The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-23
Democratic Candidate Began
His Career as a Boss"
A PR07EeE OF DAVID B. HILL
practical Politician" Who Is Now
Surrounded and Supported by Tam.
many Hall Leaders-Brief Glance
at His Political Record.

Ever since that July day when the
Democratic National Convention of 1901
adjourned, after nominating for Pres
ident of the United States Alton b.
Parker, of New York, the people of the
country have been trying to find out
something about the man for whom they
are asked to vote early next November.
1t has been hard work. Outside of
the State of New York Alton b. Park
err was practically unknown before the
meeting Of the Democratic convention at
st. Louis. He still remains, to the vast
majority of voters throughout the coun-
try, unknown, except by his name and
place Of residence, with such additional
light as has been thrown upon him by
newspaper portraits.
In the matter of supplying pictures
of Judge Parker, his home, his wife,
children, grandchildren, son-in-law and
other relations there has been no stint.
The country has gazed it's fill upon news
paper cuts representing Judge Parker,
trimmed, so to speak, with various and
assorted young relations, and in all of
these pictures Mr.. Parker has present
ed that bland, open and somewhat pa
%tronizing front with which mankind
faces the world when it is striving to
look pleasant" and at the same time
keep some infant prodigy still under the
process of photography.
To be sure. the voters have seen pic
lures of Mr.. Parker galore, and pictures
of his house and Of his family. They
have been told that he was, when nomi-
mated, a Judge, high up on the bench of
the State of New York, and the rest
is silence" 1t is true that Mr.. Parker,
when notified of his nomination, pro.
nounced a speech Of acceptance" but
that proved such a m%erry-go-round of
fat and meaningless words as fairly
stunned the unterritied in their lairs. 1t
gave no linking as to what kind of a
man the Democratic nominee might be,
except that he possesses the not uncom-
mon faculty of talking a great deal and
saying nothing.
Searching the Record.
And so the American people sat down
and studied, by such means as they had
at hand, the man who asks their votes
for the office of Chief Executive.
ct seems like a sort O. insight and
unseen game" said an old Illinois farm
er. II guess we'd better not trade, this
time!"
There remained and remains for the
awakened gaze of the American people
the record of Mr.. Parker's life, so much
of it as has been in the public eye. With
his private life let it be said, once for
all, there is no reproach.
Alton b. Parker was born at Cort-
land, New York, in the neighborhood
where he now lives, more thar fifty
years ago. He grew up in Ulster county,
and began the practice of law there as
a young man. From the beginning he
was known as a politician of the kind
which gains ends rather as a manager
than as a candidate. In plain language,
he was a County Boss" in the Demo-
cratic fold. While a very young man
he directed a campaign for Judge Shoon-
maker, i'll whose Office he had studied
law. Encouraged by his success il this
effort he sought for himself the post of
Surrogate, as the Probate Judge is call
ed in New York State. He was elected,
and held the Office for many years.
In this Office Judge Parker continued
his silent and underground activities in
politics of the New York variety; a
variety in cities exemplifed by Tam
many, and in the country districts not
one whit behind Tammany in zeal, cum
ming and uns%crupulousness.
Favored by Hill.
Says a recent writer, speaking of this
period Of Judge Parker's life: