The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-16
SERVICES TO
 HIS PARTY Performances of Parker
 in Past. HIS RECORD OPEN TO ALL Such as to Commend Him to
 Democrats. Quotntions from Platforms in Which Parker's Hand Was Known show Him In Line With Conserve
 tive Leaders of Today.
Advertiser Bureau,
 Colorado Building,

Advertiser Bureau,
 Colorado Building,
 Washington, May Is.
 Judge Alton B. Parker, whom many thousands of representative Democrats throughout the country regard as the most available candidate for President the party can select at St. Louis, re- mains silent, and Is likely to continue to refrain from political utterance for publication until the St. Louis conven- lion, and not even then will he declare himself unless the convention should tender him the nomination. But while ms lips are closed in complete reti- cence at this time. there have been oc- casions when engaged actively in par- ty service he wss a vital and vivid fac- tor. His friends who know him best and most admire him invoke scrutiny or his record. public, private and po- litical. confident that 1t will commend more and more to thoughtful citizens and loyal Democrats.
 Judge Parker in 1884.
 fudge Parker was a member of the Platform Committee in the National Democratic convention which met at Chicago in 1884. and he did as much as any other man to write the prudent and conservative declaration of prin- cipies upon which Cleveland and Hem dricks were elected"
 That Is the statement made by n prominent Southern Democrat who haa recently been in New York on a visit of investigation for himself. Judge Parker was also" the Southerner add ca. member of the Committee on Resolutions of the New York state Democratic convention of 1885. and he did more than any other man to shape the platform that year that the Dem. ocrats of the State were successful. If Democrats will only take the trouble to read those two platforms, they will set some idea of the kind of Democ- racyl which animates Judge Parker. not only true and tried but clear and def- mite enough to dismiss all caviT and shadow of doubt"
 Similar to Former Year.
 In view of the fact that Democrats generally as reflected here in Washing ton through members of Congress and visitors who resort here from time to time from the States appear agreed that the conditions this year are strik- ingly similar to those which obtained in 1884. especially as regards tariff re- form and corruption in office, 1t is not improbable, except in so far as may be expedient to treat recent developments of the trust question and the present phase of the issue of colonialism. that the platform of the St. Louis conven- ton Of 1904 will closely resemble that of Chicago in 1884. Reform was the Democratic watchword twenty years ago, and that there Is every demand for It's reiteration at this election is the view of Democrats generally.
 The opening paragraph of the na- tional platform of 1884, which 1t is un- derstood Judge Parker regards as per tinent now as then Is as follows:
 Pertinent Now us Then.
 The Democratic party of the Union recognizes that, as a nation grows old CT. new issues are born of time and and old issues perish; but the Issues of the democracy. approved by the united votes of the people. remain, and will ever remain. as the best and only security of free government. The preservation of per sona1 rights, the equality of all citi- sens before the law. the reserved rights of the States, and the supremacy of the Federal government within the limits of the constitution will ever form the true basis of our liberty and can never be surrendered without de- that balance of rights and powers which enables a continent to be developed in peace and social order to be maintained by means of local support"
 In demanding a change of adminis- tration the platform says:
 Frequent change of administration Is as necessary as constant recurrence to popular will. Otherwise abuses grow. and the government. instead of being one for the general welfare, be- comes an instrumentality for impos- Ing heavy burdens on the many who are governed for the benefit of the few who govern. Public servants thus be- come arbitrary rulers"
 Judge Parker's supporters say that that was good Democratic doctrine twenty years ago and that 1t is good doctrine now.
 Echoed In Late seeches.
 The platform of 1884 contained this powerful arraignment of the RepublI- l san party-an indictment that was framed in part by Judge Parker. and which finds echo in the speeches made In the last session of Congress by mil | 1ority leader Williams, Bourke Cock | ran. Champ Clark DeArmond and oth- | sr Democratic leaders:
 '"The Republican party. so far as | principle is concerned, is a reminis- | ,ence. In practice 1t is an organiza- ion for enriching those who control its machinery. The frauds and jobbery which have been brought to light in | every department of the government Ire sufficient to have called for reform within the Republican party: yet those II authority have succumbed to its | orrupting influence.
 "The Republican Party. during it's le- yal, It's stolen and It's bought tenures f power has steadily decayed in moral character and political capacity. It pro- esses a desire to elevate labor. It has ubjected American workingmen to the competition of convlcts and imported con ract labor. It professes a pledge to cor ect the irregularities of our tariff It reated and has continued them. It pro- ,oses the protection of American labor. t has depleted the returns of American griculture. an industry followed by half ur people. It accepts anew the duty leading in the work of progress and eform.' Its caught criminals are per nitted to escape through contrived de- ays or actual connivance in the prose- ution. Honeycombed with corruption, utbreaking exposures no longer shock