Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-23
PARKER WANTS KERN
AT HIS REQUEST HE BECAME
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.
The Judge Believed Him Strong Vote
Getter in Indiana-Machine's
Part in Nomination.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
INDIANAPOLIS. August 23.-There is an
interesting chapter connected with the nom-
ination of John w. Kern for governor
which has never been told. Mr.. Kern was
asked to make the race by Judge Parker
democratic candidate for President, and he
yielded to the request Of the national stand
ard-bearer.
Before Judge Parker requested him to be-
come a candidate Mr.. Kern had fully made
up his mind to keep out Of the governor
ship race. In conversation with newspaper
men he stated in positive language that he
would not be a candidate.
In Just what way Judge Parker commu-
nicated to Mr.. Kern his desire that the lat
ter run for governor cannot be learned.
shortly after the st. Louis convention Mr.
Kern received telegram summoning MN
to New York state. He spent two or tnree
days with Judge Parker at Esopus He mad
intended to stay only few hours. but the
Judge would not let him go. Whether or
not the governorship question was proacneu
then or whether Judge Parker wrote MI.
Kern on this subject later is matter VI
conjecture.
Not Without Precedent.
Judge Parkers action is not without
nrecedent There is an unwritten rule OF
politics which gives to the natlonal cahoi-
date the right to say something in the Sc
lection of the standard-bearers In the
doubtful states. President Roosevelt mas
been exercising this right to the nnlit xa. IN
urging Elihu Root Ho,,f to make Tha aae President
doubtless fears that the empire state WI
he lost to the democrats unless 'he iepuu p,,',
Ucans nominate a candidate or Root popu.
larity and standing. Judge Parker hau
heard a good deal of Mr.. Kern before IN
,,itinr him to run for governor or lnoialia'
aside from what he knew Oh ~ neA IL. non-
personal acquaintance. Naturany ne ,otas o1
Guided that Kern was good many VIZ"
Stronger than any other man the oerlo-
crats could nominate. The importance oi
INDIANA as battle ground TINS year Jusei
fed him in using his influence u ''i""00
Mr.. Kern to run
The Machines Part.
When Maj. G. Menzies OF MI. vefnun M
called on Taggart In person during .ne
state convention and protested aeaiiis' 'tie
slate methods by which he SAID helh was
nominated, Mr.. Taggart repleo' hass
NOT ATTEMPTED to dictate the nomination OK
Mr. Kern. l have had apsolutei1 ho'e
to do with 1t. ~, ,:4a nth
while Taggart is generally credited with
using the machine for Kern SAID prom .ho
inent democrat, "he did nothing OF Ine
sort Judge Parker is responsible for Kern
heing at the head of the ticket. Chairman
O'Brien, Joe Tanning and others, aItef
learning that Judge farher Wd..eu -
set the machinery In motion for him. Kern
overruled his own wishes and reluctantly
allowed the nomination to proceed. ~
Mr. Kern's sacrifice adds to the esteem An
which he is held at Esopus. II Indiana
should go republican and the nation dem
ocratic, it is a pretty good guess that Mr:
tho ma tIonal administration. AS it is. Mr.
Kern is now regarded in national dem
ocratic circles as one of the twenty Dig
democrats Of the country-a worthy SUE
rdrip
What Mr.. Goodrich Wants.
If the republicans are successful this
year James P. Goodrich, republican state
chairman, probably will be a candidate for
consul general at Paris, the position now
held by John X. Gowdy Of Rushville The
ground wires are already being laid to Sc
cure this place for him.