Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22
NEW YORK POLITICS
Jerome the Nest Picturesque
Figure in Campaign.
SOME INSIDE HISTORY
MANY TAMMANY LEADERS
WANTED HIM NOMINATED.
But They Could Not Justify His Per-
sonal Attacks on Their Leader,
Murphy.
SOME INSIDE HISTORY

Special From STAFF Correspondent.
NEW YORK October 21.-The most pic
turesque figure in the municipal campaign
is William Trayers Jerome, independent
candidate for district attorney. He needs
no introduction to Washingtonans, who re-
member him in the great campaign of four
years ago, when he fought Tammany and
was elected on the republican fusion ticket,
and in the campaign of two years ago,
when Tammany had to take him up as its
candidate and elect him.
In this campaign Mr. Jerome is running
Independently and opposing Tammany tooth
and nail. l have made some inquiries to
ascertain If possible what was the cause of
the present bitter enmity between Mr..
Jerome and Tammany, and why he was not
nominated on the Tammany ticket.
There are undercurrents of interest in the
Jerome situation. They are discussed in
church. club business and political circles.
All sorts of reports are heard from which
many deductions are drawn. There Is one
sentiment among machine politicians, and
in all candor l must say that this is not
| favora BILE to Mr.. Jerome in his capacity as
politician.
His Political Career.
To begin with Mr.. Jerome, in the est-
| nation of nearly all politicians of the ma
| chine stamp, had no right to expect Tam
many to nominate him for district attorney.
Four years ago Mr.. Jerome was as much
the candidate of the republican party for
| district attorney as the candidate of the
| citizens union and the anti-Tammany dem
ocratS. In the present campaign he is
| running on a petition signed by 1000 citi-
| ZenS, the law requires.
Just how 1t came about that Tammany
was expected to nominate Mr.. Jerome this
| year, when four years ago he was elected
district attorney by the political adversaries
of Tammany, is one of the political aspects
of the situation to which very few appar-
| emily, have given sufficient heed.
If there is such thing as political con-
sistency, it is claimed the republicans
should have nominated Mr.. Jerome lust as
they and their allies, the citizens union did
four years ago. 1t turns out, though that
the only organization to present Mr.. Jerome
Tor the sunrages of New York county's
voters this year is the citizens union and
the citizens union, standing alone has
demonstrated in previous campaigns its
weakness as a vote-getting body,
why did not the republican organiza ton
OF New York county indorse Mr. Jerome.
as II did four years ago? Why is there
such hubbub because Tammany, whose
county convention was held before that Of
the republicans, did not nominate Mr. Je-
rome, the mar who fought Tammany hard
est four years ago and who in the mayor
aity campaign two years ago denounced
Iammany in bitter terms and even went
| SO lar as 10 declare the Stump that
| because George B. Mcclellan had accented
the nomination of Tammany for mayor
| ne, Col. Mcclellan. had brought shame
,, 10 an honored fathers name?' How could
| Mayor Mcclellan by accepting Tammany's
nomination for mayor, bring shame to his
honored fathers name when the mayo-s
lather Gen; George h. Mcclellan demo-
Tiduc cahdldate for President against Abrr-
| nam Lincoln in 1864 had the hearty sup
port of Tammany? are questions helm,
| asked by politicians.
Jerome and Mcclellan.
Pefore Mr.. jerome made that personal
attack on Mayor Mcclellan two years ago
the two young men were warm friends
Since then there has been a cooIness be-
tween them. Last spring however, Mr.
jerome in a speech made in Philadelphia
arologized for his utterances and Mr. Je-
rome has said in private conversations
within the last few months that he would
make the same apology before New YORK
audience. Yet 1t was Mayor Mcclellan wno
| Urged Leader Charles F. Murphy of Tam
| many to nominate Mr.. Jerome for district
attorney this year. In season and out Of
season Mayor Mcclellan has reiterated his
arguments to Mr. Murphy In favor of MIR.
Jerome's nomination at the hands of Tam
many
AS matter of fact the Tamma ~
county convention held last week where
James W. Osborne was nominated for dis
trict attorney, was an hour late In as
| sembling. Mr.. Murphy was hearing the
last arguments OF Mayor Mcclellan and
| others in favor of Mr. Jeromes selection.
Very many who should know the facts
| dc not hesitate to say that in July last
| Mr.. Murphy had agreed with Mayor Nc
Ciellan that Mr.. Jerome should be nomi-
mated by Tammany. This was the under
standing between Mr.. Murphy and Mr.
Mcclellan before Mayor Mcclellan left for
| his vacation in Canada on August l. There
| Is every reason for believing that Mr. Je-
rome's friends, IL not Mr.. Jerome person
ally, was aware of this agreement. Early
| in August however. hT: Jerome issued
an interview in which he attacked Mr..
Murphy in bitter terms.
Jsrome's Charge.
Mr. Jerome's charge was that the clerk
of one of the minor courts. William Fuller
had been superseded by Tammany man
named Cnlkin, and, in Mr.. Jeromes words
at the time. 'Culkin. like Charley Murphy,
was a bartender" Cuikin turned out 20
On pa 4