New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-19
PARKER, HILL, SHEEHAN.
Il Nan Is KHozgn By the Company
He Keeps.
To the Editor of The tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune
Si-: 1t IS inconceivable that the reopie II
the State OF New York who are familiar with
the political career OF David B. Eli and Will
lam F. Sheehan. these representatives Of the
worst type OF politics in the history OF our
state. should in their sober moments think of
giving their votes for the highest office in the
lend to 2 man who has had no experience in
public affairs other than 4 creditabIe service on
the bench, and whose candidacy had its iucep-
ton in the minds of Hill and Sheehan with
view TO restoring them to popular favor which
they had lost by their connection with the
steal OF the State Senator from the Columbia
Duchess district in 1891" the snap or anti
Cleveland convention in 1892. and the appoint
ment Of Judge Maynard to fill vacancy the
Court of Appeals in 1892. and the disastrous at
tempt to elect him to the Court 6f Appeals in
1895. In view of the prominence Of these men
and their close connection with the appearance
OF Judge Parker as a candidate for the Presi-
dency would not some OF the editorials in The
New-York Evening Post and The New-York
Times in the year 1885. when Hill was elected
Governor and Alton B. Parker was chairman o;
the executive committee, prove interesting read
ing? This was the celebrated campaign when
the contractors building the Croton AqueducJ
contributed so largely 10 HIS election. and
their notes were negotiated by Parker and
others.
The editorials in these same papers in the
years 1891, 1892 and 1898 would also throw
light on the present situation In the fall of
1891 Hill and Sheehan and Judge Maynard were
important factors in the steal OF the Columbia
Duchess Senatorial seat. Notwithstanding
Maynard's connection with these Infamous pro-
ceedirgs he was appointed by the Democratic
Governor TO a seat on the Cour- Of Appeals in
1892, and when a candidate before the people IN
1898 for the same Office was beaten by about
100000. While Alton B. Parker advocated
Maynard's elevation to the Court Of Appeals
bench. the New-York Bar Association openly
repudiated Maynard's nomination and with the
aid of the leading Democratic lawyers through
out the state encompassed the end Of Maynard
and Maynardism. HILL in the fall of 1894 when
a candidate for Governor. was beaten by a ma
jority of 10000 From that time to the in
ceptior of Judge Parker's candidacy, Hill and
Sheehan have been in political retirement, with
the exception OF the time when Hill wind
ing up his term in the Senate.
IL is not my purpose to inquire whether Judge
Parker. who has been on the bench since he
was twenty-six years old. having been elected
Surrogate In 1872, and serving in such position
until his appointment 10 a position on the Su-
preme Court by David r. HILL within few
weeks OF Judge Parker's services as chairman
of the executive committee Of the Democratic
State Committee. and going from the Supreme
Court TO the Court Of Appeals has or has not
that kind OF training and experience that fits
him for the Presidency. but Il is TO call atten-
tIon, in view OF some OF the hysteria and gush
circulated about his heroic telegram. TO the
forces and interests he has been aligned with in
the politics OF the State and TO ask whether
the stream can rise higher than the fountain
head.
In view Of his having twice supported Bryan
when thousands OF the best Democrats IN our
state repudiated him. including his colleague
on the Court Of AppeaIs-Judge John Clinton
Gray-i1 it not I natural inference that the
leopard viii not change his spots and that
Parker. II elected. would be under the baneful
influence Of Hin and Sheehan?
MEMBER NETWORK BAR.
New-York July Is 1904