Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-29
The West on Parker.

The gr%it West is going for Roosevelt
not only because it admires him and
believes in what he stands for. but also
because ii recognizes that Judge
Parker is not of presidential calibre
When Ii. WAS nominated Judge Parker
was a mystery; he is less Of a mystery
now, but the more The county knows
of him the less strength he has as d
candidate. He has failed utterly to
He has not only Numbered. but his at
tempts 1" juggle figures and to inn
pr"vige facts have shown alike the
smallness OF the man and the desper-
alton Of his cause. These things have
injured him everywhere. but especially
in the West. The Chicago Tribune
gives this estimate of him which is
fairly representative of western senti-
ment:
He does not know his own country,
for example. west of the Hudson liver.
lie has made flying trips to bar meet,
inSS and national conventions in Den
Yer and Chicago, nut he Is in.perfectly
acquainted with the western people.
ana is not in touch with their ideas.
thoughts. or aspirations
The field of Judge Parkcr.s opserva-
ton is contracted. His vision is lin
tied To the boundaries of New York
r." can tell you something of the state
government, Of the decisions Of the
courts. and he may be able to ex-
patiatc on the mission of Tammany
hall and the manifold blessings it has
conferred on humanity in the 100 odd
years of It's existence
But When it comes to talking of ma
tional questions, Judge Parker is
mahItcStly at sea He has merely a
bowling acquaintance with them. Hence
the egregious blunders he falls into
when he rashly engages in the discus
sion of any of them. Figures plainly
weary him. They signify nothing to
him. He could not have been good at
mathematics when he was at school
or college. Like the girl in the play.
he cant do that sum" The value of
a
long Tow Of figures doesn't impress it.
self upon his mind. and whether a
digit is 20 the right or to the left of a
decimal point is To him immaterial. He
must be fonu of works of ina gination.
If he is elected he will be the first noet
we have ever had in the White House
Judge Parker's ignorance of the ma
tional finances and Of our foreign rela-
tons is appalling. What he doesn't
know of the condition Of the treasury
would decorate with bushes the brow
of the densest statesman in the Ate
ward. His unfathOmable msinforma-
ton about The Philippines has excited
the pity more than the contempt of his
opponents. and his reiteration of his
erroneous statements-on the princi-
pie that a lie well stuck to is better
than the truth-has touched the COM
passion of his countrymen. His appli-
cation of the principles of the common
law TO the government of the trusts
seems to prove him to know as little of
United States Jurisprudence as he does
OF United States finances. while his
discussion of the tariff puts him on a
par intellectually with the lamented
Gen. Hancock. who declared it to be
"a ioca! issue" and who. in turn, was
pronounced to be "a good man who
weighs 240 pounds"
Well. do we want him for President .
That is the question. 1t must be de.
cided week from Tuesday. Is he com.
petent? We know he is honest Rut
does he honestly know the things ba
N Is,
magistrate Of the nation" 1t seems to
Inc lrioune. trying to be dispassion-
ate mat he lacks the mental eouin.
ment for the office. He ought to tray
Ell" extend his horizon. He should
get on the trolley and see the coup,rv