Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-29
HILMINaTON, THURsDAY, NAN. q
nIscElLAkEous HEcoap
peoelved In Jnromo.

Deceived In Jerome.
A picturesque character from the time
of his early manhood, William Travers
jerome was never more so than during
his campaign, last year for reelection to
the Office Of district attorney Of New York
County. He was picturesque in his nomi-
nation-which was by petition papers,
Following his public announcement that
he would be a candidate for the Office on
his own account, not desiring the indorse-
ment Of any political organization. He
conducted the most picturesque campaign
ever known in this country, and received
an unparalleled Endorsement and support
et the hands Of the people. The latter
took his canvass in hand and popular
subscriptions covered all tho expenses.
He was elected over the Tammany Hall
and Hearst candidates for district attorney
by a plurality Of about $4,000 notwith-
MISUNDERSTANDING away of fully $4,000
votes on the Republican nominee for the
Office, whose name remained on the official
ballot after he had been withdrawn by the
Republican organization, for the purpose
of leaving Republicans free to vote for
Jerome
Jerome's public speeches we're also a
feature Of his picturesque campaign, and
he was lavish in his promises of what he
would do in the event Of his reelection.
Particularly was he emphatic in his asser-
tions that the faithless officials of the great
insurance companies who had violated
their trusts by making contributions Of
The companies money to political COM
mittcos should be prosecuted to the limit
ci the law He even specified that Mr..
Charles J.. Hughes, counsel for the legis-
laiivc investigating committee which un-
eauhed these insurance rascalities. would
be retained 10y him as special counsel to
conduct the prosecutions.
All this was before Jeromes reelection.
Immediately thereafter his mouth be-
came sealed, his brain apparently para
lyzod and his entire physical being
afflicted with palsy For weeks he shut
himself within the seclusion of his Office
and refused to say a word or take any
action in respect Of making good his
lavish promises Of the campaign. He
seemed to have become another man, and
not vestigo remained Of the virile. ag-
gressive Jerome who had proved himself
the popular idol during the campaign in
which he achieved such signal triumph.
Finally, when stirred by hostile news
paper comment 20 the necessity of speech
and action, District Attorney Jerome
entered upon course Of equivocation
and halting movement that amazed his
friends and even confounded his enemies.
Gone was his determination TO prosecute
the big rascals Of the great insurance com
panies. Instead he became their friend
and defender. He refused to ask grand
Jury TO indict any Of them. and when
Judge O'Sullivan, angercd at his opposing
attitude, went over his head and told the
grand jury it was It's duty to examine
the evidence, and in the event of finding
the evidence sufficient, 10 indict, Jerome
took the step Of open opposition. He
caused warrants TO be issued. with view
20 giving the accused parties an oppor-
tunity, Immediately following arrest, of
appealing to a higher tribunal on the
question Of the sufiiciency Of the evidence
upon which the warrants were based.
Thus, they would make their appeal on
the strength of the ox-parte testimony
to be presented by the district attorney.
and tho district attorney is acting as their
friend at court. Under these circum-
stances he might as well be their counsel.
IL is no wonder, therefore, that New
York City newspapers are calling upon
District Attorney Jerome 20 step aside
and permit the governor 20 appoint a
special district attorney for the prosecu-
ton Of the insurance cases. And,
strangely enough, one paper, which was
an ardent champion of Jerome's during
the campaign, but now resists his policy
Of non-action, suggests James w. Osborne,
who ran against Jerome on the Tammany
ticket at the election, as the man best
fitted to take this work in hand. This
Is well calculated TO make the people Of
New York county feel that they made a
mistake in not electing Osborne, instead
Of Jerome.
Never was there such a perplexing
mystery as William Travers Jerome.
And nevcr were a people who voted patri-
otically and with the highest purposes
more outrageously deceived and betrayed
than those who brought success TO Jer-
ONES picturesque and unezamplcd cam
raign. last year.