The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-08
How Tennessee Repre-
sentative First Found"
Judge Parker.
The Rise OF the Candi-
date From 1898 to
the Present Day.
Only Very Recently Did
the Two Men Meet
for First Time.
HOS Parker?"

past Few months, ana the response VIII
no doubt be elaborated upon as the cam
paign progresses.
Almost Unknown.
Less than a year ago the man who
now figures most conspicuously in Dem
ocratic calculations. and is most promi-
nent in the public eye in connection with
the Democratic nomination. had scarce
been heard of outside of his native
State-which has now been definitely
fixed as New York. Who's Who" to
the con- airy Notwithstanding was
not what might be termed popularity
known within that State.
II is true the voters OF New York. OF
a majority OF them, had cast ballots for
him. But in the case Of a judge they
soon forget. unless there is something
particular and unusual TO cause them TO
keep him in mind. His name now is on
the tongue of every man. Democrat or
Republican. who talks politics.
Who Discovered Parker?
Who discovered Parker?
That is the next question, now that
his identity has been established. Not
the Hon. David Bennett Hill. who is
now acting as his sponsor and his
stage manager. Not the Hon. Grover
Cleveland. who has just Endorsed him
and testified as to his sanity.
Both these men. however. have had
occasion to know Parker and to know
him well. to know his qualifications and
his capabilities. Hill knew him, be-
cause it was he who selected him as
manager of the State campaign in 1882.
which resulted in success TO the Demo-
cratic ticket. Grover Cleveland knew
him, because II was he who profited most
by Judge Parker's management OF that
campaign.
Cleveland was then elected governor
and started upon the career which twice
landed him in the White House In
crate that he is, Mr.. Cleveland has not
forgotten Parker.
Neither the Political Columbus.
But neither of these distinguished gen.
tlemen now taking so important a part
in the effort to make Judge Parker the
standard bearer Of their party first saw
the possibilities in the man or the ad-
vantages which his candidacy would af-
ford the Democracy. Neither was the
first to tout" him as a Presidential can
didate.
Although they climbed on the Parker
| band wagon rather early in the race,
| Hill in particular. neither one OF them
| started the vehicle in motion.
Since the first election of the late
Kinley man" has become numerous
| enough to form a whole army corps or
| found a good sized city, and there are
now enough more original Parker men
have been searched, however, and the in
/ vestigation made.
The Original Parker Man.
It comes down to this, that the
original Parker man, the" man who
discovered" Parker. was none other
than the Hon. John Wesley Gaines, who
represents the Nashville district OF
Tennessee in Congress. now one Of Judge
Parker's foremost champions
However much others may dispute his
title to this distinction. Mr.. Gaines has
the documentary evidence to prove con-
clusively that he is ''the" man who
| found" Parker.
Judge Parker was nlodestly clad in
his ermine. presiding with dignity and
| impartiality upon the bench, never
dreaming of the Presidency, never for a
| moment considering himself as Presi-
Dental timber when the Hon John Wes-
ley Gaines discovered him. RigEs here
let 1t be said that Mr.. Gaines is a dig
ger and unearths great many other
things which less diligent and less
painstaking persons overlook.
Documentary Evidence.
1t was way back in December. 1898
more than five years ago, that Mr.. Gaines
first ran across Judge Parker. He has
the documentary evidence to prove his
claim. He introduced him TO the world
in that esteemed contemPorary-tht
publication of which is now temporarily
suspended for the want of cOpy-tht
| Congressional Record" The evidenc,
is there. He who would take the trouble
ola i'm Cf1 ind -
by reference 20 the "COngressiona
) Record" page IS December z, 1895
third, session. Fifth-fifth Congress.
| The sO-called anti-scalping bill wa.
under h Consideration in the HOUSE; i
was a measure designed TO prevent rail
road ticket brokerage. Mr.. Gaines
stubbornly opposed the measure. HI
, learned that only about two weeks De
fore the court of appeals Of New York
of which Judge Parker was then, a!
he is now. the chief judge, had render
ed an opinion, holding the anti-scalpini
law passed by the Legislature of New
York TO be unconstitutional.
A Strong Argument.
) This opinion was a strong argumen
against the passage of a national anti
2 scalping bill. The opinion was then s
= recent that it had not been generall
circulated, but il happened 10 be in TN
possession of Representative Sherma
| ~
scalping bill from the Committee o.
Interstate and Foreign Commerce. MI
j Sherman, who had been up in Nev
t York. brought the courts decision alon
1 in order to make use of the dissentia
Y opinion in connection with his argu
T ment for the passage of the measur,
r Mr.. Gaines saw it. and upon reading
C learned that the majority opinion. writ
5 ten by Judge Parker, was against tn
e law. and hence a more potent argumer
: against the bill than the dissentin
: opinion was for il.
e 1t struck him as a forceful document
J. especially as it treated the question fur
: damentally. quoted the Declaration {
e independence, setting forth the right
! of individuals and property, and bel
= that the anti-scalping law was viola