The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-10

of Schoonmaker & Hardenberg, the
leading law firm of that section of
the country, and entered INDUSTRIOUS
ly and enthusiastically into the prac-
tice of the law, as he had determined
when a boy of 49, 1t had been done,
this translation from an aspiring boy
to a full fedged lawyer, in seven
years-a period of struggle, of pri-
vation, of incessant labor with head
and hands but never with lessening
of purpose, rather with eye firmly
fixed on the goal, each obstruction in,
the way an incentive to increased en-
deavor and greater energy.
Entrance Into Politics.
1t is customary to say that the
young lawyer entered politics in an
endeavor to advance the political ca
reer of his friend and patron, Judge
Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr. While
there is no question that he was so
engaged, it cannot be called his flrst
entrance into politics. Young law
yerS in country towns and inland cltleS
take to politics as naturally as DO
ducks to water. Indeed circumstances
force them into the affairs of the par
ties of their faith. And so young Par
ker was no sooner in the possession
of his sheeDskin than he was with
others immersed in the politics of the
Democratic party of Ulster county.
Participation in politics early made
MIN clerk of the Board of Supervisors
of that county. Five years after his
graduation. when he was c5 years old,
he was chosen Surrogate of the coun-
ty after q hard political battle in
which he was the only one of his
ticket who was elected, testimony to
the popularity and the reputation he
had so early acquired. Six years Ia
ter he was reelected with increased
ma There
that which brought him into con-
spicuous notice within his county was
the organizing work done by him in
behalf of Judge Schoonmaker for
State Senator. Mr.. Schoonmaker had
been county judge, serving acceptably
as might be expected of a man so
able and of such high character. But
by some trickery he was deprived of q
second term and, disheartened, the
Judge regarded his political or public
career at an end. Young Parker did
not. He conceived the idea of secur-
ing the nomination for the State Sem
ate for the judge and set about or
ganizing the county for Schoonmaker
and with such brilliant success that
Schoonmaker was not only nominated
for the office but triumphalltly elect
ed. The young lawyer Parker had
builded better than he knew. for in
his single e-hearted and unselfish devo-
ton to the cause of his friend he had
SO impressed himself on the county
that he made friends in all parts of
it. as was made manifest two years
later when he was nominated for Sur
rogate During the years he was a
hard worker IN his profession and
gaining triumphS at the bar Whlch
advanced his reputation as a lawyer
for even when Surrogate he pract1ced,
as is permissible in the counties When
there is not business enough IN the
Surrogate's court to absorb the time
of the Surrogate. In 1871, the year
he was elected Surrogate, he i'm
pressed himself on the leaders of that
day, Tilden, Manning, Lamont ct al,
by the manner in which he conducted
the canvass of his friend Schoonmaker
for attorney general. who was elected
that year to that high office.
A Figure Up The State.
1t was not until 1885, however, that
he achieved a statewide fame In
politics. The fact of the action of
Mr.. Parker in the campaign of that
year has been under discussion quite
recently, and many misstatements
have been made so that misapprehen-
sion and confusion exists in many
quarters and, indeed, misunderstand-
ing. A full statement of the facts,
therefore, in this consideration will be
justified.
In 1882 the Democrats had returned
to power in the State of New York by
electing Grover Cleveland Governor
and David 3. Hill Lieutenant Govern
or. The differences that had rent
the Democratic party had been over
come in the fact of the chaos that ex-
listed in that year in the Republican
ranks. Tammany Hall, which in 1879
had bolted the Democratic convention
because it was not permitted to die
tate the gubernatorial nomination,
was admitted to partial representation
of the County of New York. Almost
Immediately on assumption of office
Grover Cleveland had made the i'm
preston that he was a man of high
ideals of duty, administration and Of
official responsibility. Even before ii
was mooted in New York State people
in remote parts began to talk of him
as promising presidential timber. All
of the elements of the Democratic
party were in practical accord. Two
years later Cleveland was formally
presented to the Democracy of the
nation as New York's candidate Os-
tensibly he was the unanimous choice
of the New York State convention
for the delegation was under the unit
rule and in it's majority was for
Cleveland. Tammany Hall, however
suddenly went into opposition, blatant
and aggressive, though tied by the
rule. At this national convention, as
an earnest advocate of the nominal
tion of New York's Governor, as was
his associate from the Ulster district.
was Alton B. Parker, who made his
first appearance on the field of ma
tionaI politics. This was in 1884. He
had attracted the attention of Daniel
Manning, then the State leader, by
his services in Ulster County and his
labors in organizing victory for
Schoonmaker in two campaigns, and
had been considered as available for
lieutenant governor in 1872.
Errors of Record.
The records will insist that he was
offered this nomination in 1883 and
F. that he promptly declined II. AS