New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-21
Mr.. JEROME.
II Book About His Cam paigR for
His Present Office.

A FIGHT FOR THE CITY BY Alfred Holder.
sro. PIP. s4s The Macmillan Company
Among the purposes to be served by the book
are the preservation of the most striking utter
ances OF William Travers Jerome in his sue
oessful campaign for the Office of District Al
torney Of New-York County. and complete
presentation TO the public OF the reforms which
Mr. Jerome has sought and is seeking TO accom-
piish. Mr. Holder is the District Attorney
Official secretary, and measure of his Loyalty
may be found in the fidelity with which he por-
trays his chiefs methods. and ambitions.
The hunting Of John Doe that mysterious
person who was supposed to control police pro-
lection for gambling houses. poolrooms and dens
Of vice in the Tammany administration. is de-
scribed in the opening OF the book as the cause
OF bringing Mr.. Jerome before the public as
natural and logical candidate for the office he
holds The raids led by Judge Jerome are de-
scriI I'd and the recital is enlivened by anec-
dotes some OF which escaped the newspaper
scribes There are recalled the fears of some
Republican leaders that Mr.. Jerome would be
q drag on the fusion ticket and the dread that
he might DESTROY all chance of success by i'm
prudent speech a candidate. His immense
popularity a speaker in the campaign is
sscribed in this book TO his sincerity and per-
sistency in telling the truth about the causes of
police blsckmail and TO his plans to work re-
fOrTnS- MI JerorneS efforts. two winters IN
succession. 20 induce the legislature to pass law
autF prizing the opening Of the saloons Sun
day afternoons has been in keeping with his
promises in the campaign. "New-York Coun-
Ky" he said. contains about two-thirds of the
population Of the city. II I am elected I shall
represent al least this last vast number Of citi-
Eens. With them behind me. go to AL
bsuy and demand an alteration in the laws"
The book says Of his presentation Of the sub
5ect in his speeches:
At meeting after meeting, Mr. Jerome said
these things. adding, in particular. when Mr..
Low and other candidates on the Fusion ticket
we're present. Il lay claim TO authority or
right TO speak for any one but myself, but
these statements are such as must appeal to all
fair minded and honest men, and turning and
facing his associates) I believe the gentlemen on
the ticket TO be fair minded and honest" The
move was an audacious one; he forcing an
issue on them If they sat silent, they tacitly
gave consent, and took advantage of whatever
votes his advocacy Of open Sunday might
win II he was misrepresenting them it
morally incumbent upon them rise and make
q public disclaimer. Often as he repeated this
statement they made no disclaimer: they sat
silent They Joined in the applause; they &C
cepted the applause. the enthusiasm. the votes.
It was not till the Mayor was installed in
Office that he was understood not to agree with
hr Jerome. and 10 desire not repeal but a
liberal enforcement of the existing Sunday law
There has been great deal of half-sarcastic
speculation in the daily prints In regard 10 what
&c liberal enforcement Of law means, but the
There laws passed which are meant to be
enforced TO the letter: such are the laws against
murder, theft and fraud There are laws passed
which are meant TO cover the bad cases only:
such are the laws against profanity. against
creating disturbance, against throwing paper
Into the public streets. Liberal enforcement
means enforcement in the bad cases only: and
bad cases relatively few. Mr.. Low
perfectly in line with the tradition Of Anglo
Saxon practice when he regarded the law for
the closing OF the saloons on Sunday, the laws
against gambling, against prostitution, as laws
a. -n1 Tz-@ heir ar-avu he
enforced in the bad only, at least in
eases relatively few. But bad cases OF the viola
tion Of these laws perfectly susceptible Of
definition: and unless these defined by law.
the penalty is melted not in bad cases. but
in few cases simply: backman is paid precisely
that the payers case may not be among those
few.
Mr. Jeromes outspoizen views regarding the
enforcement of laws for the suppression Of the
social evil are declared TO have been made at
speeches in the presence of many women Of the
residential portions Of the city. OF certain
houses ne said: Govern them henceforth only
by the law OF nuisances; rescind the other law
If there is g house that by sight sound gives
token that such traffic is carried within.
make the proprietor amenabie to the law Of
ruisances. If such traffic is practised in tene-
xnent house. make those who practise 1t amen
able to the law Of nuisances. Let there be no
Interference by the criminal law; let there be
not much public recognition Protest
against the alliance between Tammany poll
sicians and the police TO blackmail violaters of
The law and extort blood money from the poor
and ignorant was the keynote of many Of Mr..
9ercune's speeches. One extract from the book
viii serve example:
II ever fight fought for the plain people
Of this land" Mr.. jerome said before another
audience. this is the peoples fight. II is
fight TO give the poor man the same chance
before the law the rich man has; il is fight TO
free the poor man from daily grinding tyranny
such cannot rest upon the rich. 1t is fight
70 enable the poor man to bring his children up
out OF sight and hearing Of the broIhel. if he
. will: enable the poor TO give his children
Night and air space, if ne will: to find place in
our great public schools for his children. if he
will spend his Sundays the rich man
spends them. in such orderly and decent and
restful fashion he Will; to work such hours
only as the law allows, in such workroons only
as the law allows: to cast the vote the law al
COWS and 20 find ii counterbalanced by no
bought vote the other side
The information IS given that the expense OF
Mr. Jerome's campaign 1el a little short Of $50
goo and was betrayed by voluntary contribu-
rions the larger part OF which came into the
Sreasurer's hands in sums Of less than $40 each
THAT Mr.. Jeromes campaign for reform did not
end with his election is declared in the final
paragraph OF the book:
There are signs already that the alternatives