The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-29
JEROME WARNS The BOSSES,
Continued from Fret Page.


have never been In accord with Il, although
I nave many warm friends in It. ! am
willing to follow political leadership, but
I am not that type Of man who Is willing
TO take orders from a boss. If I ever get
to that condition / shall select a boss of
intelligence, not one like Murphy.
.The situation for me personally Is one
that does not concern me very much. /
didn't seek to get In this fight, only there
were principles involved and no one else
would stand for them. I can't expect
sympathy from the machine, as the success
of my fight would mean the destruction Of
that type Of organization. The success OF
my fight, II It should come, would mean
that I would not be a Democratic Governor.
I would be simply Governor, and I would
not use the patronage Of powers OF that
Office to build up the Democratic organiza-
ton or to depress the Republican.
IF am nominated, and succeed In cleo
ton, my prestige will DO such, however,
that I will have something to say about the
Democratic party. I might serve notice
now that II ! am elected I will take men Of
the Corners t~ype-that includes Murphy
and his like-and drive them out OF the
Democratic party. There will be no room
for men Of ais type and men Of mine In the
same organization-they will have to walk
the plank, and then they might go to the In
dependence League. II 1 make the fight
and win, the old guard will have to go-if 1t
never retreats. then 1t will have to die.
$50 / can't expect any great enthusiasm
from tho men who control the machine. I
know that no convention would come
together and choose me voluntarily as its
choice, but there are enough decent, reepe Ct
able people in the party to make the con-
vention afraid II it did not name me.
"No one can ever accuse me Of breaking
political faith, for I never will be In the
position of making political contracts, eI-
oept to serve notice on these bosses that me
and mine can't live In the same coop with
birds OF that feather, snd 30 birds of hat
feather can fook together"
Then the inference to be drawn from
your statement is that, whether the machine
dominates you or not, it will not alter your
attitude, and that II the machine bosses name
Hearst you would be willing to run as the
candidate Of the real Democrats?'
well, that Is a proposition that can be met
when we come to it. There are times when
to run for q principle Is wise, even though
defeat seems to be a sure thing. There are
other times when to run when defeat gems
sure Is not wise, for human nature Is 30
constituted that 1t attributes the defeat to
the weakness of the principle. That was
what bothered me a great deal in my fight
last year. ] knew ! was absolutely right,
but l felt that II I ran and was helm
ingly defeated 1t would mean the diff erence
that the principle for which / stood would
get q very bad setback"
AS / told Gov. Hill In 1904, that II I was
ever Governor l would use the prestige
such a victory would give me-that Is, a VIC
tory not simply as a candidate Of a party,
but a victory without strings to it-so hat
we could look for a great strong militant
Democracy in this State. a Democracy held
together by principles, not by peanut patron
age or petty dole.
sMr. Hearst seems to be stealing my
political clothes" said MIR. Jerome, reverting
to Hearst, Just as the Republican party
has been stealing the clothes OF the Demo-
cratic party for years. I have never
shirked my fight IN the bosses, but as I
recall the political career Of Hearst I do
not remember that, until he thought there
was something in it for him, he ever voiced
any violent spirit Of ~antagonism to political
bosses. When he was running for Con-
gress, after accepting the Tammany nomi-
nation, he said nothing antagonistio to boss
rule, nor did any OF his spellbinders. Even
now, in that brave procession of statesmen
and politicians that were pictured in Hearst's
the other morning, I looked In
vain for q picture Of Charley Murphy in
striped garments and changing chains"
wouldn't a victory, such as you desire
be as valuable without the regular party
stamp as with it?" MIR. Jerome was asked.
~No, / don't think so, for I don't believe
that for many years 1t will be possible
to work OUT system Of politics without
parties. There is a relation Of State parties
to national parties which, I think, would not
make this possible, even If desirable. The
important thing is not the destruction Of
parties-that would be impractioable; 1t is
the driving out Of the party OF those who
have got control OF the organization. II
the Republican party could have direct
primaries and select its nominees you
know that no man bar Hughes who has
been mentioned would be chosen. ave in
the Democratic party haven't had since
Cleveland's time a Democrat who was
the real choice of the party.
Then, a victory running independently
would be less Of a public service and have
less elements Of permanent public service
than running as a party candidate, for
II successful as a party candidate, with
the prestige which this would bring, would
be In such apcsition as to drive out these
miserable whelps from the party 1t was
IN evil day when both parties fell into the
hands Of bosses. They have no idea Of ex-
pressing the will Of the people Of the party,
but simply take the men they wan and
elect them.
Il never knew John Kelly. but from what
! have heard he had some Of the elements
that go to make up a leader. But under
the present regime locally they are hunt