The Irish standard., 1904-04-09
Loyalty His Ruling Principle and States
manship His Study, Says ]
the Writer.
Judge Parker is an Orthodox Democrat and a
Disciple Of Tilden and
Manning.

rogate of Ulster county, and was re-
elected on the Democratic ticket,
though the county is usually republi-
can.
The turning point in Mr.. Parker's
career came in 1885, when he formed
the acquaintance of David B. Hill. Hill
was nominated for governor and had
difficulty in finding man to manage
his campaign. Leader after leader de-
clined the task, and finally Hill went
to Parker and said:
"See here, I want you to run this
campaign for me.''
"But I don't know anything about
politics.
"I'll take my chances on that. Do
the best you can.''
Parker accepted. Hill was elected.
A vacancy soon occurring on the su-
preme court bench. Governor Hill re-
warded his young campaign manager
by appointing him judge. He was af-
terward elected in that district without
opposition. And in 1897, just after
Bryan had lost the state, Parker was
nominated for chief Justice of the court
of appeals and was elected by 10000
majority.
Judge Parker has, therefore, spent
most of his active career upon the
bench. He was only 81 when elected
justice Of the supreme court and 46
when called to his present post, the
highest in the judiciary of the state.
He has, of course, kept out Of politics
during the last fifteen years. He de-
clined several tempting offers to run
for office, for lieutenant governor, for
governor, for United States senator.
But it must not be inferred that he
has lost interest in politics or that he
is uninformed as to the current politi-
cal history of his country. His activi-
ties have been on the bench, where he
has worked hard and faithfully-for
the chief justiceship of the court of ap-
peals is no sinecure-but he has never
lost his early zest for politics. One of
his closest personal friends said to me:
Judge Parker is naturally states
man. He loves statecraft and politics.
The accident of circumstances shifted
him to the bench, but he has closely
studied our national history. He
knows all the questions, and he often
surprises me with his intimate knowl-
} edge of politics. Though he has never
been at national convention, in con-
versation with him have found that
he knows the inside of all those great
gatherings, the subject of strife and the
characteristics Of the men who were
waging the battle. He is infinitely bet
!; ter informed as to our public and party
life than Grover Cleveland was when
chosen president twenty years ago."
Loyalty is one of Judge Parker's
most striking characteristics. This
shows in everything he does. Judge
u Clinton Gray, senior associate justice
of the court of appeals, tells me Judge
Parker's loyalty to the decisions of the
court Is constant source Of wonder
to his confreres. "He is a man of
strong convictions" says Judge Gray,
but he is more anxious that the de-
cisions Of the court shall be consistent
than he is to secure the triumph of his
} personal opinions. He is an admirable
presiding judge, and his loyalty to the
traditions Of the court is not the least
, Of his good qualities"
This same quality Of loyalty has
made Judge Parker an orthodox demo-
! crat. He is always regular" He
. stands by his party, right or wrong.
; He did not believe in free silver, but
he thought the success of the party the
, highest consideration, and he voted for
, Bryan in 1896 and 1900. He not only
voted for him, but subscribed to the
campaign fund, as he subscribes to bis
} party fund locally every year of his
life.
! Again, his general views on public
questions are orthodox democratic
) views. He was disciple Of Tilden
and Manning. To be good and faith.
full democrat is with him the first prin.
, ciple. BE believes in Jeffersonian de.
mocracy. he is opposed to centralized
r. = sy