herald.



PREPARE TO RETREAT

In his battle against certain interests Attorney-General Barker has received commendation from everywhere.  Letters and telegrams of congratulations have poured in upon him.  If the politicians do not see the signs of the storm which is almost here they are blind indeed.  If they have any cyclone cellars handy it would be a good scheme to unlock the doors and oil up the hinges for a quick and handy retreat.—
The Independence (Mo.) Examiner.



GOOD THING FOR THE NATION

When Attorney-General Barker created such a stir in the federal court at Kansas City recently he did not please the great corporate interests of this country but he started a fight which will be nation-wide and which will cause federal judges to pay more attention to the will of the people.—
Jackson (Mo.) Cash Book.



BARKER WATCHED WITH INTEREST

It is an easy thing for public officials to work along the line of least resistance, but seldom does one see a public official take the chance that Attorney-General Barker has taken.  It will be a matter of greatest interest to the people of the United States to observe his fight.—
Macon (Mo.) Times-Democrat.



PRACTICAL SOLUTION

He did not advocate the recall of judges but he did ask that more care be taken in selecting them and that they be not chosen so largely from the ranks of the railroad lawyers.  It is very certain that the future career of Mr. Barker will be watched with much interest by those who heard him here.—
Rogers (Ark.) Democrat.



FRIENDS CONGRATULATE HIM

Mr. Barker was frequently applauded during his address and when he finished he was surrounded by congratulating friends.  Many who had never seen him before shook hands with him and thanked him for his message.—
The La Plata (Mo.) Home Press.