The Red Cloud chief., 1904-09-23
Democratic Candidate Began
His Career as a Boss"
A PROTEGE OF DAVID B. HILL
"PracticaI Politician" Who Is Now
Surrounded and Supported by Tam.
many Hall Leaders-Brief Glance
at His Political Record.

~ A'i''h ~ ~
adjourned. after nominating for Pres
idrnt of the United States Alton u.
Parker. of New York. the people Of the
country have been trying to find out
something about the man for whom they
are asked to vote early next November.
. 1t has been hard work. Outside of
the State OF New York Alton II. rark-
er was practically unknown before the
meeting OF the Democratic convention at
st. Louis. lie still remains, to the vast
majority of voters throughout the coun-
try, unknown. except by his name and
place of residence. with such additional
light as has been thrown upon him by
newspaper portraits.
In the matter Of supplying pictures
of Judge Parker. his home, his wife,
children, grandchildren. son-in.law and
other relations there has been no stint.
The country has gazed its fill upon news
paper cuts representing Judge Parker.
trimmed. so to speak, with various and
assorted young relations. and in all OF
| these pictures Mr.. Parker has present.
ed that bland, open and somewhat pa
~trOnizing front with which mankind
faces the world when it is striving to
"look pleasant" and at the same time
keep some infant prodigy still under the
process OF photography.
To be sure. the voters have seen pic
lures of Mr.. Parker galore, and pictures
OF his house and Of his family. They
have been told that he WAS. when nOmi-
mated. a judge. high mp on the bench OF
the State of New York. and "the rest
is silence" 1t is true that Mr.. Parker,
when notified OF his nomination. pro-
nounced d speech OF acceptance" but
that proved such n m~erry-go-rOund Of
Hat and meaningless words as fairly
stunned the unterritied in their lairs. Ii
gave no inkling as To what kind OF a
man the Democratic nominee might be.
except that he Possesses the not uncoIr
mon faculty of talking Il great deal aM
saying nothing.
Searching the Record.
And so the American people sat down
and studied. by such means as they had
at hand, the man who asks their votes
| for the office of Chief Executive.
1T seems like u sort o 'unsight and
unseen game" said an old Illinois farm
or. II guess we'd better not trade. this
| timer
There remained and remains for the
awakened gaze OF the American people
/ tut EtCDTu ~ MI. i HINT = hIt, ~ lhufh
Of it rs has been in the public eye With
| his private life let it be said. once for
all, there is no reproach.
Alton Il. Parker was born at Cort-
land. New York, in the neighborhOOd
where he now lives. more than fifty
years ago. He grew mp in Ulster county.
and began the practice OF law there as
n young man. From the beginning he
/ t=nS IA nG A y,liti.inn nf thu Kind
which gains ends rather as n manager
than as "A candidate. In plain language,
he was a County Boss" in the Demo-
cratic fold. While a very young man
he directed a campaign for Judge Shoon-
maker. in whose office he had studied
law. Encouraged by his success in this
effort he sought for himself the post Of
Surrogate. as the Probate Judge is call
ed in New York State. He was elected.
and held the office FOR many years.
In this office Judge Parker continued
his silent and underground activities in
politics of the New York variety: a
variety in cities exempliiied by Tam
many, and in the country districts not
one whit behind Tammany in zeal. cum
ming and unscrupulousness.
Favored bv Hill.
ways a AVNCu' "hiNVi. Sl'tNihS VI TINS
period OF Judge Parker's life:
Politics In New York Is hard and iron.
bound; II IL without sentiment. and has
no principle save the principle OF success.
This Is Ms true OF country rs OF town. AS
true OF the cornficlds as Of Tammany Hall.
Victory is the only virtue, defeat the only
crime In New York. Judge Parker knew
no dreams, lapscd into no frances. Pa.
%tiently, practically. he added one man to
another, and the two Ia somebody else, I'M
iii the result Of his additions was the con
troll Of the county OF Ulster
The steady success OF Judge Parker.
his even, business methods, cold and
blcodlesS in calculation and results, at.
tracted the attention and the favor of
David Bennett Hill. In 1855, when Mr..
Hill was about to make his first can
vass for the govcrnorShip Of New York,
he chose for the practical manage of
his campaign Judge Parker. Thus at
the age Of thirty-three years Judge Park.
cr became Hills political manager. He
elected his man.
Mr.. Hill, early in his administration
as Governor, rewarded his faithful man
ager by appointing him Ia the Supreme
Bench Of the State of New York. Judge
Parker has. practically speaking, occu.
pied the Supreme or the Court OF APP
penls bench ever since.
There is Judge l'Irkcr's public record.
A practical politician. Il manager of
campaigns, II discovery and protege of
David Bennett Hill,
And now, at the end of this plain, un-
vanished tale. il remains to be noted
that from beginning to end there is not
set down in all the pages devoted to
Judge Parker and his candidacy one
single utterancc OF inspiration, enthusi-
assn, patriotism, or even one word sug-
costing a broad and generous apprecia-
ton of public needs and public interests,
small or great, in all the years during
which Judge Parker has handled" local
campaigns.
His Couuseiors
Next to a mans acts, judged by his
avowed motives, there is no safer guide
to his character and his mental qualities
than his choice OF associates and fellow
workers. Turning from the meagcr tale
Of .Ju1oa p1rkar's n~nlifical lifa IN hiS