The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-07-14
ALL ABOUT sam PARKER
HANDSOMEST MAN IN THE BIC
CONVENTION.
A Philadelphia Correspondent Tells
About the Hawaiian Delegate Sent
by Honolulu Republicans.

PHILADELPHIA, June 22.-Seated
in convention hall this week, a delegate
recognized by the Republican National
Committee, was one man whose per-
sonality attracted general attention,
and whose official character gave much
food for thought to students of the pol
itics of nations. He was Samuel Par
ker, a Kanaka; once a noble of Hawaii
and Prime Minister in Queen Liliuo-
kalani's Cabinet, now an American citi-
zen and a representative from the new
territory to the first national conven-
ton held after the acquisition of terri
tory beyond the seas.
When the Republican party was born,
forty four years ago, Parker was boy
of ten, living on the Island of Hawaii,
speaking a tongue then unknown to the
ears of Americans, save a few mission
aries, and knowing nothing of the great
country to which he was destined to
belong.
His father was a member of the nobil-
fly and sat in the House of Lords at
Honolulu. His estate covered nearly
one half of the largest island of the
group-Hawaii-and from his cattle
! ranch nearly all the markets of the
capital city were supplied. The estates
and titles descended to Sam, who, when
he became of age, sat in turn in the
House of Lords, and was known as the
wealthiest young man of the Islands.
This was before Spreckels invested so
heavily in sugar cane plantations on
the archipelago, and before other ven
turesome Americans sought to drag for
tunes from out that fertile soil.
Parker held important offices under
King Kalakaua, and was the adviser of
that monarch's successor, Queen Liliuo-
kalani, even before he was made Prime
Minister; supporting her cause long af-
| ter the formation of the provisional
| government in 1898, and not yielding
! to the tide of events until the dusKy
queen herself gave up the struggle.
The former Hawaiian noble-this
week American citizen and delegate to
| the Republican National Convention
was regarded by many as the hand
| soonest man in the convention hail.
! handsomer even than Richard kerens
national committeeman from Missouri
They met, this Hawaiian and Mis-
sourian, in the corridor OF the Walton
one evening, and chatted for several
minutes, and men looked at and admir-
| ed them. Kerens hair is the tint of
| silver-not white, but that shiny gray
/ which is so seldom seen. He wears II
| long and one lock falls partly over a
! high forehead His features are Gre
| clan, and his skin of a softness that
! many a woman might envy. He is not
tall. but his presence is commanding.
]
his shoulders could undertake almost
/ any task. He is an inch or two above
| six feet tall and stands straight as a
| West Pointer but with more grace and
ease. His hair is curly and raven black
| and borders face that is swarthy and
dark His nose is large, his lips red
and full, eyes black, large and lustrous.
! He is a true son of Hawaii, the land of
the 90 bird, where the passions OF
men never seem to slumber.
Sam Parker is probably the most pop
ular individual on the Hawaiian Is
! lands. He is a hail fellow well met
with all, his purse is always open and
his loud laugh and CHEEKY greeting viii
never be forgotten by those who have
heard him. He has lost three fortunes
in a decade, and is now amassing an
other Whether owning large estates
or going through proceedings of bank
ruptcy Parker always acts the same
! His family never change their mode OF
| living, the residence at Honolulu and
| the cottage on the ranch being main
tanned in the same lavish style; fol
when Parkers financial barometer is
low tradespeople trust him, knowing
day will come when all will be re-
turned.