The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-27
"HAD TO BEAT BRYAN"
jerome Apologies for Perkins $50, 900
Contribution.

New York, May 27.--In his argument,
replying to the charges of dereliction
against him, District Attorney Jerome
said that the proceedings were f1imsy
and mendacious. He asked the COM
missioner to note, for one thing, that
the complaint had not been verified,
not even on information and belief.
II have lived all my life in New York
city," said Mr. Jerome. land the six
teen best years Of my life were given
for office In that city and have been
elected, the last time against every
political party and all alone. And I
consider sir, that I was elected to exer-
else my judgment in the discharge of
the duties of that office, and not the
judgment Of irresponsible persons.
Il consider that the duties that were
laid down upon me in that office and
which I have striven to discharge were
these: To be fair and just, to apply
one law to all persons, and not to APP
ply one law to the poor man and an
other to the rich man. I have stood,
sir. under great pressure before that
grand jury room as a southern sheriff
has often stood before a southern Jail
when he knows that the prisoner with
in is guilty and worthy Of punishment,
but will only allow him to be punished
as the law provides"
Campaign Contributions.
. Regarding THE sehag8e that he had re-
fused to advise the grand jury to indict
George w. Perkins in the -so-called $780,
900 political contribution case. Mr.. Jer-
"It was perfectly plain that Bryan's
election would have been followed by
a shrinkage in the value of the securi-
ties of the New York Life Insurance
company of say at least 10 or IL per
cent, so that with $50 millions of Sc
curities this contribution by Mr.. Per-
kins was shrewd business move, even
If it were illegal But was 1t illegal?
Moreover, there was abundant evidence
that the officials of almost every fin
ancial institution in New York city
party committee to help defeat Bryan,
so that if Perkins were guilty, then I
had my work cut out for me good and
plenty for a year or more ahead.
II tried to get a judicial decision in
the matter. Judge lO'Sullivan refused
to take it up and decide it. The judic-
larry Of New York city was as scared
as anybody in New York because 1t
was on one hand ]. Pierpont Morgan's
partner and on the other hand the yell
low journals were yamming and VOW
ling
Mr.. Jerome said there was no rule of
law by which he could have brought
John A. McCalTs evidence before the
Armstrong committee to the attention
of a grand jury.
"I have been called a liar and charg-
ed with not being a bloodhound and
many other awful things" he said,
but there has never been even an in
timation that have dollar in the
world except what have received as
salary" ~ y =
Regarding the charge which related
20 the $4,000 which Thomas F. Ryan re-
ceived from the Metropolitan Securi-
ties. Mr.. Jerome said that it was in
1908, when one William N. Amory came
to him with a weird tale against this
company. 1t transpired about this
time, he said, that several men began
a bear campaign in Wall street against
Metropolitan Securities.
at was" Mr.. Jerome said, import
ant to find out the source of these bear
rumors. Thomas F. Ryan spent about
$24, 900 of his own money for detectives
and in other ways to clear up the mat
ter. Subsequently the Metropolitan
Securities company repaid to Mr.. Ryan
this 1900, a perfectly legitimate pro-
ceeding. in my Judgment"
Mr.. Jerome then took up the investi-
CATION of the American Ice company.
He said the January grand jury looked
into the matter carefully and found no
been at 1t for two weeks and as yet
had done nothing.
AT the most said Mr.. Jerome, ''if
It transpires that I erred in the ice
trust matter, it can only be an error
of Judgment on my part"
Oppose the Aldrich Bill.
Memphis. Tenn, May 27.-The