New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-10
JEROME ON REFORM,
He Says Eminent Citizens" Are
Not Patriots.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rarsusn.J

Philadelphia, March 9.-"Three laws on the stat
ute books of every State in the Union do more TO
prevent the growth Of reform movements than all
other causes COMMUNICATIVE statutes relating TO
gambling, to the social evil and to drinking. True
reform in great cities is impossible until ra-
tional laws substituted for those now in force
and there is radical oveTtuTning OF the weakness
with which we approach those evils to-day de-
clared William TTavers Jerome before members
of the American Academy of Political and Social
Science. in Witherspoon Hall this evening The
Strength and Weakness of Independent Reform
Movements his topic. and large audience
gathered In part he said
Reform movements not the, result Of civic
public conscience a long time to awake, but wneh
ltical machines. are swept away evil is abolished
ahd-tnen what! Inc men VINO made TINS REFORM
them to do they will not accept public office at
the sacrifice Of private nterests they are unable 10
who are seeking a public career. The newspapers
public. missing the headlines that once aroused
them. believe the insinuatons that made in the
PF on Is ana 9y the public that the new
They fan see the great work that is being done
IN suppresSlng the very crimes which were the
basis OF the reform and the result is that one OF
the old political rings generally gets the plums at
the next election 1t is the old story of the anna
, An honest man, who knows men, and who can
Keep mem TBorkng honestly and in harmony is
Would better not be business man-that IS all
mat our eminent citizens are good for, and know
his hundred millions in Pennsylvania, and who Is
not a good citizen in the true sense. How much
better if he had given fortunes aiding the poor
and in upbuiding civic reforms, instead of spend
Ing them on libraries! You educated people don't
know your civic dutes-at least you fail in per-
in tenement districts who are better citizens
the average eminent citizen, whether he be banker
or scientist
It is the that is needed to make reform pos
slb!e, not statutes. We have too many foolish and
vicious laws now. But your rePorTner his city
S6 IN H., ir on some moral ieproSy ana ne mes
lated out of existence. The law goes into pigeon
mole ana is forgotten. while the reformer knocks
on work and goes fishing and allows his COM
munlty to drift back into former conditions.
The present Mayor of New-York entered political
life at the behest OF the organization. His career
was not made by himself, but by the organization.
There was time in the last campaign when did
that man great wrong and have only waited the
time when could make apology as complete as the
public one, and the apology must be the same. Yet
/ think am justified in using him for purposes of
illustration l am ready to admit that he has tried
to do what is right But he is not potent force in
the organization He lent himself to il. and he was
made part of the great machine, and every adj
in his political he has received almost
as a gratuity at its hands. In a measure he has
done exceptionally well in the direction of indie
pendenCe When you consider the class OF men ap-
you will find that they far beyond the average
of the who usually to be found in political
office.
Mr. Jerome declared that he believes New
York is to-day the cleanest and most uprightly
ruled of any of the great cities of the country be-
cause a group of in control whose hearts
have been awakened to the highest patriotism.
who, while sometimes lacking in Judgment and
sometimes making mistakes. still endeavoring
to give the people an honest administration to the
exclusion of grating and Haunted crime