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

these periods OF exchange of -Opin-
ion that it happened Judge Parker's
had not long before made a somewhat
phenomenal race as Democratic can
didate for judgeship of the court of
appeals. Mr.. Minton mentioned that
in his judgment Parker was a strong
man before the people, clean cut able,
and he thought him a shrewd poll
tician. In fact. Mr.. Minton was in
clined to the belief that Judge Parker
was man from whom great things
might be expected had he only the
real goods in the way of support fl
nancially and politically.
Bigger in Every Way.
at would be with him another case
of Grover Cleveland. it seems to me, >"
said Mr.. Minton, should the right
kind of people take up Parker. 1
wonder why they don't do it? He is
Cleveland was when William C. Whit
ney and Daniel J. Manning discovered
that Mr. Cleveland had in him the
stuff of which presidents are made
All agreed with him that Judge Par
ker was all wool and a yard wide.
Not one in the party. however, knew
anything of Parker's friendships. This
sort of conversation was resumed on
was brought up by Mr.. Minton, and
finally his friends got to twitting him
about the judge, who, as time passed,
came to be known as "Minton's friend
one of the party suggested loosely:
''Minton, Whitney made Cleveland
president against long odds. Why
don't you try your hand at Parker?''
There was a laugh at Minton's ex-
pense over this sally. Imagine Maur-
ice NJ. Minton interesting himself in
politics,
THAT is what I'll have to do. I
the 'front.' rejoined Mr.. Minton quiet
ly. 1T looks to me as though 1904
is going to be good year for US
Democrats and that a New Yorker of
the right sort may pull down the plum
as presidential nominee. / believe
Parker is the right sort of a man
who can turn the trick He at least
looks to me as the biggest man avail
able among all the bunch of Demo-
Gratis in New York state"
Met With Approval.
This sentiment met with the ap-
proval of those about and who there
upon permitted the matter to drop.
Little did they know what was pass
ing through the mind of Mr.. Minton.
who had been giving Judge Parker'S
availability a sa presidential candidate
great deal of thought. OF course.
in this history of events there has
literally Mr.. Minton or his friends.
Suffice it is to know that the substance
of some of their conversation bearing
on the subject matter at hand is here
II. sought,
without some difficulty, got on a good
footing with Alton b. Parker. This
was brought about through an ac-
quaintance in whose friendship Judge
Parker placed great store. In passing
1t might be stated that this friend
of the New York jurist is known to
be a very prominent Republican, who,
no doubt, little thought he was bring
ing together two men destined to cut
a very considerable swath in the. po-
litical history of this country. Soon
after being put right" Mr.. Minton
fell to telling about what had been
uppermost in his mind. Judge Parker
at the outset could not see things just
as did Mr.. Minton. He, however, |
found his new friend a very plausible
reasoner and soon became a ready list
the more feasible as Mr.. Minton talked
then. On one Saturday night Mr.. Min |
ton mentioned, to the establishment of |
his friends, that he and Judge Parker |
had got to be exceedingly good |
friends.
A Part of His Plans.
''Then the president making has |
been set agoing," remarked one of the |
party.
so it has BEEN" said Mr. Miuton
n a quiet way. 1T has got further
along than you have any idea off,
The members of the party were an
zious to learn what their friend had
been doing. Mr.. Minton unfolded
part of his plans. and the game of
poker was almost forgotten.
On each following Saturday night
Mr.. Minton further enlightened his
friends They discussed freely and
July each move that was about to
De made by him toward building up
sentiment and securing delegates to
prove friendly to Judge Parker. In
ADVANCE of the undertaking they were
made acquainted with each success
i've step of the many taken by which
Ia N SIINNRa6
Strange to relate too. not one of the
schemes laid before them but was
worked out just as Mr.. Minton planned
t should. At first they were inclined
n some wild vagaries. They got over
hat further along. Some time before
Mr.. Minton had had a final long talk
With Judge Parker on the score of
permitting himself to be entered for
he presidential nomination. On that
occasion Mr.. Minton INDUCED in some
pointed remarks Judge Parker had
acitly agreed to let Mr.. Minton have
Ldvised Judge Parker to keep his
mouth closed, and he would be the
lominee.
Mum Was the Word.
do not have have anything to say
publicly on this subject of the presi-
lency. Just you keep quiet and 1
hink we will see to it that the nomi-
ration at any rate comes your way.
But NUNS the word" was Mr.. Min
On'S advice.
How strictly this advice was fol-
owed in spite of the many well direct
ID efforts to 'smoke out" Judge Par
Ter is a matter of history.
1t is stated above that every plan
# Mr.. Minton was successfully car
led out. There was one that failed.
t was a failure, too. that at the time
vas considered crushing blow Mr..
hinton had deemed it best for Judge
Parker that he be made the candidate
or governor of New York. He felt
hat Judge Parker should certainly
,e elected If nominated and that once
n the state house at Albany it would
ender it easier sailing for him to OBJ
ain the presidential nomination.