The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-02-07
SKETCH OF JUDGE ALTON B. PARKER.
Man Much Talked About Nowadays as a Possible
Democratic Standard Bearer.
A PLAIN HAMMERED MAN WITH VERY LITTLE TO SAY
He Spends Eight Months of the Year on His Farm Where
He Works With His Hands,

almost unanimous desire Of the New
York Democrats that Judge Parker
should be selected to fill it, Governor
Hill needed the demand and increased
his own popularity by promptly
Judge Parker The follow
ing year, 1886, he was the Democratic
nominee for the full judicial term of
fourteen years His strength and
were so great that the re-
publicans conceded his election and
did not nominate a candidate. In 1889
Governor Hill appointed him to the
second division of the court of appeals,
and there, as on the supreme bench,
he added to his reputation as jurist.
In 1897 he was the democratic nom
inee for chief judge of the court of
appeals, and though all Of his as.
sociates on the ticket went down to
defeat, he was triumphantly e.
lected.
Judge Parker is so years old, a
powerfully built man, with an iron
hand grip and the simplest manners
imaginable. At the first glance one is
impressed by sense of tremendous
physical force. The broad shoulders,
immense chest. sinewy neck, big,
full head, strong jaws, square, form
liable chin; strong, masculine mouth,
shaded by coarse, tawny mustache;
high cheek bones, fresh colloring-as
red and white as young girls face
great, brilliant brown eyes, and mas
sivs, symmetrical limbs-go well
with the deep, full voice and grave
dignity OF the man
Ia addition to being a lawyer and
! iurist, Judge Parker is a successful
farmer. He owns 140 acres Of farm
ing land On the banks of the Hudson,
at Esopus near Kingston. The place
is known as Rosemount, and the
house was built more than century
ago by descendants of the Dutch
settlers. Farming is not mere pas
time with Judge Parker. He spends
about eight months out Of the year at
Rosemount, and in the busy season
labors with the hands. Here he spends
his time as a farmer, with his fruit
trees, grain fields, vineyard aud blood
ed cattle His farm is his chief pos
session, picturesque stretch Of land
plentifully shaded, which runs from
a tiny village on the West Shore
railroad over the brow of a rocky hill
Down to the shore Of the great river
where there is private dock, which
II touched several times day by thu
crack steamboats, At the top OF |
green slope, over which the judge
} pigs and hens are allowed to range
stands his house Here the judge
, lives, and here some OF the most i'm
portant opinions handed down by lh
: court of appeals have been written.
When he is not striding about hi
: farm, playing with his grandson, 0
riding over the rough roads on hi
! favorite saddle horse-for the judi
r rides an hour every day, wherever b
r happens to be-he sits in sum
: room walled gith law books an
$ works out his judgements
} You may go TO Esopus and fgande
I about its fields and paths or sit by th
e blazing logs in the judges roomy fire
! place, as mary apolitical leader ha
s done within the past few weeks, an
you will come away ignorant of th
e judges political views, save that h
3 is a conservative democrat who b'
e lieves in tariff revision and condden
G that the American people can del
n wisely and SUCCESSFULLY with any prol
d lem that confronts them. His slo
q manner Of speech and the straigh
J, honest look out Of his eyes indica
y the careful. deliberate mind. But
i spite of his impressive bearing, thrl
is is asingular suggestion OF the warn
d hearted farm boy that persists.
II Although Judge Parker refuses
e discuss political questions, shelterir
+, himself behind the proprieties OF h
It ofice, it is we'll known th't be tak
ie keen interest 10 his party and VI
Ie Ia full accord with the last democra,
lie state platform, except for the co