The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-21
If Hearst Wins He May Run
Independently
.HEARST'S POSITION STRONG
Politicians Agree That Jerome's Entry
VIII Add UNNECESSARILY to the
Gayety of New York
Politics.

Washington, August 20-(Special.)- An
exceedingly interesting turn was given
to the gubernatorial situation in New
York by the formal announcement of
William Travers Jerome last night that
he would accept the democratic nominal
ton for governor if it were rendered him.
This means that Mr. Hearst's herculean
efforts to capture the nomination from
the regular democratic state convention
will be opposed by the one man in New
York state whom Mr. Hearst has cause
to fear most. Mr.. Hearst's campaign is
being waged mainly upon the platform
of independence of parties and especial
ly of bosses. Mr.. Jerome gave last fall
a successful exhibition of his independ
ence by gaining reelection as district
attorney upon platform of independence
on which he ran against the regular DEM
ocrahc, the republican and the Hearst
tickets.
Announcement Favorably Received.
He proposes now il agreeable to the
democrats to run on their ticket, but also
to stick to his old policy of independence
of bosses according to his brief but ex-
pAiClI StditiIthl Vi iildb aO1N'iiSAAS hAaS
New York Sun this morning said in its
leading editorial:
MIR. Jerome says that if the democrats
of this state offer him the nomination he
will run as their candidate for governor.
He sets forth his platform frankly and
explicitly. 1t is the oath of office that he
will take when he enters on his duties
at Albany. We would give more for that
pledge from Jerome than for all the other
platforms that could be erected from now
until doomsday."
OF course the first thing for Mr..
Jerome's friends to do now is to control
the democratic state convention. Mr..
Hearst has been before hand and has
foregathered on several county delega-
lions, in the meantime laying plans for
a convention of his independence league
to nominate him first as an Independent
candidate in order to impress the demo-
Gratis later with the apparent sentiment
in the state in his favor.
Battle of Giants.
The fight between Jerome and Hearst
for the democratic state convention will
be a battle of giants. Each will have to
appeal to the rival factions Of Murphy
and Mcclellan for New York city's i'm
portant support 1t is still recalled now
Jerome and Hearst blasted Murphy and
Mcclellan in the mayoralty campaign.
Murphy probably feels more resentment
toward Jerome, however, than he does
toward Hearst for Jerome's aagellation of
Murphy was offlcial-the act of the chief
attacks were only through his newspapers.
The question arises what IL Hearst wins
out in the democratic state convention?
VIII Jerome run as an Independent can
didate for governor? 1t will be recalled
that when the democratic machine in
Manhattan failed to nominate Jerome for
district attorney last fall he put his name
on an independent ticket, ran campaign
practically without money and won with
flying colors. Politicians are very much
interested in the possibility of Mr..
Hearsts running as the free lance and
Mr.. Hughes of insurance fame as the
Odell choice of the republicans.
May Run as Independent.
The opinion is widely held among we'll
informed New Workers that II Mr.. Hearst
captures the democratic state convention
Jerome will jump in as the independent.
Jerome opposes Hearst, regarding him
with disfavor on many counts, The feel
ing is recprocated by Mr.. Hearst. Mr..
Hearst has lost no time in opening up
on his chief rival. His New York news
paper published this morning the Jerome
statement and Immediately proceeded to
the "skinning" process, which may be
expected from now on At all events 1t
will be a peach of a campaign. with
the many entanglements, contradictions
and anomiles presented in the three
parties and the several possible can
ddates. Politicians agree that the entry
of Jerome on the list will add immeasur-
ably to the gayety of politics in New York
for the next few weeks whatever the out
come.