Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-01-22
A la Banquo's Ghost.

A la Banquo's Ghost.
At this stage of the Quadrennial pc
riod between presidential elections it is
inevitable that there should be more or
less presidential gossip and discussion
of possible or probable candidates. The
signs of the times indicate that Presi-
dent Roosevelt is the strongest Repub-
lican. If the convention were held to-
day, he would be nominated most like
ly, but there is many slip 'twiKt cup
and lip in presidential nominations, as
In all things else. A thousand accidents
may happen any one of which would
be fatal to the Roosevelt boom. Indeed
it may be safely assumed that several
ablebodied Republican statesmen are
waiting for, hoping for, praying for
those same accidents to fall upon the
strenuous young man now occupying
the White House.
More and more in Democratic circles
is the name of Judge Alton B. Parker
of New York discussed and with in
creasing favor. In fact, the four east
ern names which are most frequently
heard in that connection are those of
William Randolph Hearst, editor Of
three great Democratic dailes; Arthur
Pue German, ex-senator and senator
elect from Maryland; Richard Olney,
ex-attorney general and ex-secretary Of
state, and Judge Parker, chief justice
of the New York court Of appeals.
The proponents of the Parker propo-
sition declare with constantly increas-
ing vigor that the fact that he has been
on the bench for many years and there
by removed from active participation
In politics will add to his strength as
candidate when taken in connection
with his high character, great talents
and straight record as Democrat In
other words his lack of record will
make him available. There is some
force in the contention, for the Parker
stock seems to be rising. His name,
like Banquo's ghost, will not down.
The fact that nobody has yet been able
to trump up any charge against him
helps his boom amazingly. Clearly he
is a growing man, perhaps the coming
man.
A Sketch of Judge Parker.
AS Judge Alton B. Parker is clearly
in the list of possible presidents in 1904,
the principal events of his life are here
set forth for future reference by the
readers of these letters. He comes Of
Revolutionary stock. He was born in
Cortland county, N. Y, fifty-one years
a on apd 10 fbo,-oforo IN tho vn,.v x1rirna a
of life. 1t will be of interest to the vast
army of teachers in the United States
to know that Judge Parker once WELD
ed the birch and ferule himself, and
thereby hangs a tale pleasant to all
who have healthy hearts in their bos-
oms, for while engaged in that delecta-
BILE business he found, wooed and won
his wife, who may be the next mistress
of the White House She was Miss
Schoonmaker of the county of Ulster.
He seems to have had penchaAt for
politics from the beginning. Having
held various minor offices, he achieved
his first important promotion and rec
ognition when he was elected surrogate,
being the only successful Democrat on
the ticket. He was reelected surro-
gate. In 1885 he was chairman of the
and managed David Bennett Hill's cam
vass for governor. The same year
President Cleveland offered him the po-
sition of first assistant postmaster gen
eral, which he declined, having set his
heart on judicial career. Governor
Hill wanted him to accept the Office of
lieutenant governor, which he also de-
clined. There was soon a vacancy on
the supreme bench, and, as it appeared
to be the almost universal desire Of
New York Democrats that Judge Par
ker should have the place, Governor
Hill appointed him, and he has been on
the bench ever since. In 1897 he was
triumphantly elected, though all of the
other men on the Democratic ticket
met with defeat, thus proving his great
popularity. "a
The fact that Judge Parker is a prae-
teal farmer will have a tendency to in
crease his popularity. He owns and
lives upon farm of 140 acres on the
banks of the Hudson. His place is
called Rosemont, and there he spends
all the time which he can snatch from
his judicial labors and is neither asham-
ed nor afraid to work with his own
hands. as did that other great New