The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-13


day with a rapidly growing political
strength. 1t was Maurice NJ. Minton's
ability also that made of Judge Par
ker a willing and an eager pupil to
this stranger tutor to whose teach
ings Judge Parker paid solemn heed
and to whose advice he gave not only
close attention but followed to the
letter in the strictest sense So much
for the ability that made 1t possible
for Maurice NJ. Minton to accomplish
his task.
A President Maker.
Now a word about this new presi-
dent makers identity, the livelihood by
which he has gained his daily bread,
how he managed the campaign with
remarkable success and something of
the little world in which he moves
Maurice NJ. Minton has been a news
paper man and he was a good one.
A few years ago he gave up active
work in that vineyard to confine him
self to magazine work He has been
more or less associated with Colonel
George B. NJ. Harvey, owner and pub
Usher of Harper's- For the last year.
though, Mr.. Minton has not found
much time to devote to magazine mat
ters- He has engaged his efforts al
most exclusively in grooming Judge
Parker as a presidential candidate.
Mr. Minton we'll knew the late W. c.
Whitney, and he was, perhaps, on as
friendly footing with Whitney when
that gentleman was in the cabinet of
Grover Cleveland as was Colonel Har-
vey, who had left the newspaper field
in New York to associate himself with
Mr.. Whitney in his political work in
Washinton. Many have thought that
almost all of the men who at one
time or other had to do with Mr..
Whitney drew political inspiration
from him, or that they at least drew
from him knowledge as to how to ac-
complish results Mr.. Whitney's third
nomination at Chicago of Mr.. Cleve-
land in 1892. against long odds, and
Mr.. Cleveland's sweeping of the coun-
try at the election under circum-
stances and conditions that many lead
ing Republican and Democratic poll
ticians liken to the present, showed
how well Mr.. Whitney was equipped as
a politician. His successes in many
business ventures are too we'll known
to render reference to them necessary.
BY Watching Whitney.
Perhaps it was through watching
Mr. Whitney that Mr.. Minton got his
notions about conducting a political
campaign. Then, again, it all may
have been born in Mr.. Minton. Ger
tain it is that up to less than two
years ago he never figured in poll
tics. To cast his ballot as becomes a
free Democratic citizen was about the
extent of his doings politically In
deed, it is more than likely that Maur-
ice NJ Minton occasionally forgot to
vote, so little was he interested in
politics. Mr.. Minton lives in a hand
some home in Albemarle avenue and
Marlborough road, in New YOrk's pref
ty suburb of Flatbush, on Long Island.
His home has been the scene within
the past year of gatherings the most
important politically. Since early last
November, when the Parker move |
ment took on full force, there have
been gatherings there of leading Dem |
ocratic politicians, who went there |
from almost every state in the Union. |
Since November Judge Alton B. Par |
ker has scarcely missed a Friday night |
other nights that Judge Parker was |
at the home of the Mintons- Friday |
night, though, was almost certain to |
find him dining with the family. On |
that night, too, it was his wont usually |
to retire to rest, when the hours grew |
late, in the spare bedroom" at the |
home.
Met Many NotabIes.
On the occasion of his visits Judge
Parker usually met, in addition to Mr..
Minton, former Lieutenant Governor
William F. Sheehan, once in while
former United States Senator David
B. Hill, and at least twice former
United States Senator Edward F.
eral months politicians from almost
every state. Chief of all these, though,
to Judge Parker was the guest of
whom he was, Mr.. Minton. Maurice
NJ. Minton was the lodestone that drew
Judge Parker to Flatbush, and it was
he advice of Maurice NJ. Minton that
Alton 3. Parker sought and followed
No one saw Judge Parker come or
go. The same was true of the other
If Mr.. Minton's heutenants, for from
he Democratic nominee for president
Town through the list. and including
Belmont Murphy, Hill and Sheehan,
hey were all lieutenants of Minton,
who mapped out almost every i'm
)ortant move made on the political
checker board in the Parker cam
oaign. In most instances, too, Mr.
nents he had himself planned. This
vas after his plans had been sub
nitted in conferences with Judge Par
1er, who is a politician to whom the !
pest political leaders are entitled to,
md in the east do, doff their head
wear.
If any of Mr.. Minton's fellow COM
nuterS ever saw Judge Parker, Mr..
Senator Hill or any of the
'thers of their crowd about Flatbush
hey never associated their presence /
With the making of a president of
he United States, for they necessarily ,
n less mixed in the throng, it is not
that none of Mr.. Minton's {
leighbOrs ever gave even passing no I
ice to these men on their many visits
o the Long island town. And should
Judge Parker or Mr.. Belmont or :
senator Hill or any of the others, j
AVE been known in Flatbush. none I
# Mr. Minton's neighbors would have
laQ Ine IalnIeSI suspicion IndJ one
# the biggest kind of political plots
vas being Matched and worked out !
n their ve~y midst.
One Little Crowd.
There was one little crowd, how |
yer, most of the members of which t
thew pretty much all about Mr. Min
on's plans. and they were also kept |
veil posted as to the progress of those {
,lans. They were about the only adj l
-isors. to tell the plain truth, that
daurice NJ. Minton had. This bunch {
# good fellows Mr.. Minton usually /
conferred with on Saturday night ]
These advisors and chumS number | '
bout one dozen. and they are about
S good a set of fellows as ever sat ]