New-York tribune., 1906-08-12
JEROME MAY RUN ALONE
TO KILL HEARST BOON.
Conservative Democrats Lilelg to
IHdorse Him for GoCerHor.

There seems 20 be a strong probability that
before long District Attorney Jerome will
nounce himself as an independent candidate for
Governor in the same way he announced his
candidacy for District Attorney year ago. II
was said Yesterday that the conservative or anti
Hearst element in the Democratic party fearing
that Hearst may run away with the regular
convention of the party unless desperate meas
ures are taken. have about persuaded the Dis
trict Attorney that this was his chance TO come
into the field as an independent and have PROM
ised him their support
The District Attorney was at LakeviIIe yester-
day. He refused to discuss politics He adj
mitted that he had heard statements that he was
considering the prOpriety OF running as an In
dependent candidate. Asked il II were true that
some OF the conservative leaders OF the Demo-
cratic party were urging him to become an tn
dependent candidate. he replied: II do not caro-
to discuss that at this time"
The "at this time" sounded particularly sig
nihcant. Although the District Attorney uD TO
this time has not allowed himself 20 be quoted
as 20 whether not he would accept a nomina-
tion for Governor. he has allowed his friends 70
say "On authority that he would not do So The
fact that he would not deny that he is consider
ing entering the field gives the direct statement
TO that effect made yesterday by persons closely
in touch with him considerable Importance IN
the minds Of politicians
For some time certain members OF the con-
seTvative wing OF the Democratic party in this
state have been trying to get District Attorney
Jerome TO promise 20 stand as a candidate for
the regular nomination IN the convention. This
did not appeal 20 him. il Is said. But when Il
was suggestej that he might announce his in-
dependent candidacy and declare that he would
accept the Endorsement Of any Of the regular
parties, as he did last fall a situation presented
itself which appealed 20 his peculiar nature.
The conservatives hope that with the an
nOUncement Of Jerome that he will run as an
independent candidate anyway they may be
able 70 stem the Hearst sentiment IN the con-
vention and nominate Jerome. They would point
out that the nomination OF Hearst would split
the party. whereas the nomination Of jerome
would command the support OF many Of thoss
who have been shouting most enthusiastically
for Mr.. Hearst.
CONSERVATIVES TO GIVE SUPPORT
II Hearst is nominated By the regular con-
vention. then the conservatives will support the
independent candidacy Of Mr.. Jerome IL IS said.
They are willing 20 go to great extremes in
order 20 prevent any possibility Of the election
OF Mr.. Hearst as Governor. and rely on the
well known campaigning powers Of the District
Attorney to tear the Hearst boom 20 pieces. even
If he does not win himself They also hope
by this independent plan 70 gain some Republi-
have been alienated from that party.
According to the election law an independent
nomination for state Office must be fled with
the Secretary OF State az least twenty-five days
before electromagnetic party nominations must
be filed az least thirty days before the election
The plan being considered is to have Nir- Jerome
announce his independent candidacy some time
before the Democratic convention. and 70 have
his friends start at once 70 obtain signatures
For rov,inarfne DetitiOns According to the law
II is necessary TO have six thousand Signatures
on an independent nomination for a state Office.
and IL is stipulated that at least fifty names
must be obtained in each county in the state
II would not be necessary to file these petitions
until five days after the regular Democratic and
the Republican nominations had been filed.
One politician yesterday went far as to say
that ARRANGEMENTS had been made for these
petitions in each county. and that campaign
fund had been promised for JerOme's indePen-
dent candidacy. IL was pointed out by some or
those who rather doubted that Jerome could
be forced on the Democratic convention that u
would he rather humiliating for them to nOmi-
nate Jerome after he had already announced he
would run as an independent candidate. To this
the reply was made that Il would not be as
humiliatng as to accept the nomination Or
Hearst after he had been nominated by a per-
sonal machine which was organized with an
idea Of getting control Of the Democratic party
4 story yesterday that Patrick H McCarren
was seriously considering going over 20 the
Hearst camp was rtdiculed. MCCarTen has q
S4rOnc antipathy 20 Hearst entirely aside from
the fact that the Hearst papers have been 1Old-
ing McCarren up TO contempt for years There
may be some reason why Charles +. Murphy
should pretend to be in favor Of Hearst. for he
needs the Hearst support at the primaries
With McCaTIen II IS 0lIeTeht- ne 1aS 'SS Ss5.tes
uatiOn in BROOKLYN well in hand Sherlr
Michael J. Flaherty has announced that ne VIII
fight McCarren with his Municipal ownership
League, but he is not causing the Senator any