The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-06
"HAS-BEENS" CAN OFTEN MAKE GOOD Some Defeated Aspirants
 for Presidency SMILED UNDER FIRE And Snatched Victory From Defeat, Making Names for Themselves
 in the Country's
 History
From the St. Globe-Democrat.

Alton B. Parker while he was in Wash fngton tfrat they would not be surprised to see his name head the presidential ticket of their party in 1912" So the tel egraph informs us The country would be decidedly surprised at this outcome, how ever. It was noticed that the former presidential candidate was not taking an exuberant view of the situation While he declared that the outlook seemed to be favorable for his party, he added that he had made so many mistakes in the past in his forecasts that he would re- 1rain from making any predictions now. This was a wise precaution. He was far astray in his prophecies in 1904, but no farther than many other men were 1, that and previous canvanses. This is true of republicans as well as demo- crats, and of men who had not Parker's excuse of direct personal interest, as he lad in his forecast of seven years ago. George predicted that Bryan would carry all the states. except four or five. He would have as complete victory as Pierce won in 1852. and George was man who was not easily stampeded by surface indications.
 Measured by the plurality against him fin the popular vote. Parker was one of rhe worst beaten presidential candidates whom the country has seen Colonel Rcosevelt's margin in the vote of the peo- ple in that election was over 2,50O,OOO. or three times as broad as that of any pre- 'vious candidate and more than twice as broad that of the candidate of 1908. Parker was the victim of circumstances. He, one of the least popular men who vas mentioned in connection with the democratic nomination, was put up against the most popular man with the masses whom the United States has seen. -rhe result was inevitable. Even the di- nensions of the result need cause no sur prise. While the party technically was urted, yet hundreds of thousands of men who supported Bryan in 1896 must have vcted for Roosevelt in 1904. This seems to be shown by the long lead which Roosevelt had in many of the western states.
 Yet the defeat seems not to have in- 5lYed Parkers prestige materially. He ha1 something of reputation as a law Ser before his nomination for the presi- 6oncy. Governor Hill had placed him up- on the bench of the state of New York and he was prominet in the councils of his party locally. After his defeat in 1904 he was taken into partnership by William F. Sheehan and retainers were given to him which probably enabled Ilm to get as large income as service in the White House would have afforded him, and he had none of the lahors and responsibilities which his great antagonist Bhouldered. His worldly fortune in- creased It Is safe to say that his bank account is many times as large in 1911 as 1t was in 1904, and all of 1t has been
  Fault with the fate which thrust him upon the democratic convention In St Louis seven years ago. The man who had the largest share in the work of placing Parker al the head of the presidential ticket was David B. Hill, and Parker was under a deep debt of gratitude to him. for Hill was the architect of Farkers fortune through the appointment 10 the bench a few years earlier which lifted Parker from the level of a. small local parsonage and made him a state figure. Moreover, something may take place between now and the beginning of next June to make Parker the logical candidate for 1912. although, as the sit nation reveals itself now, this is un- likely.
 Victory After Defeat
 It must be remembered that fortune rame to many American public men after defeat in their ambition had beset them Jefferson was an active aspirant for the presidency in 1796, but he was defeated in 17S9 and 1792 the electors concentrated pn Washington and gave him a unani- nlcus vote. Thus 17e6 was the first presi- 6ential campaign in which there was rontest. Jefferson had a right to aspire tO the succession Of Washington He was B member of the Congress which drew up the Declaration of Independence, and he had a large part in framing that ra,on state department In the early part of 'Washington's administration. although the department was not popularly known hy that name then As secretary of state he had an important part to play In she stirring events of the regime of the father of his country. and. on the whole 6e acquitted himself well. But In the election of 1796 the presidency was won by John Adams. The choice, moreover. was wise. As vice president during Washingtons eight years in the higher office Adams was a decidedly important member of the government and his pro- motion was deserved.
 In the following election, however, that pf 1900, Jefferson won. Under the law as it existed at that time Jefferson as the second man in the voting in 1798. obtained the second office. He became Sice president Although there was not much political accord between Adams and
 
 formed the duties of the vice presidency s tisfactorily. During his service in that station he carried a campaign for the presidency, and he did this with rare tact. Through the medium of letters to leading men of all parties throughout the country he kept up his acquaintances with the entire people. and in the can vas of 1900, which may be said to have begun in the spring with the voting in New York. he obtained a good start early He was ably assisted by the other man on his ticket. Aaron Burr While the democratic party intended Jefferson for president and Burr for vice president, the absence of a requirement. that the electors designate which candidate they wanted for the higher office and which for the lower, caused trouble in the tie vote which was obtained for these two, which was also the majority of the elec- toral college Adams was left behind, nn6 the Federal House of Representatives was compelled to make the choice between two democrats for the presidency which it did. after an exciting contest, by giv- ing the higher post to Jefferson thus dropping Burr into the other office.
 Triumphs of Jefferson
 But Jefferson's bigger triumphs came later As president of the United States at the time that Bona parte found it ad- Visable to hand over the province of Louisiana to the United States Jefferson connected his name with that transaction, vtich doubled the area of the country When 1894 came around nobody else on lis side was thought of in connection with the presidency, and he obtained a large majority over the Federalist can