New-York tribune., 1906-09-07
THE ALBAHY CONFERENCE.

The Jerome conference is over. OnlOOkerS at
Albany reported that it was a glorious occa-
sion. many bone breaking epithets having been
hurled and sundry bosses having been fisyed
and crIciied. Yet AT this distance. we regret
10 say. il is difficult to determine what object
Il served and what practical results It IS ex-
pected to bring about. Mr.. Jerome's speech
certainly gives no plain clew 10 fits purpose.
logic is not the long suit Of the District At
torney and his associates. for If IL were We
should not find them involving themselves in
many patent abSurdities and contradictions.
Mr.. JeUOme's purpose. he states il, is to res
cue the Democratic party from itself. He wants
10 restore il 10 its natural character. Yet when
he dips into political history he draws that char
acter in a way which cOnfutes his own reason
ing and discredits his own programme a re-
storer and reformer.
II Mr.. Jerome is right in describing the Demo
cratic party as the liberal. radical restless and
unstable element in our politics. how can he
Justify his present effort TO sickly il DER with
a pale cast OF reaction and conservatism? Why
should he. a philosopher and a Democrat.
want 10 alter what he calls the fundamental
and organic" tendencies of the party toward in
nOyation and radicalism: Jefferson was thor
OughgOing radical. SO was Jackson: and the
Democratic party retained their impress until
the slave power interviewed and subverted the
organization into a tool for the protection OF
slavery-the SOuth's chief vested interest. The
Democracy remained ultra-cOnservative from the
date Of Van Buren's fall 10 the date Of Bryans
accession. for under Mr.. Bryan's leadership the
ties binding II 10 the service of Southern inter
ests We're severed. and tendencies toward radi-
calism, long suppressed. were again allowed 10
gather force and headway. Mr.. Jerome gOes
back 20 history 10 attack Mr.. Hearst's lineage
AS a Democrat But history will not sustain the
for Mill hat
Hearst pushing the theories of Jefferson and
Jackson 10 their logical conclusion while Mr..
Jerome himself seems more or less disposed
10 go back 10 Democratic practice per
verted under Southern domination and contin-
ued as a faint and perishing tradition under
the leadership Of Grover Cleveland and Alton
B. Parker.
Another thing about the Albany conference
which puzzles the lOngdstance observer is the
fierce insistence OF that gathering that the next
Democratic convention must nominate Demo
cTat for Governor. Mr. jerome has made the
point that Mr.. Hearst is not eligible as a can
didate because he is an independent in politics
and Is thinking Of accepting an independent
nomination. Mr.. Hearst had the temerity 10
run last year as an anu-Tammany candidate
for Mayor. Yet If that was a crime never 10
be forgiven what logic Will shrive Mr. Jerome
himself. for he. too. ran for office as an anti
lduudnA fhlhl4udle ldsl ldlis llt too' Has pI"-
claimed himself an Independent with capital
I. and he. too. IS said TO contemplate running
for Governor a ticket Of his own if the
Democratic convention AZ Buffalo declines his
offer 10 redeem the state and revtalize the
party
We have expressed our sympathy with Mr.
Jerome in his struggle against boss rule I'm the
Democratic organization and in his tight 10
prevent the party's COmmittal outright to n
programme Of socialism. He is 10 he COM
mended for coming out into the open and or
ganizng an opposition which should have been
organized six months ago 10y conservative Dem
ocrats Of greater influence and more regular
Standing But il IS foolish for a leader with Mr.
Jerome's record 10 assal Mr. Hearst because he
Is unfaithfu 10 DemOcatic ideals, or 10 try 10
ostrscze him a candidate because be has
shown some tendencies toward independence
Few members OF the Albany conference could
themselves point 10 a clear record in party
regularity There are substantial reasons for
ohie,tng 10 the conversion of the Demo
cratic party into an engine Of socialism. Why
shouldn't Mr Jerome Rnd his associates assem-
bile these reasons aud present them 10 Demo
cratic voters in a serious and ineligible way?