Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-07
The Trae History Of Parker's Telegram

The following appeared in the
Brooklyn Daily Eagle from staff cor
respondent, William c. Hudson:
The Republican campaign textbook
for 1904, issued by the Republican ma
tional committee. ccrtains an attack
upon the good faith, the honor and
the character of Alton B. Parker, the
Democratic candidate for president.
1t devotes all Of ten pages to what
j. calls the st Louis-Esopus Epi-
sotie,' and in the course of its at
tack insinuates that the telegram sent
by Judge Parke: to MI Sheehan in
st. Louis, ON July 8, was prearranged.
1t calls the platform and the telegram
a 'joint performance" ito deceive the
voters of the United States"
Neither deftly Lor s'lillfully, yet
maliciously, it sea':s: tC convey the i'm
preston that Judge Parker was par
ty to trick. and MAKES this point:
"Then, at II O'Clock, on the 9Th,
about thirty hours after the committee
had taken the fatal step, about
eighteen hours after he convention
had ratified it, about b,ne hours after
he had been nominated, Judge Park
er sent the following teIegram to the
convention, addressed to his friend,
William F.. Sheehan.
It seeks to cOnvey the idea that
prior to Saturday morning Judge
Parker was informed of all the oc-
curences at ST. Louis, knew that refer
ence to the gold standard had been
omitted in the r!e+fcrM. and says i'll
these exact words that ''it seems i'm
possible to suppose that Judge Parker
could have failed to receive this in
formation very early in the day on
Friday" The entire effort of the ten
pages is to show Mat Judge Parker
had been guilty Of "trick," that his
telegram was SEPT to ST, Louis by pre-
arrangement, and with the foreknowl-
edge of his friends in st. Louis.
Essentially untrue.
The high character of Judge Park
er and his widespread reputation for
high-mindedness does not protect him
from this wanton eiiack-an attack
made in the full knowledge that it
was based on untruth. 1t must fail
in it's purpose, fer there is no truth,
even in slight degree, in it's asser'
tions. It's only effect can be to show
that those who are responsible for the
management of she campaign OF the
Republican candidate feel that blow.
crushing in it's eff aCt. had been dealt
their cause by that act of Judge Park
er which Grover Cleveland declared to
be "a splendid manifestation of honor
and courage"
There could hav4 been DO sprear,
rangement'' or 'fo"cknowledege' be
cause the situation which called
forth the dispatch was anticipated OF
foreseen by nobody prior to the assem-
bling of the convention.
Situation Unforeseen.
The situation by the final act of the
committee on resolutions. at the
close of it's sixteen hours session, was
anticipated and foresesn by nobody iii
st. Louis or elesewnere prior to the
act itself
From the time Of the assembling OF
the committee Oh resolutions until AT
ter the convention had finally acted
by ratifying the S ssn6 taken by Judge
Parker in his dispatch TO William r
Sheehan, by tina. vote OF ia to l9l
Judge Parker had no communication
whatsoever with any leader OF the
New York delegation with any lead
er in the convention, with any person
of that convention, or with any per
son in the east on any matter whlcf
could be construct as political.
The action of the committee on res
olutions on the 9Th vas not final ano
conclusive. Before US report was
made the platform of the party 1T was
necessary for the G.EVenuon 10 DIP
prove and adopt Ii. 1t was widel!
known that not che man, but several
stood ready to offer resolution Il
the convention ah1mng the estab
ishment of the gold standard II there
should be failure upon the part OF tht
committee to do SC. Not until tn
afternoon of Friday did anyone, evel
in st. Louis, know what the platform
would be. And what was not know
in St. Louis could rot have beer
known elsewhere.
Acted Promptly.
Judge Parker did hot nave an
conld not have had knowledge CT tn
events as they developed on Frlda
and Friday night i'll st. Louis, un'li
o.o1ool, SATURDAY. morning. WlG0 ScN