The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-08
JEROME GoTHAM,s ARBITER.
NANT FACTOR IN THE ME-
TROPOLIS.

As He Has No Political Ambitions
He viii Conduct the District At
tOrney's ONCE without Fear or
FavOr-He Fayors a More Liberal
Excise Law, and as for Gambling,
81 Dc Not Consider 1t a Paramount
Crime" He Says-As a Judge He
Has shown Himself "A Man OF
Broad Sympathies, Striving to Get
Case, Rather Than the strict In
terprctntiOn of the Law-He Is
Determined, Courageous, OutspOk-
en- and Independent in All Mat
ters-Campaign Has Aged Him,
but He Has Plenty of NixOr Left
to Live a Lively Administration.
New York. Nov. 6--More than
any other one man William Travers
Jerome will determine what manner of
place the metropolis of the country
will be after the first of January. His
policy as District Attorney of the
County of New York will affect more
millions of persons both citizens of
New York and visitors to the city, than
could the policy of any other man in
this country except a few who hold
high places in the national government
1t is his to say whether the city is
to be wide OPEN or tight as drum"
1t is his part to check and control the
social evil--that vice which can never
ha nnIU ra0,,Iafod m
the district attorney-elect's plans de-
ponds, to a great extent, the license
to be permitted to saloons, poolrooms
and gambling houses. How great or
how little the amount of blackmail
levied by the dishonest police officials
is to be- his official activity will de-
eide. The amusements usually classed
as innocent" may be suppressed by
him if he concludes that they do not
merit that term. He may close a thea
ter or shut up a dance hall or put a
stop to the business of a restaurant.
1t is not likely that he will do all that
he might do IL is certain that he will
do much. Just what that much will
be is the most interesting question
of the day to many thousands of peo-
pie.
IT the district attOrneySh1p is so
potent an office, why have not former
incumbents cut a greater figure in
the public eye? The answer ~ not far
to seek. With the exception of the
present holder of the office, who only
fills another's term, every district at
torney for many years has been hamp-
cred by political ambitions. Judge
Jerome says he hasn't any political am
bitions-a common asseveration among
successful candidates-but he is unique
in this. that he acts as II he meants It,
Although a Democrat, he is an anti
Tammany man. Although elected on
a Republican Fusion ticket, he bitter
ly assailed the leader of the Republi-
cans. Senator Plat. a few days before
election. Now that he is elected, he
proposes to do what seems best to him
unhampered by political considerations.
Lnconsidcring OF punishment or re-
ward. That is why he is in public an
ticipation the most important figure
in the municipal life of the city of New
York.
Judge William Travers Jerome has
as many sides to him as most men. but
each side so to speak. Is always fac
ing YOU. Whether he likes YOU or not
whether he intends TO befriend or TO
annihilate you, the Judge looks you
stra light in the eve. / doubt II there is
another man In this great city to-day
who Is In greater personal peril than
the district attorney-elect, both be.
cause Of his intimate and detailed
knowledge Of the criminal conditions
in the city (much OF them unknown
30 ~~-uepected even by its lifelong
residents) and because the ONCE TO