The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-01-24
A BOOM FOR PARKER.

seekers after leader are coming
round 10 the conclusion that the only
available nan in sight is Judge Alton
b. Parker of New York. So many dec
lara.ions In his favor have been made
of late that something in the way of
a boom Cor him Is noted at the cap
ital. In fact he is iow easily ahead
of all comps titors, asserts the Call, ard.
unless the unexpected happen, the DEM
ocratic convention of 1904 will be one
Of the quietest on record and the nom
ination will be made on the first bal
lot.
The aspirations of Pattison, Tom
Johnson. David Bennett Hill and Cor
man appear to have been crushed by
the regent elections olney still has
a considerable following, hut ii is not
strongly led and is not likely TO have
much weight with the convention
Roies is too old, and besides his recent
defeat for congress shows that he could
not count upon adding to the strength
Of the party in Iowa. So a new man
is necessity of the situation, and
Parker gets the benefit of the emer-
geney.
Senator Carmack of Tennessee, who
has been consistent Bryan man. has
declared for Parker, and the declara-
tion is taken as significant of break |
in the Bryanite ranks in the south.
The senator is quoted as saying
Judge Parker would be an exemplary
leader and one under whom. in my
opinion, We could march to victory |
New York democrats are frequent and |
liberal in their ecomiums of him, and |
certainly no objection to his nomination
could be made by Mr.. Bryan or any
of Mr.. Bryan's followers. The money |
question, in my judgment, is not to cut !
much of figure during the next cam
paign."
The boom for Parker is not sud-
den growth. 1t is in no sense due to
a spontaneous desire on the part of |
the democratic rank and file to have
him lead them in the coming contest.
On the contrary, very few of them
know anything about him. His repu-
tation is purely local. and even in New
York ne is known anly as a lawyer of
ability, who was elected to a judge
ship by plurality of over $1,000 the
year after Mckinley had a plurality of
26s 900. The judge was frequently spok-
en- of as candidate for governor last
fail, but for some reason the nominal
ton did not go 20 him. 1t is said on
one side that he declined to run, but
others assert that David Bennett Hill
turned him down. Only those who
know the inside Of democratic politics
N New York can decide that point.
The one fact is that Parker did not
'un, and his availability as party
eader has never been tested.
The cause Of the boom for him is
hen to be sought elsewhere than
lmong the ranks of ;he democratic
masses. In fact, it has been carefully
worked up by some Of the ablest lead
RS of the party. In the south the
work TO rhim has been going on for
ong time. A considerable number Of
democrats have long been
dissatisfied with Bryan and the party
endencies which he represents. They
ave therefore been quite willing to
romote the movement for Parker and
iill doubtless work steadily for him
rom this time on.
The program of the Parker men is to
xclude the money question from the
latform and make the fight for tariff
eform and restriction of trusts. To
lake such fight with any prospect
T success they need a candidate with
sound and conservative record, but !
I the same time one who will not {
lienate the extreme free silver men,
arker has the advantage of record
lat Is clean in every way. He is not ,
lily known as an upright man, but he s
rs no political past that ,an be often
We TO either wing of his party.
In the meantime a curious report
mes that Bryan and the western men t
N join with the New Englanders in
pport Of olney for the sake of beat
g New York and the south. Richard
II Of Tennessee recently stated that Il
indisputable that Olney is being boom L
In the west and expressed the opin- :,