Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-21
Democratic Candidate Began
His Career as a Boss"
A PR0TEGE OF DAVID B. HILL
practical Politician" Who Is Now
Surrounded and Supported by Tam.
many Hall Leaders -Brief Glance
at His Political Record.

ident of the United States Alton b.
| Parker, of New York, the people of the
country have been trying to find out
/ something about the man for whom they
are asked to vote early next November.
| 1t has been hard work. Outside of
| the State of New York Alton b. Park
er was practically unknown before the
meeting of the Democratic convention at
| st. Louis. He still remains, to the vast
majority of voters throughout the coun-
try. unknown, except by his name and
| place of residence, with such additional
light as has been thrown upon him by
newspaper portraits.
| In the matter of supplying pictures
of Judge Parker his home, his wife,
| children, grandchildren, sonin-law and
! other relations there has been no stint.
| The country has gazed its fill upon news
pRper cuts representing Judge Parker.
| trimmed, so to speak. with various and
| assorted young relations, and in all of
| these pictures Mr.. Parker mas present
ed that bland, open and somewhat pa
tronizing 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 a merry-go-round of
fiat and meaningless words as fairly
stunned the unterrfied in their lairs. 1t
gave no linking as to what kind of a
| man the Democr lie nominee might be,
except that he possesses the not uncom-
mon faculty of talking a great deal and
saying nothing
Searching the Record.
And so 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 ike sort o 'unsight and
Ma cen game" said an old Illinois farm
er. Il guess we'd better not trade, this
timer
There remained and remains for the
awakened gaze of the American people
the record of Mr.. Parkers life, so much
VI II sS AittS ntE4i III Ltlc HubliE eye W lkll
his private life let it be said, once for
all, there is no reproach.
Alton Il. Parker was born at Cort-
land, New York. in the neighbOrhood
where he now lives, more than fifty
years ago. He grew up in Ulster county,
and began the practice of law there as
a young man. From the beginning he
" is known as a politician Of the kind
xK-bt IL
than as a 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 Shoon-
maker, in whose office he had studied
law. Encouraged By his success in this
effort he sought for himself the post of
Surrogate, as the Probate Judge is call
cl 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; a
variety in cities exempliied by Tam
many, and in the country districts not
one whit behind Tammany in zeal, cum
ming and unserupulousness
Favored by Hill.
Says recent writer. speaking of this
period of Judge Parker's life:
Politics In New York Is hard and iron
bound; it is without sentiment. and has
no principle save the principle of success.
This Is true of country of town. as
true Of the cornfields as of Tammany Han
Victory is the only virtue defeat the only
erlme-in New York. Judge Parker knew
these things: he saw no visitors. cOurted
no dreams, lapsed into no frances Pa
tiently. practically, he added one man to
another. and the two to somebody else, I'M
I'll the result of his additions was the con
troll Of the county of Ulster
The steady success Of Judge Parker.
his even. business methods, cold and
bloodless 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 gaycrnorship of New York,
he chose for the practical manager Of
his campaign Judge Parker. Thus at
the age Of thirty-three years Judge Park
er became Hills political manager. He
elected his man.
Mr. Hill. early in his administration
as Governor. rewarded his faithful man
aser by appointing him to the Supreme
Bench Of the State of Now York. Judge !
Parker has. practically speaking. oecu-
pied the supreme or the Court of APP
peais bench ever since.
There is Judge Parker's public record. !
y practical politician, manager of
campaigns. discovery and protege OF
David Bennett Hiln
And nov. At the end Of this plain, un- /,
Vanished tale, it remains to be noted /
tlat from beginning To end there is not /.
set down in all the pages devoted t. /
Judge Parker and his candidacy one /
single uttcrance of inspiration, euthusi- !
assn. patriotism. or even one word Su=
gcsting a broad and generous appgeci1- /
ton of public needs and public interests, |
small or great. in all the years during |
which Judge Parker has handled" local /
Ills Couuselors.
Next to mans acts, judged by his .
avOwed motives. there is no safer guide /
70 his character and his mental qualities /
than his choice Of associates and fellow l
workers. Turning FROM the Eleaser tale
of Judge Psrker's political NE 10 his
political eoaRsslors and intimates. wAona l