William Travers Jerome, who, by reason of being the district attorney
of the metropolis, his power of pungent political oratory and his
strenuous work as a municipal reformer, is one of the best known and
decidedly one of the most interesting figures in the current history
of New York, is still a young man. He was born April 18, 1859, in
Lawrence, Massachusetts, receiving his initial education at the local
public school and from private tutors; he took a classical course at
Amherst college, and next was a student at the Columbia university law
school of New York city. He was admitted to the bar in 1884 and became
connected with a New York law firm. From the first he gave evidence of
being the possessor of those qualities which later made him famous. As
a lawyer his learnedly aggressive methods brought him popularity and
many fees. As a justice of the court of special sessions, he lived up
to the reputation that he had established on the bench. When, a few
years since, he threw himself into the political whirlpool, he gave the
country-at-large an excellent example of the man who has waited for his
opportunity, recognizes it when he sees it and grasps it forthwith. It
is not too much to say that Mr. Jerome did more than any one man, or,
for that matter, any one group of men to free New York from certain
evil influences which had fastened themselves upon it and its citizens.
Here is what he says relative to his political success, but his remarks
apply equally to success of all kinds: “A young man must have strong
convictions of the right kind, hold to them through thick and thin, be
willing to accept defeats smilingly, if necessary begin his work all
over again, but still stick to it—and victory is assured.”