Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-11

four years ago, when he refused to
subordinate his conviction on finance
TO the other principles or any consid-
Grafton whatsoever, even TO the ques-
ton of a denomination, so Judge Par
ker stands now Nominated on the
first ballot by one of the greatest po-
litical conventions ever held in the
history of the country, and with
platform so conservative in its nature
and yet so broad that every faction OF
the party may unite upon it, neyerthe-
less he would not accept the Opportun-
tiles that it offers for election under
misrepresentation on the part of his
party as to his own convictions. He
desired it distinctly understood that
while the platform is silent on the
money question that he has his own
ideas and that should occasion arise
to exercise them he wanted his party
10 know what they are before the con
ventiOn adjourned, to the end that IL
the majority of the delegates disap-
proved of his course, they might Sc
lect another man. By this very act
Judge Parker became a greater man
in the minds of the delegates than
he had been before, man fit TO stand
upon a broad platform every plank OF
which he approves, but with conscien-
tfous convictions on other great ques-
tions which although not before the
country today, might develop again
into issues of vital importance during
his term of office should the people
ratify the action of the democratic ma
tionaI convention. The Chicago Rec
ord-Herald of today in summing up the
views OF representative democrats the
country over on the attitude of Judge
Parker in relation to the convention.
says:
by a bold stroke at the psychology
zeal moment Judge Alton Brooks Par
ker. seems to have captured the imag-
ination of the country. Instead OF be
ing a man of mystery. yelled behind
an impenetrable judicial reserve, he
stands forth as a man of convictions
and the courage 10 express them, and
as such a man is receiving general
acclaim.
Business and professional men
Joined yesterday in commentator OF
the candidates courage in notifying
the St Louis convention of his belief
in the gold standard and his intention
of withdrawing his name if the dele
gates did not approve his stand. Re
publicans. gold democrats and silver
democrats, alike generally conceded
his honesty of purpose. and even
Bryan has declared the candidate did
a manly thing.
Like a second Cleveland, strong,
manly, courageous the wiSest po-
litical move in recent years. a mas
ter stroke of policy are some of the
things said by representative men.
The bankers are gratified, the mer
chants are pleased. many prominent
democrats are jubilant. and the repub-
licans do not hesitate to voice their ad-
miration of Parker. if not of his party.
Business men unite i'll saying that
the effect on business throughout the
country will be wholesome. With the
of both of the great parties
To sound money, they feel
that there will be not the slightest
danger of disturbance in the industrial
world. They expect the campaign to
be conducted quietly. and look upon
the issue more OF men than of politics.
There seems to be no disposition
to accuse Judge Parker of having play
ed a clever trick in waiting until af-
ter he was nominated. although he is
believed to have known Is hours in
advance that the platform would be ST
lent on the money question. But, his
admirers say. it was not for him to
decline in advance the nomination
that he was assured of, and besides
there was no certainty up to the time
that the platform was adopted that it
would contain no reference to money.
Many democrats said yesterday
that the candidates attitude supple
ments the platform admirably. They
professed to believe that ii is better
to have the platform minus a money
plank than to have the party on record
as repudiating any of its former dec
laratiOns."