The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-24
PEN PORTRAIT OF A
POSSIBLE PRESIDENT
Judge Alton B. Parker, Man
OF Method and Enormous
Capacity for Work.
STORY or HIS EARLY CAREER 1:
Decided When d Boy to Become
a Lawyer Experiences as
Teacher and Judge.

rho Impression you receive On ncetins
for the first time Judge Alton Brooks
PARKER Chief Justice Of the New York
Court of Appeals and now leading can
didatc for the Democratic nomination
for The Presidency, III likely to be tbat
The Judges personal appearance does
not suggest his temperament or career,
1T is not that his presence aud DeaIlng
nre lacking In distinction, Tor IN any
gathering he would almost certainly az
tract attention as man above inc Or
dinury. Nearly six feet III height, proad
shouldered, straight as an arrow. win
clenr-cut features and eyes that have a
piercing though kindly gaze. MS person
ullty ia markedly distinguished. But
there Il nothing judIcinl about II. II
ton men who had never laid eyes on the
Judge before and did not recognize him
from his pictures were asked for. an
opinion as to Ills station In life, probably
the majority or them would set him down
#as n bank President or Il leading imam
cicr, but II Is safe to say that more OF
them would pick him out for a Judge
1,hc preconceiyed notion which most
peoplc have about any judge IL that lie
will be either Il man OF ascetic couNleh-
arce, indicating much use Of the mid
night oil and absolute indifference ~ 20
ultyslcal culture, Or n big, strong man
OF severe and fro~nlna mlcnt judge
+ Parker does not ct Ii with this concer-
lion. Although he is n great student
there is not tho slightest suggestion. OF
The. bookworm about him. Gifted by ma
1i,re with a strong physique originally, he
has preserved 1t rs his fondness for out
door life. lie takes great pleasure In
horseback riding and has stock farm
or which he Is proud. Neither Is there
any suggestion In Judge Parker's couh-
tenance OF tina; type Of man WHO lays
down the law"Alike JoVc hurting ihlil-
dcrbots. Judge Parker Is suaSlty ITSELF
1T is the general verdict Of thoee who
haze tried cases before him that a more
courteous Judge thar lie is not 70 pe
found. s,5,
Another reason. perhaps. why Judge
Parker's high calling Is not suggested BY
his personal appearance IL that he dress
cs fashionable No better dressed man
than he vii! be seen on Fsittil Avenue,
nor no man whose clothes tit better.
A Prodigious Worker.
Judge Parker Is now tfty.two years OF
age. He las scarcely wrinkle In his
face, and his whole appearance Is that or
il strong man who bad taken life easily.
,rbe fact IS that all his life heN has been
II prodigious worker. and II the marks
or toll have not been left on his coun-
tenancc or his frame the explanation or
that marvel living and the care which
he has taken 10 keep his physical Vlgor
,inimpalred His perfect health enables
linn 10 dispose of an amount ~ work
which would break down man of or
binary strength. Since he became Chief
Judge of the Court OF Appeals that
court has shown an ability to dispose OF
n much larger number OF cases than
ever before IN It's history, and In an adj
dress which he delivered before the State
Bar Association year or SO ago Judge
John Clinton Gray attributed this i'm
Irovemcnt to the ''urwearying efforts OF
the present Chief Judge.
When he is in Albany Judge Parker
lives at the Ten Eyck Hotel He always
puts on evening dress for dinner His
manner is most democratic. After dinner
lie comes out into the corridor of The hp-
tel 10 smoke cigar and lie has kindly
greeting and n pleasant word for ever!
ono he knows. While he often sits down
for a few moments chat with friend
or party of friends he never lounges
around long because he has work to do
on his opinions at night, and work Is
something he nevc. shirks.
All who enjoy the pleasure OF an inti-
attest the fact that he Is in love with
his judicial work. Nothing less than q
nomination for the presidency could tempt
him away from the judicial life. This
he has shown by his rejection OF prof
fered high political honors in the past,
Nominations for United States Senator,
Governor. Lieutenant Governor. and First
Assistant Postmaster General have all
been spurncd by him at various stages
OF his career.
When Judge Parker is not In Albany
ne hives at Esopus. near Kingston, on the
Hudson, where he has beautiful coun-
try home. Judge Parker was born In the
country and he has never lost his love
for country life.
His birthplace was Cortland. In Cort-
land county, between the towns Of .BinE-
hamton and Syracuse. He helped on the
farm during the summer and attended
the district school In the winter untll
he was thirteen years Of age. He then