New-York tribune., 1905-08-02
JEROME TO GO 1T ALONE.
AIMS TO HIT MACHINES.
District attorneys Reasons for Inde-
pendent .4ctiOn.

S1fict attorney jerome talked yesterday az
'efhoon about his announcement. printed in the
morning papers. that he desires to be reelected
TINS fall on an independent ticket MY views
ana feelings in this matter do not amount to so
very much" said he. but the principle involved
'ne important thing. to break down the evil
1o44oallty or the political machines. and to 60
'e4 the heads Of these groups of men control
added: ~
=, ntS Is very appropriate time In my opinion.
,o ~ iahe ne TINS test Throughout the country just
~ SleIe Is a strong feeling OF unrest The
Ne"-fo ork newspapers or extracts from them.
1Ie very generally read, and affairs in New
t9th Clty receive great attention by people out
eIue II Inc peculiar circumstances surrounding
my coming into Office and the peculiar conditions
whlcn have prevailed during my term of service
nave caused public attention to be focused on
the District Attorneys office in New-York City
70 degree which has not been true of greater
oInces throughout the country. 1t Is not usual
.OF District Attorney and there are several
hundred of them in the country. to attract IN
olVloual attention. Therefore, in advocating this
principle ] hope IL will be seen by the public at
IA. tarse In the same light as see it. Whether I
am successful or not in this effort will not In
the least shake my faith in IT.
nave subjected myself to Criticism that has
peen extremely hostile What l hope in this
matter is that my effort. whether IT be success
whether the people of this county are politically
free or not That political conditions now give
two men, neither of whom they would have
chosen individually. had they the chance must
De apparent to any one who will examine the
conditions.
Little or no responsibility is felt by the aver
age public officer elected by the votes of party
as soon as he gets into Office. he begins schem
tHs 70 hoId II or 10 look around for promotion
to higher office. And every man who does this
believes that his subservience to the machine
Is necessary TO hold his position In politics.
A man who without playing politics can make
an appeal TO the voters directly does. in my
opinion a public service. 1t is of far greater
Importance 70 the community than any indi-
Yidual benefit that he could render in the simple
discharge of his duty.
When took Office. Robert c. Morris. then
chairman of the Republican County Committee,
showed me 2 list of names of Republicans in
various districts who had worked faithfully for
the party and who, he considered. were en-
titled to reward by appointments on my staff.
l told him that 1 unwilling to appoint any
man just because he represented certain dis
trlct and had worked hard for his party there,
but that II he could bring to me the names OF
men who were equal in ability to some Of those
I had then in mind for appointment, 7 would
gladly appoint them and would be grateful to
him for putting them in my way, whether they
had done political service not. I named one
post Of Assistant District Attorney, whose
father is chief justice Of the Court OF Claims
in Washington, and whose grandfathers were
president of Williams College and president
Of Union College. 1 told him that II he could
bring the names Of any more men like Mr..
Mott 1 would thank him for suggesting them
was indorsed by any political organization Not
that I would not appoint a man because he was
thus indorsed. but it just happens TO be that
way.
One OF my former assistants Willis Munro,
was indorsed by the Citizens Union, but he left
me after year. With that exception. no one
on my staff has been in politics. did not know
the politics of Mr.. Mott when appointed him,
Of Mr.. Garvan or Mr.. O'Connor. though I
found later that they We're Tammany Hall
Democrats.
-.
moval of William ]. McKenna from the post OF
chief clerk in his Office. Mr.. McKenna is now.
bond clerk in the Office with a salary of $4,000.
He formerly got 5000 as chief clerk Mr..
Jerome said:
The position Of chief clerk is one of the most
important in my office. as important as that of
Assistant District Attorney. for in 1t IL is easier,
II is inclined, to do dishonest work II
is essential to a District Attorney that he should
have a for the post whose integrity he
knows personally. knew nothing OF Mr.. Nc
Kenna when / took Office, though have since
learned him to be an estimable man. There
reflection upon his politics in disrnissing
him, and later appointed him bond clerk and
have had no reason to regret It That he was
not forced out Of the office altogether, under the
circumstances. should be proof that there was
no politics in the matter
Mr. Jerome referred to John Redmond. chief
messenger, and P. J. Whalen. chief record clerk.
both Democrats. whom he retained when he
took the Office because they had given faithful
service. Another enploye he named Ben
jaInin Spier. whom he dismissed upon taking
Office. but reinstated when opportunity
later. at the recommendation Of Justice New
burger. Spier is a Democrat.
With these few exceptions" said the District
Attorney. Il do not know the politics OF any
man in my Office"
It suggested to Mr.. Jerome that If he Sc
cured his denomination by petitions. others may
do the same thing. He said
Well, Of course there would be little use for
q man who unknown, or OF little ability. 10
seek nomination by petition for any office. 1t
would be absurd for 10 seek the nomination
for Justice Of the Supreme Court, or even Mayor
of New-York City, because do not know any
thing about those Positions; but consider that
have right to ask a denomination for District
Attorney, and that the public will consider me,
since have held it nearly four years
District Attorney Jerome after making this
statement went to Part I Of the Court of Cen
eraI Sessions. where a man was on trial for re-
ceiving stolen goods. The defendants lawyer.
Louis Vorhaus. was combating the word Of a
policeman witness. and he said: why, even the
District Attorney has said that he would not
believe a policeman under oath"
Mr.. Jerome interrupted the lawyer. THAT is
not true" he said. "I never said such a thing"
why. read it in the newspapers" retorted
the lawyer.
Well replied Mr.. Jerome. IF had made all
the statements credited to me in the newspa-
pers 1 would be in a lunatic asylum, not in the
District Attorneys Office
Mr.. Jerome said late in the afternoon that he
had received many letters commencing him for
the stand he had taken and congratulating hln
his efforts.
''Of course it doesn't make much difference"
said he, 'if these people are men of wealth or
not They are citizens interested in the well
fare Of the municipality"