The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-02
OFFER THEIR AID TO JEROME.
,rrTrRs AND CALLS FROM MEN
wuO,LL SIGN HIS PETITION.

III
IN. D,strict Attorney Talks Some Nor
Ahout Freedom From Machine Domi
cation and His Own Appointment
SAYS Morris Tried 10 Dictate Them
district Attorney Jerome received q
run,ber OF letters from voters yesterday
saving that they would gladly sign petition
10 nominate him for reelection a. District
Attorney Others called on him pledgine
their support. Mr.. jerome was pleased
Nth the expressions Of good will with which
h,a announcement as an independent can
didate was taken.
In the course Of the day he added to his
formal declaration Of Monday that 1t wa
AGAINST his principles to accept . nomina-
ton from q political machine to which
he would be subservient In the I'd .lnis-
tration Of bis Office or tho dictates u any
POLITICAL leader. Mr.. Jerome took another
whack at bosses and political machines
On this point he said:
Il myself am very small factor In the
situation compared to the principal Issue
involved. Tho big thing is to break down
the evil solidarity Of the political machines
and to 60 over the heads OF tho groups OF
mon who control these machines, or tho
bosses, directly to the people
.To my mind this Is the appropriate
time to make the test. In advocating
this principle hope to create discussion
all over the country, especially OF local
political affairs. What want to bring
out is whether the people are politically
FREQ or subservient to the one man power.
But whether I am successful or not, 1t viii
not shake my faith In tho principle. How
ever. think this is the opportune time, as
there is q feeling Of unrest throughout the
country.
Can you call 1t political freedom whom
the people have the choice between two
men, either Of whom they would not choose
Voluntarily Little or no responsibility 10
felt by the man who Is elected by the votes
Of his party. As soon as he gets into Office
he begins scheming to hold 1t or to seek
promotion to higher offioe. And to whom
does he 60 for promohon7 To the men
who control the political machines-the
bosses. And every man who docs this
believes that his subservience to the political
machine Is necessary to hold his political
office.
Mr.. Jerome was asked II his action
wouldn't bring forth fine crop Of candi-
dates who thought they could be nominated
bv % tition. Il don't think so.' he said.
Il am not fearing composition on that line.
I believe that q man ought to know some
thing about the oface he socks. It would
be absurd for me to como out for Supreme
Court Justice or Mayor on q petition, but
oonsid er I know something about tho
Office now hold
Then Mr.. Jerome referred to tho ap-
pointments he made whom he was elected.
.Ireceived visit from Robert W. Morris,
then chairman of the Republican county
committee. He came to me with Q List
Of men whom he thought 1t would be ad-
visable. for me to appoint as assistants
over the list. told MI. Morris that L
the men on It came up TO tho standard I
had In mind would gladly accept the list,
and not only give al the appointments
to the Republican organization but would
consider that the Republican county COM
mittee had conferred great favor on me:
the Citizens Union, but he only stayed .
year, and don't consider that Of any con-
sequence 30 far a. politics 10 concerned.
Shortly after tho appointments Of Assistants
Caravan and O'COun0r learned that they
were Tammany Hall men, but that made
no difference.
.When came into ONCE found william
]. McKenna as chief clerk. learned that
be was there through his connection with
Tammany Hall. / knew nothing against
him personally, nor did know any Of his
virtues. 20 decided &c put 6 c.aH II h!s
Office with whom was acquainted and In
whom could have tho trust the ofdoe de-
noandod p,,t 7 0,uo MnKanno
to find employment, but at the end
Of that time he came TO mo and asked to be
appointed to an inferior position. I did,
and his work has been efficiently and hon
estly performed.
Then there are John Redmond and Pat
rick j. Whalen, who Is chief clerk Of my
records. didn't know their politics when
I appointed them. In fact, l didn't know
Whelan's politics until he came to mo and
asked my, sdvics as to whether he should
nun for the Assembly from his district.
Whelan's work has been eminently salts
factory and ! am glad that ! kept him.
do not think know the politics Of any
make no difference"
Soon after this talk Mr.. Jerome walked
INTO Judge Fosters court In General Ses-
,tons, where q lawyer was attacking q
policeman witness. Tho lawyer caught
sight OF Mr.. Jerome.
why, even mr.. jerome mas said that No
WOULD not believe a policeman under oath,
Iatd tho lawyer.
Il never made that statement inter
'upted Mr.. Jerome.
4 read 1t In the Newspaper said tho
aw.yer.
no In the newspapers would be In lmatic
lsylum, said Mr.. Jerome.
CUTTING WANTS JEROME FOR MAYOR.
r. Fulton Cutting made the following
'tatement last evening:
Mr.. Jerome's statement Is character
site OF him. Back to the people, always
strikes sympathetic chord. Certainly In
he memory Of the oldest inhabitant no Dis
;rict Attorney Of the county Of New York
las 90 we'll earned the right TO ask for 70
domination. The feature Of his Official life |
be way In which he has fulflled bis duty
q entire indifference to political or social |
nnuenoe; have known him for Q long |