Evening journal., 1910-07-15
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Man Who Became Gov
ernOr on Eight Dollars
BY Holland"
BY Holland"

Joel Parker. who died in 1888, at the
age of 72. gained national distinction
at the time of the Civil War because
although elected governor of New Jer-
sey as a Democrat, he was neverthe-
less 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 nomi-
nation.
Five years before Governor Parker's
party became very much disturbed by
the understanding that the Republi-
cans were going to nominate for gov
ernOr very rich manufacturer-Cor-
nelius Walsh, by name-who, II was
understood, had expressed a willing
ness to contribute a very large sum
Of money I'm support of his candidacy.
in their perturbation the Democratic
leaders sought Governor Parker at
his home in Freehold.
Governor" they said to him. "the
Republicans are going to nominate
Cornelius Walsh for governor, and he
is going to spend lot Of money to be
elected. We believe that the only DEM
ocrat I'm the State who stands a rea-
sonable chance of beating Mr.. Walsh
and his money is yourself, and al
| though we know that you have retired
from politics, we have come to urge
you to accept the nomination by the
| Democracy"
WELL" replied the war governor.
! after few moments of thought, Il
/ 81. n..NI -
my law practice again, and for me to
drop It all would mean a consider
able monetary sacrifice. Still, If my
party makes a sincere call for me
! will listen to Il, upon this one condi-
ton. that ! shall not spend any money,
that my party shall not spend any
money, except for absolutely neces-
sary expenses, I'm the campaign, and
that you will make the campaign upon
this issue"
The condition was accept by the
Democratic leaders. Governor Parker
was duly nominated and in the excit-
ing campaign that followed there was
plenty of evidence that his opponent
was spending a large amount of mon
ey. Nevertheless. when the votes were
counted, IL was found that the Demo-
cratic war governor had triumphed.
The day following the election-and
here comes I'm the new news-Gover-
nor Parker, In his capacity as a law
yer was Obliged to appear before the
! Supreme Court of the State In Tren-
ton. The first thing he did after ar
riving in the capital city was to hunt
up a barber shop. in front of which,
as the successful candidate was being
shaved a large crowd of the curious
gathered.
In due course the Governor, smooth
as to chin, started to pay the barber
| He felt I'm one pocket-no money. In
dismay he turned to the barber when
a friend rushed up and offered his
purse. while the crowd outside. quick
to grasp the little comedy, cheered
frantically.
A moment later Governor Parker
had taken his stand upon the thres-
hold Of the shop.
"Fellow citizens" he said. Il began
the campaign which ended yesterday
with the understanding that / was tc
spend no money to secure my election
and that my party was TO spend none
except for printing and other abso-
lutely necessary incidentals. When
began my campaign l started out from
/
lar bill I'm my pocket. spoke in every
county In the State and every day
for the past two weeks. When l arriv-
ed at my home the night before cleo
ton | found that l had just two dol
lars left of that ten dollar bill. Eight
dollars was all / had spent to make
my campaign. As counsel for the rail
road company. am privileged TO rid'
upon a pass. and In that way / travel
ed from meeting place to meeting
place. The hotel proprietors through
out the State insisted upon receiving
me as a guest without pay. and hav
been entertained at private houses
AS for the two dollars l had left owe
when got back home, / spent then
for postage stamps in order 10 sem
letters in reply to those which had ac
cumulated during my absence.
$50, YOU see, my friends, we hav
shown that il Is possible for a guber
Material candidate to be victorious d
New Jersey without the use Of money
Still. because of this fact, | have jus
had an embarrassing moment. | CAV
so little thought to money during tn
campaign that II apparently has be
come a habit, for when left home {
come to Trenton | didn't think to sur
ply myself with money, and you hav
lust seen that was actually oblige
TO ask the barber to hang up tn
shavel"
1t was a little confession that ticl
led the crowd immensely, and as tn
famous Democratic war governf
went on his way to the court house
great throng followed him, cheerin
him to the echo when he entered Il
n building.
= Copyright. 1910, by +. j. Edward
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell
: "Tbe Story That Phil Armour Liz