New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-17
THE CASE or MR. JEROME.

Mr. Jerome as an independent candidate for
District Attorney refusing to make common
cause with anybody is respectable and to
some persons heroic figure. But it i'll becomes
him or his friends while glorying in that pose,
to complain because tie Republican organiza-
ton did not nominate him in spite of himself.
II does not lie in their mouths 10 whine that the
Republicans made a deal with Tammany to
turn him down, when both before and after the
Tammany nomination the Republicans sought
sincerely TO cooperate with him and asked only
that he would do his part IN helping them TO
elect an anti-Tammang Mayor while they were
helping to elect him District Attorney. This he
would not do. Instead of being a victim OF a
combination, or Of Republican desire to drive
him from the District Attorneys office, he him
self did all he possibly could to force the Re
publican party to leave him II it was not ready
to concede that he was the sole issue Of the
campaign and that the election Of an anti-Tam-
many Mayor was of 20 consequence. Whether
that attitude was one Of austere principle or
colossal egodsm does Tot alter the fact that Mr..
Jerome'S present surroundings are of his own
making.
The Republicans would have been glad to
nominate Mr.. Jerome on fusion ticket with
Justice Gaynor, and Justice GaynOr probably
would have run if Mr.. Jerome had been willing
to join with him in anti-Tammany fight and
be true to the principles through the advocacy
of which he had been elected District Attorney
Mr. Jerome took the position that he was a
piece Of baggage to be transported, with no ex-
ertion Of his own, on the account Of the paying
passengers. He was so well satisfied Of his in
dispense bility as an article du voyage that he
expected the whole company to paste labels
upon him and vie for the honor Of showing their
tickets for his passage. His purely personal at
titude led Justice Gaynor TO decline and left
the Republicans feeling, not without reason,
that he had been obstacle to their labors for
good government In spite Of this, many Re-
publicans wished for his nomination. After
Tammany had nominated Mr. Osborne Mr. Je-
rome had another chance. He was asked to do
nothing but give TO Mr.. WINS the same support
that Mr.. WINS would give to him. But he would
do no team work. He was bound to 20 it alone
and reserve TO himself the privilege of striking
at Mr. WINS and jeoparding the city ticket 4
il should happen to come into his head TO do So
Under such circumstances Mr.. WINS could not
insist on the nomination Of a man who would
not cooperate with him for q noble purpose
The Tribune advocated the nomination Of Mr.
Jerome by the Republicans and up TO the last
available minute endeavored to induce the Or
ganization to put him on the ticket. We felt
that such course was good public policy and
good political tactics, although we fully recog-
niZed the obstacles which MI. Jerome had Inter
posed to such a proceeding. We thought the
party could afford to support him, and would
gain by so doing. even though he did run wild
cat" and from time to time give the opponents
Of Mr.. WINS some aid and comfort: but 1t is not
surprising that the party workers reasoned
otherwise, and we cannot blame them for think
ing that he who was not with Mr. Wins in this
fight was against him. Since we hoped that his
name might be put on the Republican ticket, we
shall be asked why we do not support him as an
independent Are we in bondage TO party
caucusF Not in the least. We have often sup
ported independent candidates. Our course is
governed by the belief that the paramount duty
4 OF The hour Is 10 save this city from Tammany
/ domination We prefer the essential to the in
! cldental All good citizens ought TO stand to-
/ gether 10 prevent the carnival of franchise grab
ping and contract grating which Murphy and
MeCarren are planning for the next four years
and which Mr.. Mcclellan could nor eton esne
! caly if he surrendered his power 70 MCGOWAN
That object can best be achieved bv united sup
port OF the whole ant!-Tammany tickat and Mr.