The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-31
FRIEND OF
THE PEOPLE.
Career Of William D. DAILY,
Democratic Candidate
for Congress.
FROM FOUNDRY TO BENCH
In the Legislature He Was
Always Found on the
Public's Side.
4 CONSISTENT FRIEND OF LABOR
Measures in the Interests of
Workingmen for Which
He Fought.
PERSISTENT FOE OF TRUSTS
His Battle Against the vreeland
Corporation Bill--For the
Soldiers.
4 CONSISTENT FRIEND OF LABOR
PERsIsTENTFoE OF TRUSTS
His Battle Against the Vreeland
Corporation Bill--For the
Soldiers.

Senator DAILY occupies a high position
in the political and legal life of New
Jersey and probably no one possesses a
more thorough knowledge of the status
Of legislation on nearly all subjects
touching the welfare of New Jersey As
citizen, lawyer, legislator and states
man he stands in the front rank, an
honorable distinction attained by means
of his indonitable energy and enthusiasm
for his profession.
Born in 1851 in Jersey City, Mr.. Daily
has always resided within the limits OF
Hudson county, while his fame has ex-
tended from one end of the State to the
other. His early education was acquired
in Public School No. l in Jersey City,
and among his schoolmates We're some
who have since become prominent, as for
instance Mayor Wanser. Samuel D. Dick
fnson City Treasurer of Jersey City,
and the late City Clerk John e. Scott
At the age of fourteen he went to work
~insCpry's iron foundry vas an aIpFentiees
and later he was employed in the foundry
of the Erie Railroad Company and
Blackmore's foundry. Among his shop
mates in Black1nore's was Mayor Pagan
of Hoboken. But the legal profession
had always offered an attractive field
to Mr.. DAILY. and in 1870 he entered the
Office of s. B. Ransom in Jersey City
-Four years later he was admitted to the
bar as an attorney, and later he was
made counsellor.
With the ambition of his youth now
partly realized, Mr. DAILY entered upon
the practice Of law with the tact and
energy peculiar to self-made men, He
has practiced law in all the courts of
the State and has represented the de-
fence in more capital cases than any
lawyer in the State; today he stands in
the front rank of criminal lawyers in
the State Of New Jersey.
In the great Erie Railroad strike of
1878 Mr. DAILY appeared as counsel for the
arrested freight handlers and secured
their acquittal. In 1887 he conducted the
defence Of the Cigarmakers' Union in
Jersey City, whose leaders were charged
with conspiracy. In this case also he
succeeded in obtaining verdict of ac-
quittal. His early associations have made
Mr. Daily entertain very kindly feeling
toward latboring men and labor organiza-
tions His sympathies have beeen with
them in their efforts for just legislation
and he has always been the ardent
champion of their cause. For this he has
earned the respect and gratitude of the
great mass of toilers dn Hudson county.
In appreciation of his legal ability
President Cleveland, during his first
term, appointed him Assistant United
States District Attorney, and this office
he held for three years, handing in his
resignation to an incoming administra-
tion. In 1888 he was made alternate
delegate to the National Democratic Con-
vention at ST. Louis, and again in 1892
to the Chicago Convention. In 1891 he
was urged to accept the nomination for
Member of the House Of Assembly from
the Eighth district of Hudson county
Elected by rousing majority he took
his place on the floor of the House as
the practical leader of his party. The
same courtesy which had characterized
his work as practitioner won for
him hosts Of friends, as legislator,
even from the opposition, and at the
close of the session the same Legislature
appointed him Judge of the Hoboken
District Court. This Office he resigned
upon his election TO the Senate in 1892
The election which resulted in the
choice of Judge DAILY to the Senate was
won after a most exciting campaign, J.
Herbert Potts, man Of great strength
and popularity, was nominated on the
Republican ticket, but Mr. DAILY had such
hold on The popular heart that he was
Erlumphantly elected BY s.s45 plurality