New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-17
I ak Of
City Hall

William 3. Ellison has announced
his support Of Mayor Mitchell Even
Tammany Is compelled TO take notice.
The shock Of Mr. Ellison's announce
ment has been felt from top TO bottom
Of the organization. and in way when
causes other defections from the ranks
to pale into insignificance. What II
the Sullivans and the Silyersteins pro
claim their independence Of Charles r..
Murphy? There are other Sullivans and
Silyersteins who may be converted 70
the cause. But there is only one VIII
liam b. Ellison, and he is lost and
gone forever.
Tammany has been losing supporters
in fairly continuous volume ever
since Tom Rush made public his apos-
tGcy. In squads and battalions they
have announced their detestation Of
Murphy and their admiration OF Mlt-
chel in appropriate resolutions, all
carefully prepared by Charley StecHier
and John Tyrone Kelly, but without a
comeback from the wigwam. In tens
and hundreds they have deserted, WIN
out a squeak from the mother tiger
until william B. Ellison Withdrew
And now the roar goes up-woW, put II
hurts!
Mr.. Ellison was a prominent candl-
date for the Tammany NOMINATION Ior
MAYOR. While his name was under con,
sideration he did not permit word OF
hie attitude toward the Tiger. toward
Mitchell. toward the political situation
10 be made public. But the rank ana
file Of Tammany, represented IN tne
nerson of United States Marshal NC
Carthy, opposed his selection because
he had supported Mitchell four years
before; and Hearst held thumbs down
because he had represented Mcclellan
in tho recount litigation. In brleI'
Ellison was passed over for John r.
Hvlan. of Brooklyn, ard he has felt
the disgrace Of il keenly ever since.
Well, he has discovered that ne
hadn't anything in common with tne
Murphy outfit anyway. Many WORTHY
citizen who ordinarily would vote
against the Murphy ticket on genera
principles might take more h,hui!
interest in it IL it named him lot
nroftablo office. That, apparently, was
Nv Fllison's position when he appeared
before the executive committee OF tne
D,,siross Mons League on August 3.
On that occasion it seems highly prop
abIe that "Barkis was willin. =.
Rut accounts differ as TO the readi-
rass Of Mr.. Ellison TO subscribe "
Tho nlatforr Of municipal ownership
With which the Business Mems League,
&c tho alter ego of Tammany, was
sben towing. Joseph Yeska, chairman
Of fine league. would have it that Mr'
Ellison swallowed it whole, throwing
In for good measure criticism OF
Wavor Mitchell TO the effect that the
MAYOR had come under the control OF
yery dangerous and harmful inFu-
onces" Mr.. Ellison, on the other
hand. denies that ne subscribed 10
municipal ownership or that ne IN
dulged in any criticism OF the Mayor
In anv case, he now repeats what
he said of John Purroy Mitchell -FOUR
wears ago, as follows:
"An honest man. an able man, and
that which is of at least equal I'M
portance, an absolutely fearless man
such is John Purroy Mitchell"
And he has something to say also
Of the Democracy Of Cleveland and
Wilson, as compared with that OF
Bryan and Sulzer. Both Hylan him
self, and the platform on which he is
running for Mayor, are an expression
of the latter, in Mr.. Ellison's opinion.
Wherefore he wishes to be counted out
az q member of the Democratic or
ganization.
William Bruce Ellison was born in
st. Thomas, Ontario. Canada, sixty
years ego, Of a Canadian father and
an American mother. He was admit
ted as a barrister and solicitor to the
Canadian bar in 1880, but the same
year he came 70 New York and in 1882
he was admitted to the bar here, where
he has continued the successful prac-
tice of law ever since. Mayor Mcclellan
appointed him, first, Water Commits
sioner. and then Corporation Counsel.
And "a Corporation Counsel he gave
John Purroy Mitchell his first city
Job.
Mr.. Ellison was in special sense
sponsor for Mitchell. whose abilities
and possibilities he recognized from
the first. Through his influence Mitchell
was appointed Commissioner Of Ac-
counts, an office which led directly to
the political preferment which the
present Mayor has enjoyed ever since.
II is of special Importance, there
fore. that Mr.. Ellison, at this advanced
date in the career of his protege
should retain that faith in him which
he manifested from the first. And
L 4
willing 10 run against him for Mayor
Such is M. ora) nolitics