The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-10-16
GREAT SPEECH
BY JUDGE PARKER
THOUSANDS HEAR FORMER DEM
ocRATIc LEADER IN
NASHVILLE.
COOL, LOGICAL AND MASTERLY
Was His Argument For 5ryan.-keer
Thrusts at Roosevelt And
Republicans.

NASHVILLE. Tenn. Oct. 15.-Be
fore an audience of i've thousand pee
pie at the Ryman Auditorium las
night. Judge Alton B. Parker, of New
York, delivered one of the most mas
terly campaign arguments that has
ever been heard in Nashville. His
speech was plain. logical. temperate
compelling argument, but mixed with
this argument there was keen, biting
satire, such as few men in America to-
day are capable Of His arraignment
of the republican party, while quiet
and in keeping with the character of
The man. was nevertheless far more
telling than the impassioned invective
of many oBer orators.
Judge Parker is distinguished
American citizen He was distin-
guished as one of the ablest judges
Of the highest court of the state of
New York before he was named to
carry the democratic standard in
1904 and since that time he has been
a figure of national prominence. He
came to Nashville with a reputation
as one of the nations ablest lawyers,
and most accomplished speakers, and
when he closed his speech last night
that reputation had been more than
sustained.
Every man that heard the speech
declared that it was one of the most
powerful he had ever heard. Hun
dreds in the audience declared that 1t
was the finest, without exception.
The speech was a presentation of
the reasons why every citizen of the
United States as a citizen and for the
good of the country, should support
the democratic ticket in the coming
election. He advanced a number of
reasons, but his main arguments were
grouped around three points-the |
of the powers reserved to
the states by the constitution by the |
republican party; the republican |
tariff the mother of trusts, and the |
of ever securing a ma
tional act to prohibit the giving of
contribution by corporations !
as long as the republicans are in power
He particularly stressed this last |
point, and his closing paragraph was
a mastery appeal for political purity.
Corrupt Practice Act.
This is subject that Judge Parker
has though much on, and done much.
Since the election of four years ago
he has been at work in New York
state to secure a corrupt practice act,
Ind din 1906 the legislature, under the
PRESSURE of the insurance scandals,
vas forced to adopt such an act and
he officers of corporations that NEEDLE
n politics can be put in the peniten-
larry in that state. He advocates a
imilar law for the whole nation, and
is advocacy Of it was the strongest
oint of speech that was the equal
any ever delivered in Nashville.
His sarcastic thrusts at President
roosevelt and his connection with Mr.
Hartman, and at the tariff planks in
he republican platform were so sharp,
{ such keen, delicate edge, that
ley cut like a knife The points of
is thrusts were so sharp that it was
to drive them home. He
My had to give the audience a
impse of them to make them appre-
ate them, and show their apprecia-
on by prolonged applause.
Mr. Tafts insignificance in the cam
aign could not be more eloquently
ustrated than ii was by the silence
the speech of Judge Parker in re-
lrd to him. Beyond stating, right
the opening, that Mr.. Taft was an r
lie and upright man, and that the N
rsonal issue was not to be consid- a
ed in this campaign, Mr.. Taft was
yer mentioned in the speech, while
r. Roosevelt and republican leaders,
oh as Speaker Cannon, were repeat
ly referred to,