New-York tribune., 1906-06-14
MAYOR PRAISES JEROME
MILD BOOM FOR GOVERNOR
Local Democrats Interpretation
Profession of Politics, the Subject.

In local Democratic circles the speech by
Mayor Mcclellan yesterday at the 10th COM
mencement of Union University is interpreted
as a mild boom for District Attorney Jerome
Tor Governor The Mayor was the principal
speaker at the exercises yesterday. his subject
being The Profession of Politics" The exer-
cises were held in the First Reformed Church,
schenectady After asserting that the public is
d haro taskmaster, Mr.. Mcclellan said:
II is always fckle, often unjust, and some
lilhes cruel; the hero of to-day may be deCried
tomorrow, while the triumphant majority of
yesterday may be turned into the ignomnous
minority of to-day.
Dix months ago the District Attorney Of my
nome county was the idol of the press To-day
some of those who were warmest in his support
are most unjustly clamoring for his downfall.
because he has failed to do the impossible"
MAYOR MCLELLAN's SPEECH.
The Mayors address. in part follows;
Most Americans-nearIy all healthy Americans
by an ambition TO carve their initials upon the
the wood may prov eSn od bar may a mo not last 0hg fo6
VII put ~ some there are who perseyere until their
carving their names upon the topmost rail, where
az VINO pass may see. There is rail in the
Whole renee that is not ready for you. 1t depends
entlIely upon whether you have the necessary
I have come 10 you to-day. holding no brief for
% eitner party. with no desire TO proseyte. I have
have the honor TO belong in the hope that what
l nave TO say may have some slight influence in
fession Of poifits 70 MAKE your HE WORK the pro
Do not misunderstood me. BY the profession of
two are vasy ySdifferent A Professional politician
n may & be statesman; political tradesman may be
more sordid. more despicable. than the trade of
bic good than it's profession Appeal to you
Mho are about to enter the world. and TO take part
owe the state a special duty because of your ad-
1t is the duty Of every citizen OF the United States
eyer1 rAe n interest rest IN politics 1t is the duty OF
ties the matter In the same spirit in which
ne treats other important affairs of his life. may
profession Of politics Politicians are no more made
OF soId!ers. There IS an instinct of occupation,
pTide OF profession that cannot be acquired either
But every one of you, every man and woman in
the community, has an interest in the state. It is
ment should be honestly and economically admin
a and Therefore every citizen has more than
are 10 administer government. and in their admin
The existence of glass houses seems 10 encourage
the man in the street to throw bricks 1t is far
tion OF the one prerogative must always imply the
other duty No one has the moral right to criticse
lear cow or GeStroN unless he IS able and willing
20 20 e eGr[fc & NJ build Up and recreate Nothing is
stitute successful critic is the power OF express
sion; And the power of expression does not neces-
Sarlly imply the possession of either ability
esty, or even reasonable Intelligence A very well
know RnoWn pol political critic only the other day when
replied. that because he criticised the tenor in
part
II you intefa to be public spirited citizens you
OF the the day No man has the right to ask another
self. All of You should be willing TO help in the
government of the in proportion the meas
who are called to the profession Of politics should
alis" % er, 1 luose OF you VINO sIS CHOSEN shoI!d
saeTee eT Hp the Ou'oen HI spirit OF deS0''0H ana SELF
There is nothing easy about the profession Of
hard work poverty No man who seeks great
work. Except for the bare necessities of exist
ene SsLa mogey n " eann1t og bn honestly 6 made in P9E
so-called honest graft" is far more TO be feared
than Than the the bar bank 6a Snf s does er more
in state prison, The theory that graft can, under
| TO discredit great profession than al the mud
singers, yellow journalists and muck rakers COM
bined. Don't expect 10 succeed in politics don I
even try for such success. unless you are deter
you please call it legitimate business. counsel fee.
OF contract for public or private work. graft is
graft the less. grisly, hideous and dishonest
Our people demand that the American politician
| should conform TO an even higher moral standard
the politician should be judged cannot be too high
| Americans are generally honest. We have. how
ever. a habit Of applying the truism that chain
is only as strong as its Weakest Ink and are too
II You abuse public mar long enough, and clev-
erIy enough YOU will end by making him either
famous Infamous. Fortunately there is spirit
Of fair play in the American people that usually
asserts itself The successful Charlatan often finds
his level, and the misunderstood and unjustly
abused politician sometimes receives reward other
than the consciousness of MS own virtue. The
/ public is q hard master to serve
The Mayor here spoke the words concerning Dis
trict Attorney Jerome quoted above. He continued
| as follows:
What is wanted In public life in this country IS
for the average of both is higher with US than with
any nation on earth. but moral courage and intel
iectual Integrity. We cursed by the worship OF
| opportunitv The worship of the golden calf OF
blind goddess of chance and the priests of the
| gallery are the interpreters OF her gospel Year
9ftar yea we have seen the leaders of government
| in nation state and municipality not leading IN
the cause of righteousness, as leaders ought TO 90
hut falling over each other in Senseess enort 70
ry 10 Interpret the popular hysterla OF the mo-
ment 10 De ths HIst ~ Oe'Oli 'i'0 ii''' ms