Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-02
IN PARKER'S INTEREST
Important Political Confer
ence Here Yesterday.
MR.. AUGUST BELMONT
MEETS SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS FROM THE SOUTH.
A Free Interchange Of Views - New
York Must Be United for
the Judge.
MR.. AUGUST BELMONT


for some time, in respect to the possibili-
ties involved, was the meeting late yester-
day evening in Senator Bacon's committee
room at the Capitol between August Bel
mont of New York, representing the polit-
ical interests back of the Parker presi-
Dental boom. and a group of western and
southern senators, leaders in democratic
politics in their respective sections.
The outcome of the long and earnest con-
ference was the eliciting of the fact, which
Mr.. Belmont desired to establish, that If
New York will instruct for Judge Parker
at the coming state convention, the con-
currence of influential delegations from the
west and south practically is assured.
Stress was laid upon the Importance of
New York being united however, and
agreeing to present him as New Yorks
choice.
The Most Available Candidate.
1t was the almost unanimous opinion of
senators present at the conference that
Judge Parker is at present the most avail
able and likely candidate for the demo-
cratic nomination. The dissent from this
view was held and expressed by one or
two senators who are personally pledged
to Senator German, and who until released
by Mr.. German do not feel at liberty to
lend their influence to movement in
favor of any other candidate.
Mr.. August Belmont has been untiring in
his advocacy of the nomination of Judge
Parker, and has labored In season and out
with his democratic friends in New York
city. 1t is well known, of course, that
Leader Murphy of Tammany has been
opposed to fnstructing in favor of Parker,
desiring the delegation to go to ST. Louis
uninstructed. Mr.. Murphy might be actu-
ated by either of two motives in that de-
si-e-either to leave way open as for
lorn hope to run In Cleveland. or to make
1t easy for Tammany to conduct one of It's
characteristic deals, by which national
and state interests have more than once
been subordinated to Tammany's needs.
Mr.. Belmont had been told recently that
the Parker movement was growing in the
south and west. and that those sections
were looking to New York to set the pace
and present a candidate: that the south
in particular did not want to act fnde-
pendently of New York, II the empire
state democrats could present any kind Of
a solid and united front He came down
tc Washington to see for himself.
Mr.. Belmont came to the Capitol late
yesterday afternoon and went to Senator
Bacon's committee room, the historic little
chamber in the old wing of the Capitol,
once occupied by Henry Clay. Other demo-
cratic senators were asked to meet him,
including Senator Dubois of Idaho Senator
Mallory of Florida, Senator Carmack of
Tennessee, Senator Clay of Georgia, Sena-
tor Simmons of North Carolina, Senators
McCreary and Blackburn of Kentucky and
Senator Bailey of Texas, who are numbered
among the closest friends and supporters of
Senator German.
A Free Interchange Of Views.
There was a free exchange of views on
the state of democratic sentiment through
out the west and south. On one point all
were agreed, that the democrats generally
are striving to the single end of selecting
fboy olx<,f host Co,
senators who entertain the kindest regard
for Senator German and who would be
glad to follow him expressed the opinion as
matter of cold judgment, that the way
the sentiment Is drifting Judge Parker
would seem to be a stronger possibility at
St. Louis than Senator German. One or
two senator's. as stated, felt called upon to
announce that they could not share the
view that any one but German is the man
to nominate.
Mr.. Belmont was closely questioned about
the state of feeling In New York, but he
tion in addition to the knowledge already
possessed, that the only bar to the unani-
nous instruction of the state convention
for Parker Is the opposition of Tammany.
He was hopeful of being able to convince
Mr.. Murphy, however. that Parker was de-
manded by the south and west and that
on such showing Tammany would with
draw its opposition.
that il Judge Parker were nominated he
would carry New York state for the presi-
Dental ticket by smashing majority. He
thought that the democratic victory would
extend to the gubernatorial ticket also. Mr..
Belmont was very much gratified to hear
the reports of the growth of the Parker
sentiment in the south and west. Tennes-
see was represented as being ready to de-
clare for Parker.
Some of those present were optimistic
enough to declare that If New York took
the lead Ohio and Indiana would fall into
line and that then the support of the solid
south at st. Louis would be assured for
Judge Parker.
Must Get Harmony in New York.
Mr.. Belmont was told very plainly,
however. that he must get harmony in
New York for the Parker candidacy. The
southern democrats have burned their
fingers before now in drawing Tam
many's chestnuts from the fire, and they
viii have no more of it. He was advised
to go back to New York and have a
heart-to-heart talk with Leader Murphy
of Tammany. telling him just what he had
found In Washington and getting MUIR
phys concurrence In the Parker move-
ment In the coming democratic state con-
vention.
1t is not unlikely that Mr.. Murphy may
drop down to Washington within few
days to look the ground over for himself.
The democratic state convention is close
at hand, and no later than yesterday Mr..
Murphy repeated his objection to In
structing for any candidate.
1t is understood that after the confer
ence yesterday Mr. Belmont In conversa-E
tion with some democratic senator's as
sured them that all the talk of Judge
Parker being dominated by David B. Hill
was put forth by Parkers enemies and
was untrue. He said II Is well known In
New York that Mr.. Hill realizes his day
in court IN over. that the presidential
nomination will never come his way. and
he il not trying to build up an organixa-
tion on the Parker movement to be used
for himself four years hence.