Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1904 — NOTABLE CONVERTS [ARTICLE]

NOTABLE CONVERTS

Many Heretofore Prominent Indepen* dents Declare For Parker % and Davis. Theodor® Cox, president of the New York State League of Republican Clubs In 1900 and 1902, the Republican candidate for congress in the Ninth district In 1900, a delegate to the Republican state conventions in 1898 and 1900 and president of the Republican College League in 1894-6, has come out In an open letter in support of Judge Parker for the presidency. He says that Parker's career shows that he is not a “poeer" like Roosevelt, and that his speech In response to the notification committee reveals a safe man, who. If elected, will give the country an administration whose purpose will be a continuance of the steady growth that has gradually and surely, and not by any fire-cracker war in Cuba, brought this country to its present position, and not simply tease the great colossus into roaring so that the wondering world may hear a "Roosevelt” or a "Parker" In the rumbles. William G. Choate, lifelong Republican, brother of Joseph H. Choate, ambassador to Great Britain, head of the noted law firm of which the ambassador is a member, and a former president of the New York Bar Association, has made known to his friends that he cannot support President Roosevelt for election. For reasons of delicacy growing out of his brother's official position under a Republican administration Mr. Choate will not make any formal announcement of his position, or take any prominent part fn the campaign. He has, however, lnidcated to his personal friends privately that he has the strongest of convictions on the subject of what he regards as the disregard of the constitution by President Roosevelt, and believes that all upholders of the constitution should support Judge Parker. Denouncing the imperialistic policy of the president, William Morton Grinnell, a prominent Republican and a nephew of Levi P. Morton, declared that he would vote for Parker. "My decision,” said Mr. Grlnnell, "has been reached after much thought on the subject. The president may be all very well in his place, but I think that he would do better as a Viking In the Ninth century than as the ruler of this country. PJis acts have gone beyond the bounds of law, and in many cases he has fomented class and race hatred by his policies.” General E. A. McAlpln, former treasurer of the Republican State Central Committee of New York, president of the Republican National League and a member of the Republican and Union League clubs, has made known his determination not to support President Roosevelt. He believes that the tendencies of the president’s administration are all radical and therefore dangerous, and he cannot conscientiously support such an administration. His announcement is another sign of the drift of Republican thought toward constitutionalism as opposed to imperialism. He taxes his place with such men as William G. Choate, a brother of the present ambassador to the Court of St. James; Albert B. Boardman and others who had for years followed the standards of the Republican party. George G. Boutwell of Groton, Mass., one of the founders of the Republican party, secretary of the treasury under President Grant; governor, United States senator and representative in congress from his state, is for Judge Parker for president. He gives these reasons for his preference: “I am with the Democratic party because I have made a distinct decision in regard to the Philippine policy, and whatever may happen in regard to domestic affairs, nothing can be so unfortunate as this transformation from a republic to an empire. Therefore I do not concern myself about what the Democratic party may do. but I am satisfied that they will not sacrifice the honor of the nation by leaving a great opportunity.” Joseph Pulitzer, editor of the New York World, has addressed an open letter to President Roosevelt in which he reviews the record made by the president since McKinley’s death. He points out that Roosevelt has abandoned the policies of the founders of the government, and concludes as follows: ' “What that record is has been partially set forth in this entirely inadequate and hasty outline, limited exclusively to your foreign policy—foreign indeed to all the inspiring traditions of true Americanism. Foreign indeed to all the noble lessons taught in American history. Foreign indeed to the highest aspirations and teachings of all American presidents from Washington to Lincoln. I fear, I feel, my failure to convince your military mind by any reasoning I may have presented but I have at least submitted to your consideration—for your reconsideration—some thirty examples of your own extraordinary language in the highest offices of the republic—language, if you please, not only representing and committing the republic, but teaching to the nation your standards of physical against moral courage—standards of public morality and national aspiration. ” *Vas there ever language so intemperate, so extravagant, so unprecedented, so undignified, so inflammatory, so warlike and so dangerous to the people and to their peace delivered by any president or chief magistrate of the United States or any clrilized country tn the world before?"