The Irish standard., 1903-02-21

ty expired and he was once more
elected, this time by largely in
creased plurality.
In 1884 Parker became power in
State politics. All the Democratic
warriors-Daniel Manning, William G..
Whitney, Edward Cooper, David B.
Hill, Abraham S. Hewitt, Samuel j.
Tilden, Edward X. Apgar and their
friends cottoned to Parker, the young
handsome debonnair clever Democrat
who had won in two pitched battles
in what was considered normal Re-
publican county. Parker Went as a
delegate to the Democratic National
Convention and there, with Daniel
Manning and others of Grover Cleve-
lands friends succeeded in nOminat-
ing Mr.. Cleveland for President.
With Cleveland's election David B.
Hill became a political power through
succeeding Cleveland as Governor. In
the fall of 1885 Mr.. Hill was candi-
date for election as Governor, and Mr..
Parker, on his way to New York one
day in railroad train, found himself
confronted with Mr.. Hill and several
other prominent Democratic politici-
ans, who insisted upon his managing
Mr.. Hills campaign as chairman Of
the executive committee of the Dem
ocratic State Committee.
Mr. Parker at first declined peremp-
torily to touch the place, saying that
such place was not in the line Of his
profession as Il lawyer, but he finally
consented to take it for that campaign
only. 1t proved to be a campaign
which had to be managed with great
skill, but Parker, by his genius as q
tactician and his masterful knowledge
of the State, brought Hill in Il winner
over Ira Davenport by 1000 plural
ity.
From that day to the present hour
there have been two stories, one dia-
metrically opposed to the other, con-
corning the relations between Mr. Hill
and Mr.. Parker. One story is that
MI Hill never forgot his debt Of graf
itude to Parker for the great work
which Parker did in conducting Mi.
Hills victorious campaign in 1885,
and that Nh Hill swiftly showed his
gratitude by appointing MI. Parker
successor to Justice Theodore II.
Westbrook Of the Supreme Court up
on the death Of the latter in 1850.
The following year Judge Parker
had proved to be such Il satisfactory
Judge that he was nominated by the
Democratic party, and the Republican
party put forward no candidate
against him. His election as Il Justice
Of the Supreme Court followed.
In January, 1889, the Second Divi-
sion of the Court of Appeals was Gre
ated and Justice Parker was appoint
ed to it by Gov. Hill, the Judge being
the youngest man who ever sat in the
Court of Appeals in this State. He
was then only IS years old.
He retained this Office until the dis
solution Of the court in 1892. Then,
at the request Of other judges, he was
appointed by Gov. Flower Il member
of the General Term of the Supreme
Court Of the First Department, and
continued at work in New York city
until the creation Of the APPELLATE Divi-
sion of the Supreme Court, when he
resumed the duties Of the trial terms
in his own district. In November
1897, Judge Parker was elected Chief
Judge of the Court Of Appeals.
The other story about the relations
between Mr.. Hill and Chief Judge
Parker dating from that campaign in
1855, has been very often repeated by
Democratic politicians in this State. 1t
is to the effect that Mr.. Hill quickly
perceived that Mr.. Parker, in 1885,
possessed all the genius, diplomacy,
keenness and intellect to become Il
great Democratic statesman, and
furthermore, easily to become the
Democratic leader of the State Of New
York, and that it was for these reas-
onS that MI. Hill ut the first opportun-
ity offered by IL vacancy on the Sup
RENE Court bench, quickly shunted
Mr.. Parker OH to the bench, out from
the political arena, and into the judici-
al closet, well knowing that IL man like
Parker would not soil the robes Of his
office by scrambling down into the
gutter Of politics. Thus to shunt a
political rival has been the method Of
both Republican and Democratic lead
ers OF the State of New York.
1t is not necessary to repeat the sto-
~ OF the Democratic State Convention
at Saratoga i'll September last which
nominated Bird S. Coler for Governor.
The delegates to Il man wanted Chief
Judge Parker to be the candidate for
Governor, believing that Parker would
beat Odell by $4,000 and capture the
Legislature, sending back David 3.
Hill to the United States Senate to
succeed Thomas G. Platt.
Mr.. Coler was Mr.. Hills candidate
for Governor. He was beaten by
$500 plurality.
In view Of the prominence Of Chief
.Inlra pNrkar all nCar tho on,,pt,,, "a