Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-09
ALTON BROOKS PARKER
The Democratic Nominee for
President.
HIS JUDICIAL CAREER
HAS MADE SOME NOTABLE DECI-
sIoNs ON THE BENCH.
Has Declined to Run for Governor of
the Empire State and Also to Be
United States Senator.


this country no one will dispute the fact
that Judge Alton Brooks Parker stands
pre-eminent.
At a time when the records of all the
other candidates were beng made the bass
of factional opposition to their ambition
this element of obscurity in the case of
the New York state Judge was of the great
est advantage. German was covered with
scars, received In a long series of political
contests, and while his sound-money prin-
ciples had been set aside in the interest or
regularity during the Bryan campaigns,
and his emasculation of the Wilson tarin
bill had been excused on the ground of ex-
pediency, yet these features of his record
estranged large sections OF his party. The
old scores of Cleveland although decade
or two of the past have been troublesome
wounds. But in the case of Judge Parker
practically no man knows anything except
that he has been a loyal party worker has
rendered judicial decisions of an antitrust
nature, and has declared himself always a
democrat, even when be had to vote LOT
Bryan, which he has said he did with pride
in his commendable regularity.
One of the elements of greatest interest
about Judge Parker is the fact that his
adherents and advocates have rointed with
pride to the blank pages of his record, and
have not only not sought to have him d.
vulge the political principles which he en-
| have loudly declared that he ought to hold
his peace and enjoy the pure whiteness of
his record. Democrats who have urged
upon Judge Parker the desirability of TAX
ing the country into his confidence and
telling what he really believes In regard to
| the tariff and all the other disputed policies
which have been threshed ever and over
again in Congress have at once been spotted
as German men, Cleveland men Hearst
men, This curiosity to know something
about the man they We're asked to support
for the democratic nomination has been
taken as prima-facie evidence of opposi
ton.
Will Stand on Democratic Platform.
At the same time the adherents of Judge
Parker glory in having a candidate who
Is merely an honorable gentleman, ready
| to stand on whatever the democratic party
| desires. There are even democrats who fol-
low the Parker banner who have gone so
far as to declare that in addition to a neg
alive candidate it would be good thing TO
drop the platform altogether and simply go
before the people of the country declaring
that Parker is better man than Roose
velt and pointing to the white pages of
his record to prove that he has at least
done nothing that could be condemned.
Some of Judge Parker's friends think that
they see resemblance between this posi-
ton and that occupied by Gov. Grover
Cleveland twenty years ago Cleveland had
come forward from obscurity to be a ma
| tional character. Cleveland was bitterly OPP
posed by Tammany, and received the oppo-
sition of that organization to much
greater degree than has ever been shown to
Parker. Indeed Parker may be said to
have the friendship of many Tammany
men, his advocate David b. Hill being the
only bone of contention which has at times
encouraged Tammany GOODNESS.
1t is also said that there is another point
of comparison which is Significant to the
Parker people. In 1884 Mr.. Tilden over
Swallowed Cleveland a distinguished
democrat, and there were reasons which
pointed to him the logical candidate.
In the same way Mr. Cleveland TO GER
tain extent has overshadowed Parker.
Not a Wealthy Man.
Judge Parker is not a wealthy man, al
though he owns delightful home on a
farm he calls Esopus, a few miles from
Kingston, n. Y. He was poor boy and
was never able to raise money enough to
pay for college education, but he
studied law and became successful at the
bar. His present salary as member OF
the supreme court of New York state Is
$14 500 d year.
His home is one of the old-fashioned
commodious mansions, with wide porches
and a fine grove of large elms and oaks.
From his front windows he looks out
upon the Hudson river. About 100 of the
14O acres of his farm are under cultiVa-
ton, and when he goes to it he dons the
garb of a farmer and plays at that &C.
cupation. He has registered cattle which
he has bred He raises everything that
might attract a city man on a farm and.
above all, It Is declared by his friends
that he has the rare virtue of being able
to run the establishment without draw
ing on his salary for the needs of the
land.
He lives in Albany during nine months
of the year, but even then he runs down
to the farm to spend Saturdays and Sun
days. He has several grandchildren there
and delights to play with them. During
his summer vacation he settles down on
his farm.
Judge Parker is of democratic family.
His father was a Jacksonian democrat
and his grandfather a Jeffersonian demo-
crat. While attending law school at AL
bany he became acquainted with Daniel
S. Lamont. then a reporter on the Albany
Argus and Daniel Manning. These were
all disciples of Tilden, and as they be-
came of age took active interest in
politics.
His First Office
Parker became candidate for the Of
flee of surrogate of Ulster county in 1877,
when he was twenty-five years of age.
He was elected served a six-year term,
and in 1888 was reelected. In 1884 he
was delegate of his congressional dis
trict to the presidential convention at
Chicago and voted for Grover Cleveland.
Mr. Cleveland offered Parker the posi-
ton of first assistant postmaster general,
which he declined.
Parker remained at Kingston as surro-
gate and extended his acquaintance
among democratic leaders in the state.
In the fall of 1885 he made chairman
of the democratic state committee and
managed David b. Hills campaign for
governor. His victory in that campaign
adde to his popularity in the democratic
party. Justice Westbrook of the supreme
court of the state of New York died at
that time, and Gov. Hill acknowledged
his obligation to Parker by nominating
him to fill the vacancy. In the following
year Mr.. Parker was nominated for the
position by both political parties, and he
was elected without opposition. Three
years later he was appointed a member of
the court of appeals, which Is the highest
court in the state. At that time he was
only thirty-eight years of age. In 1897
he was nominated to be chief justice of
the court of appeals and was elected for
a term of fourteen years. which will ex-
pire with 1911.
Judge Parker Is credited with having
devoted himself to secure q more busi-
nesslike conduct of the courts with which
he has been connected. Since he became
chief justice the judges meet at 10 in
stead Of y o'clock, and frequently sit as