Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-29
Comment on Judge Parker's
Speech Yesterday.
SPIRIT OF CONFIDENCE
CHAIRMAN COWHERD MAKES
COMPLIMENTARY ILLUSIONS.
Evidently a Change Of Front at Ma
tiona1 Democratic Headquarters
. From Now On.

The speech Of Judge Alton B. Parker at
Esopus yesterday to 1000 farmer friends
and acquaintance from the immediate
neighborhood has apparently been re-
ceived by democrats generally with more
enthusiasm than anything else the demo-
cratic presidential candidate has said in
long time. And the reason for this APP
pears to lie not so much in what Judge
Parker said, but in the way in which he
said 1t. The spirit of confidence which
has been either lacking or well hidden in
some of the democratic candidates ad-
dresses. was very apparent in yesterday s
speech. Work and you will win," said
Judge Parker, and throughout his talk
the element of doubt and uncertainty
was carefully kept In the background, and
there were no ifs visible to the naked
eye.
At democratic congressional Headquarters
here, where the fact that Judge Parker did
not use shotgun delivery, ante-bellum
ora tory and red fire accompaniment has
been depiored these many days. Judge
Parker's address yesterday was received
with real enthusiasm.
Representative Cowherd Satisfied.
Representative Cowherd of Missouri,
chairman of the democratic congressional
committee, was very busy this morning. as
the next week In the midst of his constitu-
ehts, but still had time to make some
mighty complimentary illusions to the tone
Of Judge Parker's remarks. And such ex-
pressions of this nature from the chairman
are not considered to be idle pleasantries,
as Representative Cowherd has a reputa-
ton of his own as a political optimist that
almost equals that of former Senator James
K Jones of Arkansas the official predic-
zionist and rainbow chaser who officiated at
the head of the democratic national COM
mittee during the presidential campaign
four years ago.
The discussion here today of the change
In tone of Judge Parkers utterances and
the admittedly good effect that would en-
sue to the united democracy, fitted in re-
markably well with the views of a DEM
ocrat of national prominence who was in
Washington some time ago.
Il think, he said that the democratic
party has mighty good chance to win
this year, but as good as it is, it would be
even better if Judge Parker lost a little
more of the judicial quality that comes of
wearing the ermine do not mean that of
necessity he must dash around the country,
making speeches from the tail end of a
private car, or stopping at one-night stands
to address crossroads gatherings, but 1
believe that the interests of the party de-
mand that he speak more frequently, and
that his utterances be more decided.
THAT fault was more noticeable in his
addresses at the beginning of the cam
pdlSn than 1t is at present, but there IS
still room for improvement.
OF course I'll admit that this statement
about expenditures in the Philippines was
decided enough, and even supposing that
he trife of several hundred millions
out of the way, the cause is not hurt to
any great extent. Those democrats whose
convictions are settled Won't care for. d
slight difference of opinion involving 800,
600, 900 between the republican and demo-
cratic presidential candidates on that par
ticular point. The faithful republicans will
pay no more attention to it than to char
acterize it, in their individual vocabularies,
as untrue, but the doubters of both parties,
the men who sit on the fence and seek
for food for dissensOn, controversy and
discussion, will more than likely accept
the original statement rather than the de-
NAL. Facts and figures have attraction
for this class, and the candidate who can
force his convictions down his doubter' S
throat a little harder and a little further
than his opponent gets that particular
vote"
A Change From Now On.
When that democrat next comes to town
he will probably have something more TO
say about the courage of conviction. From
present indications the word has effective
ly gone out from democratic national head
quarters all over the country, from Maine
to California. and as a result it is pre-
dicted that between now and election day
some of the rosiest estimat ties, predictions,
calculations and forecasts that ever ena-
mated from political optimists Of high and
low degree will be turned loose on a wait
ing public Comparisons Of ante-election
predictions, after election, is an admittedly
odious proceeding, but just the same some
very fine and lasting regulations for rain
bow-chasing and moonshine-gath ering will
be earned and won on November 8.