River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-22
Democratic Candidate Began
His Career as a BOSS.
A PR0TEGE OF DAVID B. HILL
"Practical Politician" Who Is Now
Surrounded and Supported by Tam
many Hall Leaders-Brief Glance
at His Political Record.

ident of the United States Alton &.
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 If
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
ajority 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 its 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 mas present
ed that bland, open and somewhat pa
tronizing front with which mankind
faces the world when it us striving to
"lool 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
hot -oO- of
fat and meaningless words as fairly
stunned the unterrifed in their lairs. 1t
gave no linking as to what kind of a
man the Democratic nominee might be,
except that &a 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.
sit seems like a sort o 'unsight and
unseen game" said an old Illinois farm
er. 81 guess we'd better not trade, this
timer
There remained and remains for the
awakened gaze of the American people
the record of Mr.. Parkers 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 than 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 candidate. In plain language,
he was County Boss" in the Demo
cratic fold. While a very young man
he directed a campaign for Judge ShO0n-
maker, in whose office he had studied
law. Encouraged by his success in this
effort he sought for himself the post of
Surrogate, as the Probate Judge as 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; Il
variety in cities exemplifed by Tam
many, and in the country districts not
one whit behind Tammany in zeal, cum
ming and unscrupulousness.
Favored by Hill.
Says a recent writer, speaking of this
period of Judge Parker's life:
'Politics in New York is hard and iron
bound; it is without sentiment, and has
no principle save the principle of success.
This is as true of country as of town, as
true Of the cornfieldS as of Tammany Hall.
Victory is the only virtue, defeat the only
crime-in New York. Judge Parker knew
these things; he saw no visitors, courted
no dreams, lapsed into, no frances. Pa
tiently, practically, he added one man to
another, and the two to somebody else, I'M
til the result of his additions was the con-
troll of the county OF Ulster
The steady success Of Judge Parker,
his even, business methods, cold and
bloodless in calculation and results, at
tracted the attention and the favor Of
David Bennett Hill. In 1855, when Mr..
Hill was about to make his first can
vass for the governorship of New York,
he chose for the practical manager Of
his campaign Judge Parker. Thus at
the age of thirty-three years Judge Park
er became Hills political manager. He
elected his man.
Mr.. Hill, early in his administration
as Governor, rewarded his faithful man
ager by appointing him to the Supreme
Bench of the State of New York. Judge
pied the Supreme or the Court of Ap-
peals bench ever since.
There is Judge Parker's public record.
A practical politician, a manager of
campaigns, a discovery and protege of
David Bennett Hill!
And now, at the end of this plain, I'M
vanished tale, it remains to be noted
that from beginning to end there is not
set down in all the pages devoted to
Judge Parker and his candidacy one
single utterance of inspiration, enthusi-
asm, patriotism, or even one word sug-
costing a broad and generous apprecia-
ton of public needs and public interests.
small or great, in all the years during
which Judge Parker has handled local
campaigns.
His Counselors.
Next to a mans acts, judged by his
avowed motives, there is no safer guide
to his character and his mental qualities
than his choice of associates and fellow
workers. Turning from the meager tale
of Judge Parker's political life to his
political counselors and intimates, whom
do we find?