The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-24

and on the floor of the convention by
one or two men to the effect that
.'nobody knew how he stood" may
have led him to believe that there
might be some doubt in the minds of
the delegates who had nominated him,
and of the country, as to what the
whole transaction accomplished by
the convention, platform and candi-
date, coupled together meant. If so,
he owed it to his honor To dissipate
that misunderstanding. Therefore,
without waiting for the time of his
letter of acceptance, in which he was
expected to express any views on the
subject, if he thought it advisable, he
wired:
"Hon. W. f. Sheehan. Hotel Jefferson,
St. Louis. Mo-:
Il regard tle gold standard as
firmly and irrevocably established, and
shall act aceordingil- ii the action of
the convention today Sifau be ratified
by the people. AS the platform is
silent on the subject, my view should
be made known to the convention,
and if il is proved to be unsatisfac-
tory to the majority, | request you to
decline the nomination for me at
once, so that another may be nomi-
mated before adjournment,
"a. B. PARKER"
The telegram was, l thought. un-
necessary and premature, but then [
was on the ground, and he was not.
| knew what people were thinking
and intending. and what knowledge
was guiding their action, and he did
not. From our standpoint il was
useless, and showed either supersen-
sitiveress to newspaper criticism, or
a laudable and chivalric, but some
what overstrained, sense of propriety
about the possibility OF being placed
in a false position before the dele
gates and before the country. We
saw at once, however, that, with the
notion in his mind. he ought to have
done just what he did and ought to
have done it when he did, instead of
waiting for his letter of acceptance.
1t was the simplest requirement of
candor and honesty, if he thought it
possible even that he had been nomi-
mated under a misapprehension of his
views, to wire them, and to direct
that the convention be made ac-
quainted with them before the dele
gates left st. Louis, so that they might
undo anything that the supposed mis-
apprehension had induced them to do
The Conventions Reply to Judge
Parker.
ne COIVcHIloll, DeIHE uI1UeE nC
misapprehension, by vote of TIA to
191, directed that he be wired to that
effect, in these words:
''The platform adopted by this con-
vention is silent on the question of
the monetary standard. 1t was not
regarded by us as a possible issue in
the campaign and only campaign is
sues were mentioned. Therefore
there is nothing in the views express
ed in the telegram received, which
preclude a man entertaining them
from accepting the nomination on the
said platform"
On the minority voting against
sending this reply, the major part
of them were followers of Mr.. Hearst
and other candidates. who had never
had any doubt, because they could
not have had, about Judge Parker's
position, but who hoped out of the
suddenness and disorder of it all to
reap a reconsideration of the vote
nomination of their candidate. All OF
them were, so far as l know meI
who opposed Judge Parker from the
beginning. Many even of those who
voted against the nomination voted
for the reply to be sent. The tele.
gram from Judge Parker as printed
brought great relief to his friends
and to the delegates. A purportec
telegram, which had been printed il
what seems to be a somewhat ire
sponsible ST. Louis paper, had caused
great furry, excitement and intense
anger. 1t was to the effect that ne
| had demanded" that a gold stand
ard plank ''be put in the platform.
They know little of the freedom o.
action which dominated that conven-
| tion, its exemption from boss or ma
chine control of any sort, who car
not appreciate the effect of the pre-
| tended telegram I'VE will stoI
Rooseyeltisn in the Democratic par
tv before it starts was the cry; eve
will receive no dictation; Demo
cratic candidate must learn that h
receives his instructions from the De
mocracy and not the Democracy theil
instructions from him." Judge Parket
had been nominated by Southern I'M
tiative: if the pretended telegram hat
been genuine he would nave peer
taken off the ticket by Soulneril M
tiative. Already enough had agree
to do it. ,,o,yayor tba