The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-11
HOW PARKER GOT IT.
New York influence and Mere
Expressions.

WASHINGTON, July 10. 1S94.-The mails of
the New Jersey delegation this morning are
loaded with expressions OF surprise at the
unexpected appointment yesterday of Cap
tain James Parker to be District Attorney.
Miles Ross, of the Democratic National Com
mittee, has entereda vigorous protest against
the appointment. and has asked Senator
Mcpherson to see that the nomination is
withdrawn.
Mr.. Mcpherson is not in the city today, SO
that nothing can be done in the way OF
securing his action Upon Mr.. Ross 7 aest.
In the meantime the nomination has been
referred to the Judiciary Committee, where
it will probably remain until the New Jersey
Senators can be communicated with. There
is no necessity for haste In the matter, as the
term of the present incumbent Of the Office
does not expire until tho 22d of next month.
1t is not known when Mr.. Mcpherson will be
here, as he is said to be i'll again.
MORE DETAILS OF H APPOINTMENT.
Further inquiry, as to how the appoint
rhent was secured, shows that the support
which Parker claimed to have had from the
New Jersey Senators was of the most per-
functory kind. When he was down here
some two or three weeks age, Captain
Parker called upon Senator Mcpherson
and announced himself a candidate. 1t is
said that at this interview the Senator told
Captain Parker that he could not endorse
him, being committed to some one else, and
gave the Captain to understand that the APP
pointment OF this other candidate had al
ready been decided upon. In response to
Captain Parker's request, however, he con-
sented to go with him to the Attorney-Gen-
eral.
On the morning of the day of a Cabinst
meeting Senator Mcpherson n Captain
Parker entered Mr.. Olney's office. 81 want
to introduce Captain Parker, of my State"
General, smiling and recalling the time
when the aspiring candidate had walked into
his office, II have met him before"
WE EFFECT 4 ooD WORD
Senator Mcpherson stated that he under
stood that Parker was a applicant for the
attorneyship and said q few words about
his being a good man. Then the At
torney General turned the conversation
to Mr.. McPherson's health, and in a few
moments later excused himself to go to the
cabinet meeting at the White House. This,
it is said, was the whole of Senator McPher-
sons connection with the case. AS for Sen
ator Smith. he seems to have been entirely
too kind hearted. As stated in these dis
patches last night. he wrote a letter to Parker
saying that he had already endorsed some
one for the position, but he added a friendly
expression, which Immediately went on file
at the Department of Justice as his endorse
ment. The next time he writes to candi-
dates for office, Mr.. Smith viii probably be
more guarded in his words.
The truth is, as / have previously stated,
Parker was appointed through his new New
York infiuence-the recommendation of such
personal friends of President Cleveland as
Frederick R. Coudert and ex-Mayor Grace
being all powerful. The quasi endorsement
of the New Jersey Senators was simply a
plank upon which the administration could
stand. Whether the fight against the APP
pointment will be continued in the Senate
remains to be seen, but nothing is likely to
be lone until the Senators return.
WHAT ENATo SMITH SAYS
sThe appointment was a surprise to me,H'
said Senator Smith today, but it is a mat
ter entirely with Senator Mcpherson. I
understand that the nomination is due to his
endorsement.
at is said that he did not make a written
request for Parker's appointment"
''That is not true. His recommendation
in writing is on file at the Department of
Justice"
"WhaU about your letterw
"My letter was simply a formal one. 1t
told Captain Parker that l had already en-
dorsed ono applicant, and I 6 added that if he
had made known his wishes in time | should
nave been very glad to have considered his
application. That was the whole of my
letter. L do not see how any one can con-
strue it into an endorsement"
""But it was used as showing your friend
illness to Captain Parker
WELL" persisted Senator Smith, "it bears
no such construction
will you do anything about the caseg'
stNot until Senator MCPHERSON returns or
until I can consult with him. 1t is his ap-
pointment.'