The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-03
LOOPING TOWARD 1904.
Democrats are Trying to Discover a
 Candidate.

Washington Special to New York Even-
 ing Post.
 The present year. before 1t closes, ought to throw some light on the Democratic time Is rapidly drawing near when the question will have to .oe settled. and no real discovery has yet been made Probably more persons today would name Alton B. Parker of New York as the Democratic candidate than any. other man. and yet he is so wholly unknown in the field of national politics that his face would not be recognized. were a Democratic national convention to be held today. by one in a score of It's his picture in the public prints. Che criticism of Mir. Cleveland's candidacy in 1884 was that he had for so short time been known outside of purely local circle. But as former Mayor and new made Governor he had become vastly bet ter known to the country by 1SSS than Judge Parker Is In this year 1903.
 Just why Parker should be nominated nobody seems to know. To De sure ne was elected judge as a Democrat by a large majority at a time when Demo cratic victories were rare. But this came about through ballot complication grow ing out of the peculiar :nayoralty hEht in New York city on the same day. His opposing Republican candidate was not on the Citizens Union ticket, which thou sands of Republicans were that cay Not- ing, and this resulted in giving Parker the appearance of having ;reat rular hold.
 Ex-Representative Fitzgerald of Boston has been in town several days in the in- terest of the Olney boom, but, as he oc- knowledge. on his own authority simply He finds q very warm feeling among Democrats for the former Sec retary of State. Champ Cla'k and several other Southwestern Rspr esentai:es in group expressed the fear that Olneys Identification with the Cleveland admin istratlon would be a source of weakness. Mir Fitzgerald assured them that this was not the case in the Northeast, where upon the Southern statesmen complacent- ly assured him that, If this was so, Olney would be entire.y satisfactory, since they could carry their States for any candi- date that the Democratic party could pos sibly nominate. They next asked MT. Fitzgerald If Oney would carry Mas sachusetts in a Preidential contest: and with MT. Fitzgerald's assurance that this was the case. their enthusiasm TOT Oiney mounted high.
 The same quest convinced MT. Fftz- gerald that the source of the Parker Idea was the belief that he could surely carry New York. and while the new apportion- ment has made the old Solid South. New York and Indiana" combination made quate there Is strong hope In Demo cratic circles that President Roosevelt will make some mistakes between now and election times which will arouse wave of popular enthusiasm for party whose leaders have not lately had a chance to make any mistakes or any sue cesses either. If Roosevelt commits the blunders tney are looking for, the Demo- crats exbect to carry some States in the West, such as Illinois. by adding to their ticket a Vice Presidential candidate strong in labor circles; thus, with New York judge identified with the moneyed interests, they believe they can square the circle of possible requirements.