The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-19
The Heroism of Parker.

The democratic leaders are busy
these days saying complimentary
things Of Judge Parker. They refer
to him as a man of action of cour-
age, Of high integrity, and Of such
strength of character as ought to
command general admiration and re-
spect, and as fit him to fill the ex-
allied oface Of president.
Has it ever occurred to the public
that all this high praise is based on
the telegram sent by Judge Parker
to the ST. Louis convention, and that
Behind that telegram there is abso-
1utely no known basis for it? For
months he was the great unknown
and prominent democrats in all parts
of the lapd were insistent in their
demands that he say something, or
do something that would give a clue
to his principles and his qualifications.
There was no response to these de-
mands. The nomination was con-
ferred while he was still unknown,
and the convention was almost ready
to adjourn before he saw fit to break
the long silence.
There is much in the Parker tele-
gram to commend, but it must be
apparent that Judge Parker's reputa-
ton is a thing Of recent growth, and
+ that his supporters are taking much
for granted in irnputing to him heroic
traits of character.
It seems rather strange that they
should glorify In him those things
which they condemn in President
Roosevelt. Every word Of praise of
Parker that. one now hears sums up
some phase of the presidents we'll
established reputation. He is a man
Of action, of courage, Of high integ-
rity and of great strength Of charac-
ter. He has commanded, and con-
tinues to command, general admira-
ton and respect, and his record OF
three years as chief magistrate has
established his ability to administer
the duties of that position ably and
I'm harmony with the nations highest
ideals.
In the case Of Judge Parker much
IS taken for granted. Among his ad-
mirers the wish is father to the
thought, and on the slender founda.
ton of a single telegram they are
proceeding to build character which
may or may not be veracious. These
4 builders, however, whether conscious.
~ or not. are following a design thai
has been Endorsed by the people, The
president may congratulate himsel
because Of this imitation, which Il
again, as always, the sincerest flat
terry. The democrats don't know
what their candidate is. They hav,
had a single word from him, ant
straightway they vociferate that h
he seeks to displace. In the one cas-
there Is SO much assumption as tt
cause the careful man to hesitate
on the other, a many-sided characte
Of wonderful strength and mind o
wonderful grasp, have given the nam
Of Roosevelt a glory which can neve
be taken away.
The best that has been said c
Judge Parker is that he promises t
develop some of the same character
istics which the people admire i
Roosevelt.
4. which do the people prefer?
man who has been put to severe test
and has met them triumphantly wei
Or a man who has had pothing to tr
him out, and whose sole claims I
support thus far are a single TELEGRAM
and the enthusiastic and perhaps e,
aggerated praise of partizan admirers
Folk is rendering a much more impo
tant public service by accepting the neg
nation for governor of Missouri than
could have rendered by being candida
for vice president. 1t is his progra
when elected governor to contine t
campaign against official corrupti
which he began as district attorney
st. Louis. AS governor his opportupiti
x,,i1l ha vastly increas ed The friends