Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-07-14
GENESIS OF THE PARKER MYTH

The evolution of the notion of AL
ton b. Parkers popularity which in
cited the movement that eliminated
in his nomination in St. Louis Sat
uday will figure hereafter among
the strangest of the delusions of
American politics. The Republicans
had carried New York for state Of
ticers in 1898, 1894 and 1895. and for
President in 1896 giving Mckinley
in the last named year a plurality
of 26S.000 In 1897 Alton B. Parker
judge of the court of appeals, carried
the state by $4,000, This immedi
ately made Parker aman of destiny
His victory was the first ray of sun
shine which had penetrated the gloom
of the New York Democratic sky for
several years. There were two things,
however, which the judges admirers
overlooked. One was the fact that
New York had been a doubtful state
for many years. and was subject to
lightning transformations in politics
The otehr was that the conditions
In 1897 at the time of his election
absolutely precluded real test of
the Democratic candidates with the
people. The last named omission
was by far the most important.
In the canvas of 1897 a municipal
election took place in New York city
as well as a state election for Judge
OF the court of apeals, Seth Low
was the candidate for the citizens
Union ticket for Mayor of New York,
Benjamin F. Tracy was the nominee
of the Republicans for that office and
Robert A. Van Wyck was the Demo
cratic candidate. On the Van Wyck
ticket was the name OF the Demo
cratic candidate for chief Judge, Will
liam ]. Wallace. But the Low ticket
bore no name for chief Judge. A large
majority of Lows supporters were
Republicans, The Republicans com
posed the big section of the Citizens
Union who nominated Low for Mayor.
Lows Republican supporters attempt
eI to get their party to make no
nomination for mayor, but to Join
them and the independent Democrats
in supporting Low. The Republican
party machine, however. put up
ticket of its own headed by Tracy,
but Lowe got more Republican votes
than Tracy received. The Citizens
Union, who were nonpartisan. were
unwilling to divide their vote. and
consequently left the post of chief
judge of the state blank on their
ticket. Low received 100000 votes.
100000 of which, it was estimated.
were cast by Republicans.
This is how Parker Glanced to get
the election. Wallace lost the 1870,
900 Republican votes which were cast
for Low for mayor, and Parker was
thus enabled to carry the state by
10000, He happened to strike n can
vass in which the Republican party
in the states chief city was divided,
and thus he crept into office. That
is one OF the ways in which Parker's
imagined popularity can be tested.
Here is another Parker received
554,0 900 votes in 1897, or only 5000
more than had been polled by Bryan
in New Yark a year earlier. and New
York was, as he himself said. the
enemy's country to Bryan. The demo-
cratic candidate for governor a year
after Parker had $4,000 more votes
than Parker. and was beaten by Roose-
welt. The Democratic candidate for
governor In 1900 had 10000 more
votes than Parker got in 1897. and
was beaten by Odell. Bryan, a no.
toriously weak candidate in New York
on account Of the money Issue. pol