The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-07-16

but his parents were not able to provide him
with sufficient money TO attend that college,
although it was near at hand at Ithaca. From
his father. Judge Parker had learned a sturdy
reliance upon his own efforts in life, and
| therefore began to earn his own livelihood
| wholly at Is years of age, by teaching school
at Virgil III the neighborhood of Cortland.
He subsequently taught school at Bingham
ton From Binghamton he went TO Rochester,
in Ulster county, where, when 20 years old,
he began teaching school at the rate of 50
day.
1t was in Rochester that he made the &C
duaintance of Moses L. Shoemaker, one of
the ablest and most prominent Democrats in
Ulster county, whose daughter, Mary l..
Schoonmaker, the Judge subsequently mar
ried.
Judge Parker studied his law books with
great diligence and studied law, not only in
the law office of Schoonmaker & Hardenburgh,
but also in 1871 and in 1872 at the Albany
Law School. Then he was admitted to the
Bar, and began the practice OF law.
Elected to Public OAiee.
Mr. Parker FIRST became a candidate for
public office in 1877, being nominated for
Surrogate of Ulster county in that year. In
1871. 1872 and 1878 Ulster county had been
carried by the Republican party, aud then for
three years had elected Democrats on Tilden
! issues. There was q warm contest over the
| Democratic nomination for Surrogate in 1877,
and when Mr.. Parker was nominated his op
ponent bolted and supported the Republican
candidate. Mr.. Parker, however, had won
the esteem of voters all over Ulster county,
irrespective of party, and consequently WIS
elected, although all the Republican candi-
| dates, except his opponent, were elected by
majorties ranging from 1000 to 1900. When
| Surrogate Parker came up for reelection, in
/ 1885, he had gained still further regard in the
minds of the people; and, despite the fact that
| the Republicans nominated against him ex
/ Judge William Lawton, the Republican who
| had defeated Judge Schooamaker, he was
| elected by 400 majority in total vote of
| l4,00O.
Worked Hard for Cleveland.
! Mr.. Parker became SO keenly interested in
the fortunes of the Democratic party in 1850
that be went to Cincinnati TO observe the pro
ceediugs Of the Democratic National Couven-
ton.
In 1881 he was earnestly m favor Of the
nomination Of Grover Cleveland for President,
and wsS one of the delegates of New York 60
the Democratic National Contention. repre-
seuiiug she Ulster County Congressional DIS
trict
Mr.. Cleveland. upon becoming President
in 1885, recognized these services Of Mr.,
aIhef W fFtutllt nm tt4t Ef>ttit4i ''A itNi
Assistant Postmaster General, bIt he declined
the office. having resolved 10 stick 20 bis pro-
ie>sion As lawyer, aad To- accept no office
which would not be- OF judicial character.
Campaign Manager.
After the Democratic Slale Convention Of
Of 1885 had been held, however. Parker. much
againSi hIs wiii wSs dragged Isio ara aefiFr
participation in State politics. David 3. Hi
mad been Nominated tor Governor and Edward
r. Ianes isr Lieutenant Governor hy the Dem.
ocrauc party, aud manager ot the affairs Of
ihr Democratic Safe Committee 50 eNcep.
glual ability was requEed- The Republican
party had nominated la Davenport, who app
yarrg'v bad the ioyRl support ai the kEpahH
c1us nt The State for Governor. and, snar'iaE
under los dei-at Of the wear previous Icy only
100 yaTrs. Nas resolved Go wiu back lhr state.
Mr. Parker managed the campaign wIlh sach
skill ihat al the candidates. Cu far Democratic
Safe ticket we-- elected Mr. Parker fhrn
permanently retired from su aeiive G.tf'lVipa.
