The Columbus journal., 1904-09-21
Democratic Candidate Began
His Career as a BOSS"
A PR0TEGE OF DAVID 8. HILL
''Practical Politician" Who Is Now
Surrounded and Supported BY Tam.
many Hall Leaders-Brief Glance
at His Political Record.

Ever since that July day when tn
Democratic National Convention OF 100,
adjourned, after nominating for Pres
ident Of the United States Alton B
Parker, Of New York. the people Of tn,
country have been trying to find OUT
something about the man for whom they
are asked to vote early next November
It has been hard work. Outside OF
the State Of New York Alton Il. Fark
er was practically unknown before the
meeting Of the Democratic convention a,
st. Louis. He still remains. to the vas,
majority Of voters throughout the coun
try, unknown. except by his name and
place OF residence, with such additional
light a. has been thrown upon him by
newspaper portraits.
In the matter Of supplying pictures
Of Judge Parker. his home. his wife
| children, grandchildren, son-in-law and
other relations there has been no stint
The country has gazed its fill upon news.
paper cuts representing Judge Parker
trimmed, 80 to speak, with various and
assorted young relations, and in all OF
these pictures Mr.. Parker has present.
ed that bland, open and somewhat pa.
tronizins front with which mankind
faces the world when it is striving to
''loOk pleasant" and at the same time
keep some infant prodigy still under the
process Of photography.
To be sure. the voters have seen pic
lures Of Mr.. Parker galore. and pictures
OF his house and Of his family. They
have been told that he was. when nomi-
mated, a judge. high up on the bench Of
the State Of New York. and ''the rest
is silence" 1t is true that Mr.. Parker,
when notified Of his nomination, pro-
nOunced a speech Of acceptance" but
that proved such q merry-gO-round OF
Tat and meaningless words as fairly
stunned the unterritied in their lairs. 1t
gave no inkling as to what kind Of u
man the Democratic nominee might be.
except that he possesses the not uncom-
mon faculty Of talking a great deal and
saying nothing.
Searching the Record.
And 80 the American people sat down
and studied. by such means as they had
at hand, the man who asks their votes
for the Office Of Chief Executive.
1T seems like q sort O. 'unsiSht and
unseen game" said an old Illinois farm
Or. II guess we'd better not trade. this
timer
There remained and remains for the
awakened gaze Of the American people
the record Of Mr.. Parker's life. % much
Of 1t as has been in the public eye. With
his private life let it be said, once for
all, there is no repfoach.
Alton b. Parker was born at Cort.
land. Now York. in the ne;Shborhood
where he now lives. more than fifty
years ago. He grew up in Ulster county.
and began the practice Of law there as
q young man. From the beginning he
was known as a politician Of the kind
which gains ends rather as a manager
than as candidate. In plain language.
he was a County Boss" in the Demo-
cratic fold. While a very young man
he directed a campaign for Judge Shooa-
maker. in whose office he had stu1iel
law. Encouraged by his success in this
effort he sought for himself the post OF
Surrogate. as the Probate Judge is call
ell in New York State. He was elected.
and held the office for many years.
In this office Judge Parker continued
his silent and underground activities in
politics Of the New York variety:
variety in cities exemplified by Tam
many. and in the country districts not
one whit behind Tammany in zeal, cuu
ming and unscrupulousness.
Favored nv Hill.
Says a recent writer. speaking Of this
period Of Judge Parker's life:
Politics In New York IL hard and iron
bound: it Is without sentiment. and has
no principle save the principle Of sicccss.
This Is rs true Of country as of town. as
true Of the cOrnteds rs OF Tammany Hall.
Victory is the only virtue. defeat the only
cr,me-,n New York. Judge Parker knew
no dreams. lansed into no frances Ia
tiently. practically. he added one man to
another, and the two TO somebody else. uI.-
til the result Of his additions WAS the
tro1 Of the county OF lister"
The steady success Of Judge Parker.
his even, business methods. cold aDl
b.oOd!ess in calculation and results. At
tracted the attention and the favor of
David Bennett Hill. In 1885, when Mr..
Hill was about to make his first can
vass for the sovernorShip OF New York.
he chose for the practical manager OF
his campaign Judge Parker. Thus at
the age VI thirty y-three years Judge Park
er became Hills political manager. He
elected his man.
Mr.. Hill. early in his administration
a. Governor. rewarded his faithful NAH
aser Dy appointing him to the Supreme
Bench of She State Of New York. Judge
Parker has. practically speaking. occu-
pied the Supreme or the Court OF Ap-
peals bench ever since.
There is Judge Parker's public record.
4 practical politician, a manager OF
discovery and protege ot
David Bennett Hill.
And now, AZ the end of this plain. un-
varnished tale. i, remains u be uo.e,l
that from begini.in: to end there is not
set down in all the pages devoted u
Judge Parker and his candidacy. one
single u;terance of inspiration. enthi:s;
as:n. patriotism. or even one wor! sUs
gesting a broad and generous apprecia-
ton o: public needs and public interests.
small o: great, in all the years during
which Judge Parker has handled" Ioca!
His Counsclors.
Next to q mans acts. judged by his
avowsd motives. there is no safer ci::;s
20 his character and his mental qualities
than his choice of associates and fellow !
Turning from the meager ta.e |