Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-03
THE PARKER boom.

In a recent review OF the "quiet boom
for gthe nomination Of Judge Alton B.
Parker. of New York, for President by
the Democrats In 1904. a Washington
correspondent stated that 1t was not
started in the West, az was generally
supposed, but in the South. According to
I the correspondent, 1t harks back to last
winter. and was the outcome OF dect-.
Son reached in the partys councils 70
make still hunt for a candidate who
was not pronouncedly entangled with eth.
er side to the split which had occurred
III the Democratic ranks. and whose
nomination would involve the least
amount of wrench In retiring former
prominent aspirants. who might also be-
come aspirants again.
Judge Parker was known to he a man
of the higher integrity and representa-
tive OF the old-time fundamental Demo-
cratic principles, but beyond that he had
no record The Southern leaders. after
canvassing the names of several other
men. who. it was suggested. would meet
the demands Of the situation. decided on
Judge Parker. and as it was recognized
that the South was the main dependence
Of the Democracy, and since the elinina-
ton Of the negro from politics down here,
could afford to be more independent in
Its dealings with the national party. the
Parker boom was launched
|, This action. however. was largely pre-
dicated on the strong indications that
Judge Parker would be the nominee OF
the New York Democrats for Governor.
When the boom was launched there was
indeed certainty almost that he would be.
land it was generally believed that IN
that event the New York Democracy
would carry their State. Judge Parker,
it was argued. with New York behind him
and mo record" would be half the bat
tie The movement for his nomination
in 1904 was with the reservation so to
speak, that 1t should be step up from
the New York Governorship The re-
cosnition that New York was pivota!
State still held sway.
But the New York Democratic Con-
vention. under the domination Of Hill.
upset the programme, Coler was nomi-
mated and was defeated. And now we are
! told that the Parker boom is subsiding.
We, however, can not-in default of
better man of the same stripe-see why
cratic party is going to fall back again
upon the policy of expediency and COM
promise, which has been so fruitful Of
dissension in its house hold, and has so
often brought it to grief. The Dispatch
maintains that the only hope for the re-
gaining of Democratic ascendency and
the perpetuation thereof rests in the par
tvs coming together on fundamental
; principles. placing these above men. and
nominating just such man as Judge
Parker is said to be-a man OF whom
the country knows practically nothing,
except that he is an old-fashioned Demo-
crat of good repute In whose career thci e
is nothing calculated to open old sores.
The wisdom of this policy has been
signally demonstrated in at least two
Presidential elections, and If it is to as
sert itself in debating the course OF the
Democracy as to 1904 Judge Parker will
be no less the right man then than he was
! last winter. We do not mean that we
are welded to the New Yorker. but we
are welded to the conviction that in max
ing its nomination the party should select
q man who stands toward it and the pub
lie just a he does. and not be influenced
to putting up a candidate with an irritat-
| ing record in order to pay tribute to any
Safe, and to the jeopardizing OF the pros
pect Of winning principles. We hope,
therefore, that the South will exercise its
! increasing power in the party to the end
| of forcing the policy we have outlined.
That way lies the guarantee of securing
for the Democracy the confidence of the
masses. and a victory that can be PEI
cetuated, and that way also lies one as
| surance of the South's again coming
into leadership and re-acquiring her an
cient influence in controlling the des-
! TIMES of the nation.