The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1910-12-16
Man Who Became Governor on
Eight Dollars.
That Was All Joel Parker Spent In
His successful Campaign to Be
Chief Executive Of New
Jersey.
by e. J. EDWARDS.

tional distinction at the time of the
Civil war because, although elected
governor of New Jersey as q Demo
crat. he was nevertheless one Of the
most efficient and jealous of all the
war governors of the north. His
unique distinction. in fact, was that
he was the great Democratic war
governor Of the Union. He served
from 1862, to 1865 and in 1876 he was
the favorite son of the New Jersey
Democrats for the presidential nom
nation.
Five years before Governor Par
ker's party became very much dis
turbed by the understanding that the
Republicans were going to nominate
Tor governor a very rich manufacture
er-Cornelius Walsh. by name-who.
It was understood. had expressed a
willingness to contribute a very large
sum of money in support Of his can
didacy. In their perturbation the
Democratic leaders sought out Gov.
ernor Parker at his home In Free
hold.
Governor" they said to him. the
Republicans are going to nominate
Cornelius Walsh for governor, and he
Is going to spend a lot of money to be
elected. We believe that the only
Democrat in the state who stands a
reasonable chance of beating Mr..
Walsh and his money is yourself, and
although We know that you have re.
tired from politics, we have come to
urge you to accept the nomination by
the Democracy"
WELL" replied the wal governor.
after a few moments of thought, 81
have Just got into the full swing Of
my law practise again. and for me to
drop 1t all would ear a considerable
monetary sacrifice. Still, if my party
makes a sincere call for me ! will
listen to It. upon this one condition,
that l shall not spend any money,
that my party shall not spend any
money. except for absolutely neces-
sary expenses, in the campaign, and
that you will make the campaign up
On this issue"
The condition was accepted by the
Democratic leaders, Governor Parker
a duly nominated and in the ex
citing campaign that followed there
was plenty of evidence that his op
ponent was spending a large amount
of money. Nevertheless, when the
votes were counted. 1t vas found that
the Democratic wal governor had
%triumphed.
The day following the election
and here comes in the new news
Governor Parker. In his capacity az
lawyer. was obliged to appear before
the supreme court Of the state IL
Trenton. The first thing he did after
arriving in the capital city was Il
hunt up Il barber shop, in front o.
which. as the successful candidate
n being shaved, a large crowd .
the curious gathered.
In due course the governor, smooth
as Il chin, started to pay the barber
He felt In one pocket-no money. Ii
dismay he turned to the barber
when a friend rushed up and offere,
his purse, while the crowd outside
quick to grasp the little comedy
cheered fr~antically.
A moment later Governor Parke
had taken his stand upon the thresh
old of the shop.
Fellow citizens" he said, II begal
the campaign which ended yesterda,
with the understanding that l was t
spend no money to secure my election
and. that my party was to spend none
avaaYt for rrtptipU anH nthar ohcn1r,tx
ly necessary in~cidentals. When l be
gan my campaign l started out fror
} my home In Freehold with a ten-dolla
| bill in my pocket. l spoke in ever
county in the state and every day fo
| the past two weeks. When l arrive
at my home the night before electio
| found that ! had just two dollars lei
of that ten-doilar bill. Eight dollar
/, was all l had spent to make my can
, paign. AS counsel for the railroa
-, company, / am privileged to ride upo
. a pass, and in that way l travele
; from meeting place to meeting plac
= The hotel p%roprietors throughout til
1 state insisted upon receiving me as
guest without pay, and l have ais
a DSeu eHltiAdliSO az piifdtc uOuSS
t As for the two dollars l had left ovt
y when | got back home, I spent the
o for postage stamps in order to ser
a letters in reply to those which BIZ
9 accumulated during my absence.
l. $50, you see. my friends. we ha'
d shown that It IS possible for q CUBE
u material candidate to be victorious
New Jersey without the use Of none
still, because of this fact, | have ju
had an embarrassing moment. | ga
q little thought to money during t
campaign that II apparently has
one a habit. for when | left hor
IL 10 come tn Trenton | didn't think
supply my2elf with money. and y
C have Just cen that I was actual
rbliged to ask the barber to hang
he shave"
II was a little confession that II,
led the crowd immensely, and as
10 famous Democratic val govern
went on his way to the court house
10 gfcnt tfrong followed him, cheeri
y sim to the echo when he entered I