New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-04
MR.. JEROuES DECLARATION.

Mr. Jerome's statement that he is not and Will
not be a candidate for Mayor will really sur
prise nobody unless it he Mr.. Cutting ana dis
followers, who are capable OF being surprised at
anything. Long ago Mr. Jerome announced that
he would be q candidate for District Attorney
and outlined for himself detailed plan of acuon
which if his sincerity was conceded, precluded
his acceptance of nomination for Mayor. The
public in general thought too well of him to
believe that he merely playing game, ana
would. as Mr. Cutting wished attempt to capt.
talize the fame of his Independent stand for
District Attorney into asset as mayoralty
aspirant Moreover. there was every reason or
common sense to take Mr.. Jerome at his word
His present office suits him. and it is difficult to
imagine his desiring. with his temperament, to
exchange the Criminal Courts Building for the
City Hall. He is far better fitted to serve the
public as prosecutor than as an administrator
Then. too, with all his undoubted popularity as
a District Attorney. his power of unifying senti-
rnent as a mayoralty candidate is doubtful.
The District Attorneys declaration gives Mr..
Cutting and his friends the opportunity for more
open minded cooperation in the perfection of
ant-Tammany fusion. Their attitude Of pick
ing out one man, however excellent, regardless
of the opinion of other parties to fusion quite as
imnortaut as themselves and demanding his
nomination. while deliberately refraining from
finding out if he would run under any CondltloIs
was not suited to the task of rescuing the city
from Tammany domination. We expect them
now seriously and helpfully to take up the
problem of finding the candidate who commands
the largest measure of support from all elements
in the anti-Tammany movement This Is
problem to be solved by consultation and agree
ment not by the fiat of any single machine,
whether it call itself political party or an in
dependent committee.
The Republicans, who must furnish large
majority of the votes for any successful anti
Tammanv ticket have entered the conference In
nerfectly conciliatory spirit We believe that
they will be glad TO support any candidate OF
honesty and ability who is marked out by the
consensus of anti-Tammany opinion most
likely TO rescue this city from the grasp OF
the contractors and the public service corpora
tons who make a common cause TO dominate
IL through Tammany administration Mr.
Jerome has characteristics which would have
made him a strong candidate with some ele-
ments on the other hand. 1t was serious
question if he would not repel a large number of
voters whose aid was essential. Mr.. JerOme's
availability was n matter fairly open for dis
cussion and doubtless would have been hos
pitably considered by the Republicans and
others if he had not so positively taken himself
from the field. The notion that the way to set
tie it was for Mr.. Cutting to announce that he
had found an ideal candidate and that true in
dependence consisted in everybody else taking
him blindly recalls Mr. Jerome's suggestion of
second statute book for moral warnings. Poll
tics is q practical business and If Mr.. Cutting
wants TO accomplish things he should seek
agreement for real nominations, and have a
separate ballot box for his individual warnings