The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-13
Something About N. II. Minton,
Who Launched Parker Boom.
Personality of Man Who Laid
Plans of Campaign.
KEPT IN BACKGROUND
While He Fought All the Bat
ties for the New Yorker.
Screened Until Now by a Silence
That Won the Victory.

Cincinnati, July ia special to the
Enquirer says: Now that the Demo-
Gratis of the nation in convention as
sembled nave declared for Chief Judge
Alton B. Parker. of New York state, as
their choice for the presidency. there
will be brought into the limelight a new
president maker
He is Maurice NJ. Minton.
OF course. Mr.. Minton's task is only
a little better than half done. So far.
though, he has managed with such con-
summate skill that those who nave
watched his curves and twists are ex-
pecting greater things from him, for
MI Minton was truly born under a
"lucky STAR
What was accomplished by Daniel J.
Manning. Marcus A Hanna, William
C. Whitney and the others who in the
past placed men of their choice in line
Tor the presidency pales into insignia
canoe with the accomplishment OF Mr..
Minton- His was of the herculean and
gigantic kind, when comparison is made
with that which distinguished them.
They were men of vast wealth, VINO
lad powerful corporations to their
beck and call. sVh1- is more, they we'll
knew their political book. Maurice NJ.
MintOn had no such DOW erful acquaint-
ance or friends. He is poor man and
a struggler n life's battles. Besides
the book of politics was to him a sealed
one of which he knew nothing. He had
not studied it He mad never played
even the most unimportant part IL any
kind of a political game.
Science of Politics.
When he set about to get for Judge
Parker the presidential nomination the
science of politics was about as un-
known to him could he the grea test
sciences to the babe at its mothers
breast Added to this he had not InuCn
of an acquaintance with Alton b. Par
ker. and he knew nc one who could
essary TO wage a big political battle
Yet ne got thousands OF dollars and he
sat in the convention of which he was
not even member and saw the man
of whose political fortunes he had large
~ been the making ana saw him NOM
mated for the highest office within the
gift of any people HIS accomplish
ments cannot but sound more like an
Arabian Nights tale than as truthful
chapter from political history
It is more than strange tale how
this Maurice NJ. Minton, just in the
prime of life who was unknown to pol
tiles and politicians. has brought Judge |
Parker up to within hailing distance of
the presidency. As what Mr. Minton
primarily set about doing has SO sue |
cessfully terminated there no longer re-
mains necessity for observance of /
confidence that has been long main /
tanned. Therefore the tale may now be |
unfolded from the time real action /
started. more than a year ago in a lit
tie country game of draw poker up to |
the day which witnessed the ending of |
the first chapter in this great battle. /
When that chapter opened it was mil
lion dollars to a doughnut that moth
ing would come of the efforts of Maui
rice NJ. Minton. Now those few who
We're in the know at the outset when
Mr.. Minton determined to capture the
presidential nomination and who watch
ed each of his successive brilliant
moves glcriCusly end, would not be
whit surprised should he close the final
chapter with Alton B. Parker occupy
ing the presidential chair. 1t all tends
to show what might be accomplished in
this home of the free and land of the
brave when a man of iron viii, OF
pluck perseverance and of brain essays
TO do the accomplishing.
How to Handle Men.
Until about two years ago the ac-
quaintance of Mr. Minton was indeed
limited. Certain it is that if his list
of mountaineering amounted to 100
persons not another individual could
have been considered among those he
knew well enough to address as old
pal" This was not due to any lack
upon the part of Mr.. Minton of quail
ties of the desirable kind Instead those
who well know him do not alone re-
jOice in his acquaintance, but they are
proud to count him among their
friends Those who know him we'll are
very liable to designate him as a
peach" or prince of good fellows
or the salt of the earth" Right well
indeed does he deserve these marks OF
appreciation which one good fellow APP
plies to another whom he classes high
enough TO be in the running with him
self But Maurice NJ. -Minton is of a
retiring disposition, exceedingly mod
est and had not formed rapidly an ac-
quaintanceship- In truth, he was slow
at making up with those with whom
he came in contact. In that respect
alone could it be said Tuthfully that
Mr. Minton was slow. He abundantly
all those other qualifications
haf 90 n make the IOD-nOlC herS
among the keenly allied, up-to-date men
of the world. He was a true student
of human nature, was of fine executive
ability, and well knew how to handle
men. and as we'll did he know the BUSH
ness of men,
1t was his first perception of char
acter and of real worth that led Mr.
Nfinton to pick out and to looR upon
Judge Parker as of the timber from
which presidents are hewn- 1t was
his ability to mold men into his way
of thinking and into his way of do
ing things that brought to his side
an almost stranger to him, this same
Judge Alton B. Parker. 1t was his
a bility which showed him how to
was himself something of a recluse,
and which permitted of his breathing
into that strangers ear without dan
ger of an affront a hope that was list
ened to and which eventually sprung
into the !iveliest ambition That hope
caused Judge Parker to stare the fu-
ture in it's invisible eye and made him
welcome a belief. born of Maurice NJ
ATinton's whisperings, that the presi-
dential chair might become within his
grasp 1t was that ability, too. that
brought il within the range of the
possible for Mr. Minton to seek and
10 obtain not alone for himself in his ;
undertakings but to sur
round himself and his protege by men
Of rare political knowledge and tact.
and by men of very great wealth the
0ne he had picked out to place in the
going for stakes that are the richest
n honor known to man. 1t was that