Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-04
IyentfuI Life Of Captain Of In.
dusiry and Former Seere-
tary Of the Navy
CLEvELAND'S FRIEND
Prominent Figure III Democratic
Politics for Past Quarter Of
Century

william e. whitney was bern Il
Conway, Mass In July, 1871. He cars
of good DID stock. His first America
ancestor was John Whitney. who set
tied in Waterfowl, Mass, In 1895 An
other was Josiah Whitney, d briga
dier general In the revolution ard 4
member III The invention which ffam-
ed the constitution Of the common.
wealth an. adopted tint h. lie Unit
ed States.
Mr.. whitney's father vas Brig. Gen
James scollay Whitney. who. In 1854,
was appointed superintendent Of the
Springfield armory BY Preaiden,
Pierce, and. In 1860. collector Of the
port u Boston BY President Buchanan.
on bis mothers side he was descend.
cd from Gov. William Bradford.
William Collins Whitney went ID
school al WIilIston seminary, East.
hampton, Mass, was graduated from
Yale 10 1869, and from the Harvard
law school in 1864.
Mr.. Whitney went To New York city
from his native ntate Of Massachu
setts with superb health, i university
education, a supply u Industry. a pow
er 70 direct Others. and soon made
himself known Ut the bar Then he
entered local politics at that time
complicated by corrupt democratic and
republican Legislators. Young demo-
Gratis. Apollo hall democrats, Tam
many bah democrats and rcformers
He Joined the AppoIlo hall workers.
His ease, his power ~ suggestion and
direction. soon controlled He became
a leader and In 1872. when 3I years
old, be was the Appollo hall candi
date for district attorney lie had no
chance 81 election. but he got recog
milton II became known that Whit
ney WIS 70 BIZ reckoned with When i
new ~upheayaI came about. he appeared
at the from, Of Irving hall faction and
be was al their front when seceders
from Irving hall established the coun.
W democracy. of which BIZ conceived
the final plan.
Reforms city's Law Department.
Meantime Mr.. Whitney had become
the corporation counsel. the head OF
New York city's law departmcnt-his
first public once. The law depart.
ment had been a hive of drones: he
used some of the good material be
found In u and got rid Of the other.
Then he sought new tools. and found
them. az usual With such men to
help him az George r. Andrews, D
. Justice Of the supreme court; Fran.
els Lynde Stetson, counsel for several
Oh the greatest railway and financial
corporations: David ] Dean, an au.
thority on municipal Law r.. ii. La.
combe. now on the bench Of the United
States circuit court; Andrew r. Camp
bell. who became chief clerk and has
been In the law department for more
than forty years, and others Who have
since become successful practitioners.
Mr Whitney made the law department
a place o. successful industry.
Mr. Whitney meanwhile kept his
exc On Tammany hall. Ie sought III
control u rs all New York democrats
90, however much they mas condemn
u when outside. ne wanted democrat
&c unity always, but preferred a tiger
~ i's own adoption and training
The county democracy accordingly
made i strenuous effort ii Iii I'LL.
troll Of the Tammany society. The
details q The plan were left 10 Hnb.rt
q Thompson. HE nominal director EVIL
the county democracy. They did NOT
work ont successfully. ana matters
went on as before Sometimes Tam.
many aud the outsiders fought one Al.
other: sometimes They called 4 truce.
and together fought a common oppon
ent William g. whitney was aiNassI
active In the field he had len The ~
nee q corporation counsel. and was
seeking q franchise for i railway IN
broadway. Since then be has not TAX
en- an open part IN locaI politics fur.
her than 10 show interest In il when Il
bore upon national politlcs. when.
his interest waned, The county de
mocracy weakened and soon LEFT The.
held TO Tammany hall.
Secretary OF the Navy.
With Gr0yar rlavala rata l