New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-10
CAREER OF JUDGE PARKER
From the Farm TO Post of Chief
Judge of Court of appeals.

Inc Democratic nominee for President has been
chef Judge Of the Court % appeals of this State
since January /. 1898. Alton Brooks Parker vas
oofn al Cortland. y. +, May Il. 1851 His grand
tather had gone to Central New-Yorl from Worces-
Ter, Mass II 1896 buying farm midway between
SingAaraton and Syracuse, where he and his son
worried as farm rs and where the boy. Alton be-
gan TO work 7s 'ea as he was OLD enough and
from which he vent barefooted to the district
ScEOol When twelve years old, he went 10 the
Cortland Academy. then a well known institution
and when he graduated. he entered the state
Normal School then recently established in Corr
land. 10 secure the training 10 fit him 70 become a
teacher But already a bent toward the legal pro
lession was secured for in his thirteenth year he
Went with his father when the latter was sum
moned 20 the county scat TO serve as a juror and
ne was greatly Interested in the plea made By q
lawyer OF the Syracuse bar for a client, and so
much impressed thar on the way home he told
ais father he meant to be a lawyer. To attain
tAs nc decided to take the course OF study at the
Albany Law School To gain means for this end
he began to teach school at Virgil. in his native
county, when he was only sixteen years old. from
there he went TO Binghamtoa and taught III the
public school and saved enough money to complete
the Normal School course. Then he went TO Roch-
ester Ulster County, where he principal OF the
public school until he had saved money enough to
go to Albany and take tho two years course at the
Law School. from which he graduated in 1872
He then entered the law Office OF Schocnrraker 81
Harden peTsh' n Kingston, as q clerk, and
admitted TO the bar
On October l6 1873 he WAS r,srr,od - 1T,ss
nary Lee Schoonruaker. whose acquaintance he
ma mace while teaching at Rochester which is
-iea- LN4lgstoh- lie formed q partnership il tbs
IA" with w :. Kenyon. which continued until 1878
ne sooH became deeply interested in the Demo-
cratic politics OF Ulster County. and was MAZE
clerk or the Board OF Supervisors. and IL 1871 he
was erected surrogate Of the county for i term OF
SIX years, at the expiration os which he was re-
eieCleo- lie was engaged in 1880 in securing, the
election OF Judge Sckoununakor rs Stare Senator
and II the campaign OF 1882, when Cleveland was
eiecled Governor by the Democrats. he was active
MS name having beea considered in connection
Win the Lieutenant Cfoveruorship nomination.
which went to David 3 Hill he was agair CON
sldered Tor the same nomination in 1856 after Ros-
we'll P Flower had been nominated and had de-
ci-ileo, out General Edward J. Jones. Of Bingham
ton was chosen. But M Parker was asked TO man
age the campaign and after conference with Gov
eFAor Hi he agreed 70 take this place managing
;" Wen mat victory was secured. For his services
III me cleveland campaign In 1854 he was asked 70
DC FIRST Assistant Postmaster General at Washing
ton. hut refused. In 1855. after the death Of Judge
l. K. "estbrook Of Kingston. Governor Hin ap-
pointed Mr.. Parker Justice Of the Supreme Court
II the Third judicial District In 1856 he was sace ed
ior 1he IuI term OF fourteen years. there being no
opposing candidate In January. 1889 the Sec
onc Division OF the Cour. Of Appeals was CREATED
to clear the congested caienda- and Judge Parker
was selected OF the Supreme Court Justices
10 De assigned TO Il By the Governor This work
wa OoiiSAN-t4 III AcLE years At Albany Jhsr
justice Parker returned TO his bench IN Kingston.
But Governor Flower chose him to sit in the CEN
era4 Term Of the First District in Nev-YorI CITY
whore he remained until 1885 when the new con-
sutuuon substituted the Appellate Division for the
General Term. II 1897 Justice Parker was tho
Democratic candidate Tor CHEZ Judge OF the Court
OF Appeals, and be elected by a plurality OF
1000 over Judge Werner. who failed 10 get soma
votes 70 which IA was entitled In both 1917 and
l-FS Judge Parker was strongly talked OF for the
lrgT ina ura- No
presented 10 either convention.
Judge Parker makes hts home at Rosemount.
Esopus, which is a Few miles south Of Kingston
the Hudson River and no: FAR from the home OF
John Burroughs the author at West Park lie has
largs farrc there. where ne auds recreation ~
work IN the aeids a. times. and prepares many OF
his judicial opinions N his study Ee also "a
farm. which hts wife inherited a, Accord. Ulster
County and his fathers farm ar Cortland each of
which is made 10 pay more than expenses. Ills
mother IS stiI living, but makes her home with a
daughter IN Derby. Conn. although a frequent
visitor 70 his home Judge Parker has one daugh-
Ter. the wife or the Rev. Charle5 Mercer Han.
rector Of the Episcopal Mission OF the Holy Cross
Kingston. where lie attends the services. and two
grandchildren. His brother r W Parker Ia en-
gagei IL the insurance business IN this city. In
personal appearance Judge Parker i six feet In
height, with reddish hair slightly gray. and a
coarse. reddish mustache. I5e is fond of athletic
sports ana exercise, and swims frequently in tho
Hudson River, while horseback riding is a IA
EOTlte diversion.
OF his work on the Court Of Appeals Bench.
Judge Parker said lass year:
In the six years following the abolition Of the
Sc Division % court. 1880 calendar
had fallen behind by almost eleven hundred cases.
50 as TO amount nearly TO denial OF justice To-
Gay / aDic TO tRac the Cacuda- taken NJ
by in January VIII be very nearly completed, II
not entirely so, by July, and calendar will
be arranged for October This is the first time that
two calendars have been taken up in a singa year
since 1870
In speaking OF the work OF the Chief Judge. a
justice Of This city said recently:
Re knows how to do things and how 20 get
things dore. I have familiar and friendly
1uaintaucz with every member OF tho Of last
resort over which he presides one and al o. them
testify that never before IN the history OF
was business so Well conducted lie holds the law
yers strictly TO their business. When the
renders decision he permits no lawyer 10 argue
the matter adJudicated- He allows waste OF
time. lie Is always tho first Judge present the
bench, and he remains always until the ad-
jouTrs. In the while he insists that business
shall so with no delays and no Interruptions.
lie makes this MSistenCe with a suavttJ and gra-
CiuUaress Of and uner that leaves posi-
ground OF complaint the part OF any lawy er
Indeed l have never known lawyer practising
the Court Of Appeals who ready say
that Judge Parker vas altogether the pleasaaIest
front ~ g court. lie never omlts in any OF
consult each of The other Judges earnestly
and soliciuOusY. He does with 2 mind so open
that every judge the bench knows perfectly that
lbs views aud opinions will De attentIvely consid-
erec and duly weighed. II IS only after such
mind