Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-03-07
JEROME FROM THE START.
Early Days of the Fighting Politician
His Notwithstanding Country
Home,
tAinslee's Magazine1


tAnslee's Magazine.1
"By birth, environment and tradition.
William Travers Jerome should have been
an orchid in the hot-house of civic affairs
rather than-a -defying daisy in the
field of practical politics. He is the son
and nephew, respectively of two of New
York's most famous citizens. His father
was Lawrence w. Jerome. broker. bank
err, promoter, politician, patron of sports
after-dnner speaker, practical Joker, pa
iron of art and literature. millionaire and
prince of good fellows. His uncle, Leon
ard Jerome, was the first man to make a
great fortune by daring speculation in
Wall street He, too, was a patron of
the sports of gentlemen and built the IA
nous Jerome Park race track The
youngest daughter of Leonard Jerome
Jennie. a first cousin of the District At
torney-elect. became Lady Randolph
Churchill, of whom Gladstone once said
that she could WIN more votes than any
campaign orator in England.
Lawrence Jerome and William r. Tray
ers were boon companions, and 1t is re-
lated that they were eating supper to-
gether In Delmonico's one night AZ years
ago when n messenger came in and hand
ed a note to Jerome which announced
that another son had been born to him.
what's the buffers manner stammered
Travers, when he heard the news
William Travers Jeromer the happy
father answered, and that was the first
christening Of the boy who was destined
to shed new lustre on the family name.
In infancy and boyhood and youth VIII
liam Travers Jerome was physically del
icate.
lie could not stand the rough and tum-
BILE of schools. and was taught by a pri-
vate tutor until he entered Amherst col
lege There his health failed. and he was
compelled TO retire at the end OF three
years without taking n degree But the
jerome blood was in his veins. the Jerome
pluck In his heart. He spent much time
in the open air. took exercise and built
up his physical strength and development.
AS soon as he was strong enough he en-
tered the Columbia college law school and
graduated from there in 1884. After he had
been admitted to the bar he Travelled
abroad and continued his studies and
reading. because clients did not rush 10
his ONCE fast enough to employ all his
time. In 1883. four years after his ad-
mission to the bar. Mr.. Jerome was APP
pointed an assistant district attorney.
| That was his first public office. His as
slgnments, as a rule, were to unimportant
cases. but he studied them so thoroughly
and won so many OF them that he COM
manded attention. Two years later he
| took an active part in politics. support
| ing the ticket of the municipal league. an
| organization opposing Tammany. In
| that campaign he was on the losing side
| Tammanv won. and he lost his place In
| the district attorneys office
His next prominent appearance before
| the public was as counsel for Carlyle Har-
ris. In the famous murder trial in which
| the young medical student was charged
| with the murder OF his girl wife. In order
| to be able to try that case Jerome mas.
| tered the science of chemistry. and the
| knowledge Of poisons and their effect thai
| he displayed during that trial astoundet
| his friends in the legal profession. HI.
next prominent appearance was as as
| sistant counsel to the Lexow committee
| which was the first TO expose the close re
| lations existing between the New Yorl
| police and the agents of vice and crime
| The senior counsel to that committee
kept the centre of the stage so much tina
| the valuable work OF Jerome in siftini
the mass of volunteer witnesses was al
most completely unknown. While tina
| investigation was still pending the youni
| lawyer found time to take an active ant
most important part In the campaign
| against Tammany that was conducted b!
the Committee of Seventy. Knowledg
gained through his work for the invest
eating committee enabled him to direc
the batteries of the anti-Tammany force
where they would do the most good
Colonel w. l.. Strong. who was electe'
mayor as a result OF the campaign o
1894, had watched the work of Jerom
closely and became n great admirer of tn
energetic young lawyer.
| watch that young fellow. He's 80
the right stun I'm him. was tribute tina
Mayor strong repeated perhaps hun
drod times MS De talked 20 his friends O
| l.r.u. iIa appointed fGe young lowNe
| un rhe bench jerome was NOT LOSE a
/ ..rH o l..F .rrl