The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-11
Parker s Political Strategy.

d We know from Judge Parker's
biographies that he has a record be-
hind him as a political manager that
Is about as good as his reputation as a
jurist and gentleman. That telegram
from Esopus that threw the demo-
cratic national convention into such
a turmoil last Saturday night was
good politics, good judgment and
gentlemanly. Z
1t was good politics, because it has
greatly strengthened the judge as a
presidential candidate. 1t was OBJ
viously good judgment, and it was
gentlemanly because it was honorable.
To go more into detail, the judges
telegram was good politics because it
is not conceivable that it will cost him
the loss CT a single state, whereas it
will have the effect Of lettering his
prospects of carrying New York. The
telegram, together with the reply to
it by the convention, puts the money
question out Of this campaign, as far
as it is possible for it to be disposed
of by any action of a party with such
a record as the democratic party has
on the money question. The party
has promised not to seek power on the
money issue, and it's presidential can
didate has served notice that he re-
CARDS the gold standard as irrevoc-
ably established. Moreover, that was
probably the view of the great ma
jority of the delegates to the conven-
ton, but it was a little too much to
expect party that had in two sue
cessive campaigns made the money
question so prominent to turn around
and publicly declare that it was dead
wrong.
The Parker telegram was the act Of
a gentleman because the judge had
been placed in a false position by the
equivocation Of David B. Hill. Quib-
bling over the fact that he had never
discussed the money issue with Judge
Parker personally, Hill was trapped
by Bryan and publicly declared that
he did not know the judges views on
the money question. This announce
ment was telegraphed all over the
country. 1t made Judge Parker look
like a cheap politician who was seek
Ing to climb to the presidency by con-
cealing his views on a vital question
To set himself right the judge had to
declare his views especially as every
one had been of the impression that
tho consistent in party loyalty, the
judge had always been gold man.
1t was highly honorable in the
Judge, too, to express himself at the
time he did, for if there had been any
misunderstanding the convention had
time to- retrace it's steps and give the
nomination to someone else. 1t would
have been most ungracious as we'll as
dishonorable for the judge to wait
until writing his formal letter of ac-
ceptance to state his views on ques-
ton the party had ignored while his
lieutenant was giving out the impress
sion that the judge had no very firm
convictions on the subject.
The Journal takes pleasure in
discussing the Parker telegram at
length, because it shows conclusively
that Judge Parker is high minded,
straightforward conference.-the kind
of man worthy to be president Of
the United States. We are opposed to
Judge Parker and his party but it
should be the occasion of satisfaction
to all Americans to know that the
nominee of the democratic party who,
1t is remotely possible, may be presi-
dent, is q gentleman personally
worthy to. be chief executive of the
great republic; man of strength of