Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-06-09
EVENTS.
Parker and Mcclellan as Presi.
Dental Timber.

George B. Mcclellan, mayor OF Greater
New York, the democratic candidate
for president seems to be making con-
siderable progress outside the local cir
Gle of Tammany influence. His spon-
sors Of the Murphy crowd say to him
he would undoubtedly carry New
York State against Roosevelt, while
Parker would be sure to lose 1t; that he
would be backed by the vast business
interests which are concentrated or
represented in the great commercial
metropolis, and would be a stronger and
more popular candidate than any one
else who has been named, and much
more so than Parker. 1t is difficult to
see on what these extravaganza claims
are founded. 1t is not of record that
Nc Clellan has ever said anything or
done anything or been anything which
marks him as any more than a man Of
mediocre ability. The same may be
said, for hat matter, about Parker.
The truth appears to be that both owe
the suggestion Of their anne for the
presidential nomination to the purely
and adventitious oircumstan-
ces that they were elected to the places
they occupy by large popular majorities.
In consequence of fractional differences
in the republican party in New York
no fight to speak of was made against
Judge Parker, who was elected by a
plurality Of over. $4,000. That fact is
supposed to have placed upon him the
seal of popular approval and to have
clothed him with all the qualities and
prestige necessary to success in the
wider field Of national politics. But as
a matter of fact, except that he had had
the nominal management of Dave Hills
campaign in New York, which, how
ever, was really run by Hill himself,
Parker has had little to do with practi-
cal politics. He has never had any leg
islative or executive experience, and has
taken so little interest, it it said, in the
political issues and discussions of the
day that he has nc positive political
opinions. To the public even of New
York State he is an almost unknown
man.
The same may be said in a large
degree of George B. Mcclellan, except
that the latter had a father of the same
name-a great favorite with the demo
cratic party in his day, who was well
known to fame as the most conspicuous
failure in the annals of the Civil war,
and-what was perhaps the least credi-
table part of his record-as the demo-
cratic candidate for president ON apeace
platform in opposition to Abraham
Lincoln. His own career until his cleo
ton to the mayoralty of New York was
an abscure one. He has shown no note
worthy a~bility-or if he had n it
lacked the testimony of achievement.
He was for a brief season a member of
congress, sent there by Tammany from
a district under its control. And it was
perhaps because they thought there
was still magic in the historic name of
the once idolized George B. Mcclellan
that he was called to head the Tam
many ticket in the contest to recover
the possession of the vast power and
patronage of the mayor of New York.
1t was not a high compliment which
was paid him when he was selected as
the instrument of the most corrupt
political organization known to Ameri-
can history in the administration of the
affairs Of that great metropolis. But
he was elected over Seth Low by a
majority and 1t is almost wholly the
prestige of his cce in that battle
which fixed the attention Of the whole
country which has been seized upon by
to boost him for the great
Office of president. It should he said in
justice to him that he seems to have
proited in some degree by the splendid
example of Lows administration and
to have aimed at a higher standard for
than any of his democratic pre-
decessors. But except the negative
of avoiding their s~candalous
abuses he has done nothing remarkable.
He has given no evidences of fitness for
the high Office to which Murphy would
elevate him. Judge Parker might be
more safely presumed to have the native
stuff in him for its requirements. But
the democratic party must be badly off
for presidential material when the best
it "a do is to present such men as
Parker and Mcclellan as the alter ma
tives to which its chance is at present
limited. Either might do, however, to
head a ticket which there was no expec-
tation of electing, but as a serious
to President Roosevelt with
brilliant record of achievement
nothing could be more preposterous
than the nomination of either.
Good Sound Advice.