The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-02-07

The signs Of the times, many now
say, strongly point to the nomination
of Judge Alton B. Parker, chief
Judge OF the court of appeals, for
president in 1904 by the national
democratic convention. In New York
they call Judge Parker "a man Of
destiny aud throughout the South
he is hailed as the Moses who is to
lead the party out Of the wilderness
into the promised land. The name
that politicians are beginning to con-
iure with is, however, new to the
great mass of the American people,
and interest 10 his career and per-
sonality has naturally been aroused
The Judge himself declines to dis
cuss the matter, saying that the chief
judicial officer of the greatest state in
the nation must hold his personality
aloof from partisan politics and
attend strictly to the business of his
office
None of the political leaders can
explain the secret of Judge Parker's
popularity, although the demand for
information about him is as remarka-
BILE as his own reticence. His candi-
dacy seems to be acceptable to Mr..
Cleveland, to Senator Hill, to Mr..
BRYAN, to Senator German and TO
mauy other of the representative
party leaders Still, not one Of them
can say just why it is so. The truth
is that there is less known about
the political opinions and persona
traits of Judge Parker than any Other
American CT national reputation.
Judge Parker comes of Revolution
airy stock. He was born in Cortland
county, New York, fifty-one years
ago. His parents we're in comfortable
circumstances, but not so well endow
ed with worldly goods that it wa
unnecessary for young Parker Il
think Of making his way In th'
world. 1t can be truly said, there
fore, that he has been the architec
OF his own career.
He studied first in the publi,
schools, and later attended an academ,
10 Cortland. Before he completed
his academic course, however, i
became necessary for him to carr
money to pay tuition and buy books
This he did by teaching school l
was fortunate for the future judg
and presidential possibility that b
secured school In Napanoch, j
Ulster county. There, in 1870, b
wooed and married a daughter of tn
prominent Schoonmaker family. l
the office of Augustus Schoonmake
he was able to crafty his ambition t
study law.
He pursued his studies with th
: diligence that has marked his cours
at the bar and on the bench. Minc
political appointments gave bit
sufficient money to complete his la
course. Politics attracted him earl,
aud his tirst success was gained whe
he defeated popular republican fC
+, the Office Of surrogate, No otht
!, democrat on the ticket was success
II full, and, though the republican
y claimed Parkef's election had bee
. obtained through fraud, no charge
y wrongdoing was made against tt
! successful candidate, and he assume
q his Office without protest. He vi
: reelected surrogate in 1879.
In 1885 Judge Parker entered Il
. larger field Of politics, becomiI
n chairman OF the democratic sta
executive committee, and haviI
|, charge Of David B. Hill's campaiI
Z for governor. President CievelaI
: knew and admired Judge Parker.
1885, the year Of the Hill campaig
J. Cleveland offered him the appoir
e ment as first assistant postmast
4 general, but Judge Parker had |
u mind set on q judicial career, al
: declined the place. Tlle same ye
!, Mr.. Hill wanted him to accept t
"A nomination for lieutenant governc
but this be also refused. Subseque
events proved the wisdom Of hiscoul
le There soon came a vacancy on t
state supreme bench, and II was t