unn in PolIiicsi affairs
Nav was 90 come Do, advancement ia tfgH
Judicial position ID tie iAi. al ISIS lsasr
Theodore Nyslbruok. ut See Supv,n. tuuu
died. ard Governor Hill ihtrsulsau appointed
Mr. Parker as h., successor. the tH5irs5Hs
wear the Democrats HoinIu4trd JulEv EarArs
rs has ueS successor. aud the Republicans o}
tAr district DO ;zlrrr convention Is154 iba IaiEc
she hizh Coup.5fn auf ot refusing iu numHsats +
against him. Julzs Pssker. therefore. hsJ
practically uG opposition 60 ar election a. % I
Supreme Coasl JqdEr. Ihis can b. rightly +
considered as a iubair 10 bus lahIyisl cEsrac (
ter a. revsais+ by wears service apa1 the /
Beach. Mr. Parker also Indicated. in sHtse- /
queui years. his IL, examination 90 hmit BIN +
self 10 Judicial career. declining g. b. 3 can
didaie FOR Governor ou che Democratic ticket 4
10 1891. 10 be a candidate Tor Iaifed States /
Senator ia 1921, or to be q candidate iur Gov 4
rrnor in l9O2
Steadily Judge Parker rase 20 judicial posi- E
tiou When the Second Division % the Court .
OF Appeais was organized. IN isS9, Governor f
Hill appointed Judge Parker, ~ho was oaly 4
81 years old. As q member Of The cosgt-the +
youngest member # 81. H. hed tlss othce
until the dissolution % she cOari. IN 1892
After be retired from the Second niyJsIun 81 +
she Court of Appeals BE was appointed by /
Governor Flower, uHsed thereto by NAM
Judges. 81 be a member al the General Term
Of the Supreme Court Of the First Judicial /
District. sd be thus became acquainted siih 4
many leading lawyers and leadlng citizens Of 4
New York city.
Then. ia 1897. came his election a. CaIef .
Judge Of the Coar OF Appeals.
Hi~ Marriage.
Naturally. Judge Parker's elecjsou mA3e
him conspicuous among the Democrats Of the .
state, and year after year passed after that
OF 1881, when the Democratic party gained no
victory az the polls, more aud mere persons
ia that party favored his nomiaajlou Tor Gov
ernor Ia 1902 this demand for bis nomina
ton became insistent. aud bot tor The judges
perempiory refusal to permit the Use Of bis
name as a candidate be would have been nom
mated for Governor BY the delegates 20 the
Democratic State Convention q that wear.
While teaching school al Accord Judge Par
ker became acquainted with Mary l.. Schoon
maker. daughter Of Moses /. SchoOumaker, Of
Rochester, aud they were subsequently mar
ned. Mrs. Parker Is u descendant OF Jochem
Schooumaker, who was one Of the original
settlement of Holland Dutch at Kingston
Mr.. and Mrs. Parker married in Roch- I
ester in 1878, aud have had two children
John NJ. Parker, their only son, who died a;
the age Of years, aud a daughter, Bertha,
who is the Eife Of Rev. Charles Mercer Hall. I
rector Of The Church Of the Holy Cross ut
Kingston.
Judge Parker has delivered several notable
addresses. One Of the chief was that on The
Educated Man IN Politics. which was deliy-
cred as the Honorary Chancellor Of Union
College at Schenectady on June Il, 1901. Ia
the opening Of this address Judge Parker said:
Superficial observers OF present political con
ship TO be in the hands Of selfish men who use
the power they possess TO accomplish results
hostile to the public interests, frequently a..
seFt thar there Is no opportunity for the edu-
Gated, thoughtful, uuseifish aud independent
man in politics; but ii such persons would only
SQUAD the depths Of political history, the fact
would be revealed 10 them, that whenever
great question of public importance has arisen
1t has been presented and champioued through
the press aud on the rostrum by the educated
thinkers OF the country, who, for the time be
ing, are the real leaders, and under whose
banners The organization leaders hasten to
marshal their forces lest their power shall be
overthrown by the impelling force Of az idea. -"
Some Public Utferanees.
The Judge then gave, as a recent example
of the triumph OF an idea, the success of the
Civil Service Reform movement. He cited
also, as an illustration OF the reward given TO
men who have championed reforms, the cleo
ton Of Samuel }. Tiden as Governor of New
York after his attack upon the Tweed Ring
and the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for
President after his memorable debate with
Stephen A. Douglas on the slavery issue The |
Judge recommended that citizens shall at.
tempt to better governmental conditions in |
their own neighborhoods, and continuing.
said: In nearly every town, county and city
government the expenses are rapidly increas.