Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-20

Wltnln single decade, William +.
Harrity, chairman of the Democratic
national committee and secretary Of the
commonwealth of Pennsylvania, rose
from the ranks to the leadership of his
party in Pennsylvania. Previous to the
memorable fight in 1882, when Con
troller Pattison was elected to be Gov
ernor Pattison, Mr. Ilarrity was an
almost unknown and silent worker in
the party. Since then lie has obtained
a more solid hold upon the party ma
chinery than has been possessed by any
Democrat in Pennsylvania since the
war. And when the Democratic ma
tunal committee met for organization
he was unanimously chosen chairman,
and is now lending the Democratic
forces in the great battle that promises
to again make Grover Cleveland, the
real choice of the American people,
President of the United States.
A PEN SKETCH OF nARRtTY.
Mr.. Harrity's personal appearance
commands attention and respect lie is
tall, large of limb and broad of shout
ders, with u smooth shavcn face Except
for a well-shaped moustache), and u
luxurious growth Of short curling hair
Of dark brown color, His manner is
tluitL uul lull VI thSH anu commence,
and his nature frank and open; but he
possesses sufficient caution and shrewd.
ness TO protect himself from political
b,unders. He has that rare and inyalu-
able aid to successful leadership, the
quality of attracting and holding the
confidence and affection of the men
about him and upon whose assistance
he is compelled to rely.
Mr. Iiurritu lie I1alo va rnn 4, bfrr hut
Pennsylvania by education. He first
saw the light at the Delaware metropolis
in October, 1850. After preliminary
training in the Wilmington schools he
entered La Sale College, Philadelphia,
in 1867, graduating III 1870 with the first
honors of his class. lie was tutor for
one year in Latin and mathematics and
then received the degree of master Of
arts In 1871.
The bent Of his mind. however, was
toward the law, and he was trained in
legal knowledge in the law offices of
Lewis Q. Cassidy and Pierce Archer,
where he learned not only the rudi-
inents of law but good deal about
politics under the master mind of Mr..
Cassidy, which he has never forgotten.
He was admitted to the bar in Deem
Der, 1873, and became an assistant in
the office Of his preceptor, a position
which he held from 1873 until 1880,
continuing to learn more law and more
politics of theoretical sort. In 1880
his own law practice had grown to such
proportions that he formed law
partnership with young james Gay
Gordon, then a rising politician, now
one of the judges Of the common pleas
of Philadelphia. This partnership con
tinued for four years, during which
time the young attorney, in addition to
his legal work, had put in successful
practice some of the excellent theo-
retical politics which he had learned
under Mr.. Cassidy and improved upon.
in his law practice, chiefly connected
with the orphans court and in the
management of estates, he became very
successful and won FOR himself the con-
tidencc of the business community.
LAUNCHED INTO POLITICS. ..
In 1882 Mr.. Harrity launched OF
rather was launched by his friends upon
the fredul, but to him, congenial sea OF
politics. The Philadelphia city organi
zation was wreck The party was
divided into hostile factions, as it had
been for some years. Controller Rober
,E. Pattison had been nominated fol
governor. A serious revolt confronted
the Republican party in the state and thu
city. There was a chance under skill
full management and harmonious actor
for sweeping Democratic victory. Ii
this juncture Mr.. Harrity, whose worl
as an organizer had already been felt il
q number of ways, was asked to tax,
the craftsmanship of the Democratic
city executive committee. After refec
ton he consented. The confidence re
posed in his integrity and bushes
methods enabled him to raise larg,
campaign fund. lie harmonzed all tn
factions. He organized the party in tn
this city as it had never been organized
before. The result was the election o
Judge Michael Arnold and Register o
Wills Walter Il. Rex on the city ticket
and the success of the whole state ticket
Having accomplished these results h
modestly retired. BUTT was too eyiden
that he possessed the highest qualities O
political leadership to make it possibl
for him to remain out uf the poitica
arena. He retained his membcrshpin tn
state executive committee until 1886. L
1854 he was elected a delegatc-at. larg
to the national Democratic convention
which was held in Chicago, BY
larger vote than that gwen to an
other candidate, although he was ia
youngest man sent to the national con
vention from Pennsylvania as d dele
gate-at-large. This was due very largel
TO the known services which he ha
rendered to his party in the councils q
its leaders. He had, in fact though nc
ostensibly at the head Of the organiza
ticn, the control of the party organiza
ton in Philadelphia. At several critica
times he had thrown the weight Of hi
influence to assist eS-Speaker Randa
10 maintain his supremacy in the cit
and in the state. And il was really d
this time Mr.. Harrity and not Mr.. Rar
dali who controlled the party machiner
in Philadelphia.
After the election of Mr. Clevelan
he was rendered without any effort o
his own part the postmastership of III
city. Indeed, at first he declined to col
slider the offer of the appointment. II
was finally prevailed upon to acccp
Mr.. Harrity's management of the pos
office under the most difficult circun
stances was signal success So much /
hatMr.W anamaker, nowthe postmaste
general, upon his retirement, togeth,
with other prominent business men
Philadelphia, expressed to him formal
their appreciation of the excellent Sc
vice which his administration of II
post-ottice had given TO the city. Anon
the scores OF signers of this letter
commentator We're DreXel & Co
Burnham, Parry, Williams & CO., b.
Comegys, A. K. Mcclure, John {
johnson, William b. Mann, Edwin