New-York tribune., 1901-11-06
uP .JEROHE'S TRIUMPH.

Not less essential to good government than
tho election of Mr. Low and his associates on
the fusion city ticket is the placing OF lear
less opponent of the powers that prey IN the
District Attorneys office for the next four years
In some aspects Of the case the victory OF Mt.
Jerome is even more encouraging thah ule
triumph of Mr.. Low. He was hght1Dg against
far greater odds. His constituency was the
stronghold of the criminals associated IN lam
many. He had aroused their bitterest hatreo
and acutest fears and above all things IheF
wished TO defeat him. Much as they deslreu
patronage and power. still more did they desire
freedom: and n tool like Cnger IN control Oh
criminal prosecutions was of Importance 10
them ar all times. and never so much so as III
the bour Of political overthrow, when an honest
independent and vigorous District Attorney
would have the loyal support of the police ana
other CITY authorities which Mr.. Philbn has
nor had There was an excellent prospect for
Mr. Lows election even IL he did not carry
New-York County. but Mr. Jerome had no
Rrool,iyn helm 10 look for He must WIN Wnere
il was extremely doubtful if the head Of his
-iclzer facing much less bitter antagonlsm,
could secure a plurality. and he has done So
AR Jerome runs considerably ahead of Mr..
low end thn other candidates in the county. and
-bere can he no doubt that their success is due in
M small measure 10 his exertfons. BY his out
snoken campaign he perhaps alienated from him.
self some voters in general sympathy WIN the
fusion ticket and he certainly concentrated upon
himself the fire of Tammany: but at the same
time he aroused the enthusiasm and touched
the conscience of the people not only or MaH-
hs+-e, and Tho Bronx but of the whole city,
as they had been aroused and touched bF no
one else. and won for the cause he advocated
,rl+ advantage
nor measured by the extent Of his personal
r,luralitv. That plurality. as well as the plu-
raIities of his associates in Manhattan, Is
largely the fruit OF his brave and energetic
invasion of the districts generally conceded 10
Tammanr and his appeal 10 the manhood or
the voters who most suffered. hEt generally
suffered withou. resistance, frcn2 Tammany
oppression. Who say how manF men IN
Rrooklyn Queens and Richmond, who could
no+ vote for him, were also fired by him with
the purpose 10 put down criminals and protect
vrtucus homes:
Mr. Low stood before the people as the chem
MON Of honest administration in genera. ana
the reform of the Police Department in particH-
lar. Mr. Jeromes campaign was dehnite
fight 10 make possible the execution Of the
criminal law against the scoundrels who have
defraudcd this city and polluted its life. The
fact that he could be elected in the least prom
is.nr section OF the city for the success or
reform efforts is a yindication Of New-1 oTE
citizenship and OF the democratic principle IN
municipal government. 1t shows that when
even the most partisan community once has
moral issue squarey before it, with nothing TO
divert attention from the main point, 1t will
vote for the right. The issue was decency,
honesty and protection of the innocent and
large share of the credit for making this issue
so unmistakafie to all classes Of the people
that they voted for righteousness is due to Mr..
Jerome.
In the hour OF his defeat 1t must be some
consolation TO Mr. Shepard to know that he
did not succeed had seemed possible, by
lending his good name TO Tammany In giving
the criminal classes the control OF New-York
County. To have given his strength to win
votes for Tammany On the promise TO reform
II. only TO have placed in office Unger, Fromme
and Van Wyck. would have been an achieve
mont which even his most forbearing friends
could hardly have forgiven. The voters have
been kinder to him than he was to himself.
They have aved him from himself. They have
left him. II is true, the bitterness Of dsappoint-
ment. But they have seen to 1t that he has
done no harm.