The San Francisco call., 1906-09-03
JeromeRejects Hearst's Proffer
Of Political Alliance.
Editor Tenders Governorship for a Clear
Track for Presidential Candidacy

NEW YORK, Sept. You may say
to Mr.. Hearst that there is not an office
/ big enough in the United States, nor
is there enough money in the world to
! induce me to make an alliance with
| him.
This reply, it became known today,
was made last spring by District At
torney Jerome to prominent lawyer,
who proposed that Jerome make a COM
pact with Hearst, under which Hearst
would support him as the Democratic
candidate for Governor and in return
! Jerome should pledge himself not to
oppose Hearst's candidacy for the
Democratic Presidential nomination
That Hearst was a candidate for the
| Democratic nomination for. President
was ascertained by William J. Bryan as
soon as he arrived in this country.
While masquerading as the friend, of
Bryan, the independence League candi-
date has been seeking to undermine
the Nebraska man everywhere and ad-
vance his own candidacy.
The rejection of Hearst's proposals
by District Attorney Jerome is not the
only evidence the Bryan men have of
hostility to Bryan's candidacy. The
Hearst manipulators are working
everywhere with an eye focused on
| 1908
JEROME HEARS PROPOSAL.
Jerome received a. message last
| spring from a prominent lawyer, whom
| he knew to be his friend and who had
not been openly identified with the
Hearst movement This lawyer asked
Jerome ito take luncheon with him at
Delmonicos, downtown. saying that he
| had matters of Importance to discuss
| with him. Jerome promised to be
! there, although he had no idea of the
subject that was to be brought for
ward
After some general talk regarding
the Democratic situation and the divi-
sion in the Democratic strength, the
lawyer said:
You know I have always taken an
| interest in your political success and l
would be glad to see you get on. I
think matters can be arranged that
you will be elected Governor this fall
What do you mean?" Jerome asked.
Il mean just what I say" his friend
replied. Mr.. Hearst does not want to
run for Governor. He is a candidate
for President in 1908, and it might seri-
| ously interfere with his plans if he
4 should be run for Governor here this
year and then be defeated If you Will
| pledge yourself not TO stand in his road
for the nomination for the Presi-
4
support you for Governor
Jeromes positive refusal to make
any such deal closed the subject.
HEARsT's ATTACKS BEGIN.
Hearst's newspapers had been refrain
| ing from attacks upon Jerome at that
| time, as completely as they have since
refrained from attacking Charles F..
| Murphy. Two days after the CONVEX
| sation in which Jerome rejected the Of
! fer of alliance the Hearst newspapers
| opened a determined assault upon him.
which has been continued ever since.
This offer which revealed the actual
! purpose of Hearst's activity. deter
mined the lines of the contest within
the Democratic party of the State. As
| the candidate of his own organization
Hearst was compelled to place himself
outside the Democratic organization.
This was a step which he was re-
| luctant to take. because it laid him
open to the charge of having deserted
the party whose candidate for the
Presidency he desired to become
Hearst could not abandon his inde-
pendent organization nor could he wait
until after the Democratic State con-
vention before having himself nomi-
mated as an independent candidate.
But if, after he has taken the field as
the nominee of the Independence
League, the Democratic convention re-
fuses to nominate him he will be left
in the position of bolter from the
Democratic party and will have for
feited his claim to be considered as a
Democrat when the national conv en-
ton meets.
These are a few of the things that
have alarmed the Bryan Democrats.
They realize that Bryan is being
knitted, and that is understood to be
the reason why Bryan has cancelled his
trip to Australia
GOFF AS A COMPROMISE.
Mayor McClelland's return next Sat-
urday is being awaited with expectancy
by both factions in Tammany Hail..
When the Mayor went abroad he had
caused notice to be given that all the.
Tammany leaders who were not found
to be with him in the preliminary fight
for the control of the Tammany orr
ganization upon his return would be
counted against him. The broad inti-
nation was given that all the hostile
leaders who hold positions within the
gift of the Mayor might expect to lose
their heads as soon as he was able
to remove them.
This prospect is causing uneasiness
among the leaders who are supporting
Charles F. Murphy in the primary con-
test and efforts are being made to
bring about a truce The plan under
discussion seeks to avoid an open show
of strength in the organization and
the suggestion has been made that an
agreement might be reached through
a compromise under which the Mayor
should drop District attorney Jerome
as his candidate for Governor. Murphy
should drop the Hearst boom and they
should unite upon Recorder Goff.
1t is stated that Recorder Goff was