Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-12-16
Man VINO Became Governor on
Eight Dollars
That Was Al Joel Parker Spent In
tiis Successful Campaign to Do
chiss Executive o. New
jersey.
ss {. !. EpWARps.


! Joel Parker, who died In 1883. a,
the age OF seventy-two, gained ma
tionai distinction at the time OF The
Civil war because. although elected
governor OF New Jersey as Demo
crat, he was nevertheless one Of the
most eficient and jealous of ali 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 1896 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
for governor very rich manufactur-
r--CornelIus Walsh, by name--who,
II was understood. had expressed a
willingness to contribute very large
sna 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 q
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 10
urge you to accept the nomination by
the Democracy"
Well" replied the war governor.
after few moments OF thought, II
have just got Into the full swing Of
my law practise again, and for me TO
drop 1t all would mean a considerable
monetary sacrifice. Still, IL my party
makes a sincere call for me will
listen to 1t. upon this one condition,
that 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
was duly nominated and in the ex-
citing campaign that followed there
was plenty Of evidence that his cp.
ponent was spending large ameunt
of money. Nevertheless, when the
votes were counted, II was found that
the Democratic war governor had
triumphed- ei
Tho day following the election
and here comes In the new news
Governor Parker, In his capacity M
lawyer. was obliged to appear before
the supreme court Of the state ia
Trenton. The first thing he. did after
arriving Ia the capital city was to
hunt up barber shop, In front of
which, as the successful candidate
was being shaved, 9 large crowd OF
the curious gathered.
ia due course the governor. smooth
as to chin, started to pay the barber.
he ieit IN one pocket-no money. In
olsniay ne turned 70 the barber,
wheh . irleha rushed up anu onered
his purse. while the crowd outside,
quick to grasp the little comedy,
cheered fruntfcally.
A moment later Governor Parker
had taken his stand upon the thresh-
OLD or the shop.
Fellow oiuEens," he said, II began
the campaign which ended yesterday
with the understanding that ] was TO
spend no Nancy to securerpay election
and that my party WAS tosspend mono.
except Tor printing ana other absolute
ly necessary incidentais. When be-
gan my campaign I;sstarted out from (.
my home In Freehold with q ten-dollar
bill In my pocket. l spoke In every \
county In the state and every day for
the past two weeks. When I.arrived
ut my home the night before election
| found that had Just two dollars left
Of that ten-dollar bill Eight dollars
was all had spent to make my cam
paign. AS counsel for the railroad
company, | am privileged to ride upon
q pass, and In that way / travelled
from meeting place to meeting place.
The hotel proprietors' throughout the
state insisted upon receiving me a. a
guest without pay. and have also
been entertained at private houses.
As for the two dollars l had left over |
wbau oot hack home snent .ha,,,
III - - ~ -'t>-sN 7eAA~.AA