New-York tribune., 1906-08-21
JEROME TO THE RESCUE.

Mr.. Jerome roars as gently as a sucking dove
in his latest political prOnunciamentO. The mys-
terious hints dropped by his press agents had
led the public to think that in the word crash
heralded for Sunday night San Francisco and
Valparaiso would be forgotten. The intrepid
phrase maker ON whose instructions grand juries
wait-with a good deal of emphasis on the
wait-and at whose thunderS malefactOrS shiver
and political bosses take to the woods was
supposed to be incubating a new message of
accommodation and deliverance. The times
were out of Joint and who was better fitted to
set them right than the Rupert of 1900, who,
singlehanded and alone had challenged the "au-
tOcrats' of Newburg and Good Ground, and
galoped over their dead bodies into four more
years of the District Attorneyship? Something
dynamic something electrifying was expected.
At the least we were prepared to see notice
served on all existing political organizations to
dsband or take the consequences, and on all
possible rivals for the GOvernOrship to quit the
field on pain of being dubbed Poor Jims' by
tho only blOwn-in-the bottle champion of pOpu-
lar sovereignty ard the only authentic defender
of public rights and public order. Instead. we
get only the subdued and cOlOrleSs announce
ment that Mr.. Jerome is a candidate for the
nomination for the GOvernorship, subject" as
they say in the rural districts Ito the decision
of the Democratic convention"
To those who recall with what savage indig
nation Mr. jerome only year ago repealed
the idea that he should be reduced to owe a
nomination for office 10 any plain, ordinary
party convention this change of attitude must
prove little mystifying. In 1905 our self-nOml-
mated District Attorney was a confident and
patrOnizing AIahOmet inviting the mountains
to fall in line and follow him if they felt like
it, 1t was for the political organizations TO
strengthen themselves by offering him support.
not for him to solicit an unnecessary indOrse-
ment. As he cOndescendingly said at Carnegie
Hall on October IS: Yes. if Barkis had been
willing, he could have been on a great
''riety of tickets" But the spirit of mortal can
not always be proud Now Barkis is not only
willing to be seized and forced on the Demo
cratic state ticket, but is making arrangements
to stand blindfOlded and with his hands tied
on a convenient corner outside the convention
hall in Buffalo AS to the alleged waiver of sub
seryiency TO the Democratic bosses which he
proposes to extract from the convention. that
absOlutiOn means nothing and will cost moth
ing. The Democratic party in this state is in
such a condition of mental and moral starva-
ton that it will nominate any candidate on any
PLATFORM given only some plausible assurance
that that candidate will win. 1t would cheer
fully swallow Jerome on a Hearst platform or
Hearst Jerome platform; for political prin-
cples. like love. too often fly out at the win
dow when hunger comes in at the door.
Mr. JerOme's bid for the Democratic nOmina-
ton seems TO bind him, if defeated in the con-
ventiOn. not 10 make a rump or independent
canvass. But there is talk that he will run
whether beaten at Buffalo not. Perhaps in
/ this purpose we may read an indirect acknOwl-
edgment of partial responsibility for the pres
ent strength of the Hearst movement. Certainly
Mr.. Jerome has done much by his reckless public
speech. his sweeping and unsupported attacks
on the New York Judiciary, his campaign eX-
/ travagances and the dSprOpOrtiOn between his
| exuberant promises on the stump and his per-
fOrmance in office to fan the passions and eX-
cite the unrest to which the Hearst movement
so powerfully appeals. To some extent he can
repair the injury lie has done by seeking to rally
Democrats to the older and sOunder principles
Of the party and 70 prevent the surrender of the
organization to socialism 1t may he too late
TO begin this fight, which should have been be
gun six months ago. But the fight is worth
making, and Mr.. Jerome. despite his disquali-
hcations as a political leader. will do an ac-
ceptable and necessary service in making it.