Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-23
.,u..d from Rage One

continued ffnW "e'
.,,anufacturer for many years. OF until
' n aiehteen years ago..
spo.,,a spou, s,ill A very young man he began
WIZ, chose connections which later were
10 n,and by him in the times OF stress. He
70 military, benevolent and other social
jcnssn,zations, and at the time he was
orgs, MAYOR It was said that he was
electeu ~ at least Twenty-Five orgauiza-
rnenlpe ,rhe probability is that the number
nss IN excess OF tha''
,.oars he was a member of the First
for fsrt and while he was IN that COM
Reslnh he saw the thrilling riot service in
manu- i'm 1877, In which he had his
f.,,ing experiences In the famous Round
excl."es esvbt But before this he had been
Eous. .,,e National Guard in the riot service
WIN srsouehanna Depot, in 1874, and in
Ms,.,,ston and Jeddo in 1875.
,o,NrD MANY ORGANIZATIONS
,e Joined the National Guard
pcor he had become connected with the
hoWeion club, and it was said of him
Caieuvh had held every office within the
tna' ~ that organization. He Joined this
gu, rhen he was eighteen. and in rapid
ciusion ciup or as soon as he was of sufii.
sueV. go he Joined the Masonic fraternity,
cen, en',,;,bts of Pythias, the odd Fellows,
the r,n,.sd workmen and SO many other
the ,nations that the wonder was that he
olsa .amen,ber even their names.
eo. these social activities were begun long
A. ~. he had held political office. When
on 10 look for political office he quick.
ne eadded 10 the number of his interests. and
au said of him at the time of his cleo
~. os Mayor That he was member of
uon Republican club in this city. The
.., e'ea. for this was not far to seek. for he
ss ajected a member or honorary member
sssuently without his knowledge. In those
n.,s be was known to virtually everybody
us ,m ,be city, and was rapidly gaining repu.
.,on III os the man with 1.-THE glad hand
u'l,air,v tsuV% be had a smile and an extended
80 for every one. His energy seemed to
~ ,nexhaustibe, and he was able to go the
sounds of the clubs and even OF some or
,Se so.called political barrooms until late
W ,he night and be fresh and early at his
desk the following morning
ELECTED AS KEFORMER
ue carly became a member of the Union
,aague and of the Young Republicans. but
Ms actual introduction into the political
arena as a candidate was made without his
knowledge He was resident of the
rventr.eighth Ward in those days, and
.nart from his natural interest In every
hing that showed political and social ac-
,vIty and likely to be of use to city or
nation, he was apparently not thinking of a
noitical career. But in 1881 George A.
Smith. who had been president Of Select
. Council and represented the Twenty-aighth
ward in that body. resigned. a convention
was held to nominate his successor. but
there did not appear to be any candidate
yearning for the honor
There were. naturally, a good many
friends of Smith In the convention, ana
when they found no one was canvassing
for the nomination, one of them suggested
the name of William Il. Smith. The idea
caught on Immediately and without a sign
and with air SpOnta-
neity he was named That evening he was
visited at his home and told of the re-
suit.
He accepted and for the next six years
was the most discussed man in political
life in the city. The Committee of one
Hundred gave him its Endorsement. and
that went great way in those days. and
he was elected. The following year he
came up for denomination. but the then Or
ganizaton put a quietus on his Candidature
by defeating him at the primaries. 1t did
not want reformer. so he did not receive
the Republican nomination. However, his
short year in Select Council showed him
to be the man for the place. and the Citi-
gems Reform Association of the Twenty
eighth Ward took him up and nominated
him. The Committee of one Hundred again
lent its strength to Mr.. Smith. and again
he was triumphanly elected, having also
received the Endorsement of the Democratic
party
RETURNED TO SELECT COUNCIL
Returned TO Select Council after this
spectacular and dramatic fight, he was the
most conspicuous member and was elected
president of the body, but not until twenty.
two ballots had been taken. His career
in Select Council was most satisfactory
He took lead in many needed reforms es
pecialy where they affected various city