The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-09-07
NO REAL LEADER IN SIGHT.
Sentiment Expressed by Jerome, Dis
trict Attorney and Candidate for
Presidential Nomination.


trict Attorney VIM. Travers Jerome,
Of New York, was the central figure in
the conference of upstate Democrats
called to meet here today to consider
the condition of the Democratic party
in the state of New York. II WAS de-
clared by the sponsors of the confer
ence, leading among whom was Ex-
Mayor Thomas M. Osborne, of Au-
burn, that Mr.. Jerome was present
merely as speaker, not as a party
to the conference, and that the meet
ing was not in the interest of his
candidacy, or that of any other man
for the Democratic nomination for
governor.
Mr.. Jerome mentioned no names in
his address. He dealt with the gener-
al purposes, general condition and
possibilities of the Democratic party.
He declared it as his understanding
that the conference was in the interest
of no particular candidacy, least Of
all "to dictate to or threaten the con-
vention of our party soon to assem-
Bile at Buffalo,
He took direct issue with the opin-
ion recently expressed by Governor
Folk, of Missouri, and others, though
he named no one.
"Real leadership is nowhere in
sight, said he, "and what passes for
leadership seems to consist of dcma-
gogic denunciation of eXitsing condi-
tions and the advancing of vague
schemes Of socialism and paternalism
which are essentially revolutionary in
character.
"We are not CON the threshold of
the greatest political awakening
this nation has ever known marking
'the beginning of new age, but we
are, l believe, about to return to our
senses and to earnestly address our
selves to the solution Of the different
problems confronting us by the meth
ods which the past has shown to be
entirely adequate to meet the greatest
emergencies.
"Our elections, where national po-
litical parts are involved, have be-
come little more than ignoblc scram-
bles for Office, in which each candidate
declares how good he will be. if elected
to office and vies with his opponent III
claiming trust busting and anti-cor-
poration virtues, not forgetting to en-
phasize how warmly his heart beats
for organized labor.
"In the midst of this the plain
people, go about their business. See
ing no real issues Of present interest
in dividing the national parties, they
stand Indifferent to each, ready and
free to choose when an issue arises
that interests thcm.'
"The Republican party" he con-
tinued, chad always been conserva-
tive, opposed to change and innova-
ton, until today, half consciously it
voices it's character by declaring itself
to be the party Of the stand pat
ter -
con the other hand, the Democratic
party has been the party of the liber-
al. Only recently" he said, Chad ef-
forts been made to drag the party
from the path of progress to that Of
| revolution.
"The men responsible for the pres
cnt demoralized condition of the party
machinery should be driven out. From
a great vote getting organization they
have made it simply a delegate get
ting machine.
The Democratic party "disgraced
and humiliated by years Of misman-
agement, to give it no harsher name,
would array themselves behind their
party candidates if they are men of
character, standing on q platform Of
real Democracy.
"And in that PLATFORM" he said,
"they want no crazy Socialism, no rev.
olutionary paternalism. What they
want is men and not servants.
"They have little faith in new laws
while there is not honesty and capaci-
ty enough in public servants to work
the old'
n,,>+