The sun., 1917-09-30
! ERHAPS one reason why William
NJ. Bennett entered-or in the
opinion of certain politicians,

OplTiOn VI CeTttih pOlltlClduS,
butted into-the Republican primaries
to the discontinue Of Mayor Mitchell
and his hackers is that he loves fight.
The possibility Of thoroughly messing
up the campaign Of his arch political
enemy. Mr.. Mitchell. was apparently
too good an opportunity for him to
overlook.
That he has been reasonably sue
cessful is evident by the growing
figures Of his lead in the recount. and
the talk among Republicans Of adopt
ing the expedient Of hav1ng law
passed so that Mr.. Bennett may be
persuaded to withdraw for the good Of
fusion and his own party figures. In
some ways tho situation IL one Of the
strangest in the history, Of what from
the beginning has been a campaign
fun OF surprises and unforeseen COM
pucations.
william M. Bennett, rancher. law
yer. Assemblyman and Senator. loves
q battle as much as he does his ranch
in Montana, where he occasionally
seeks relaxation from the bowling will
derness Of New York politics by hiking
on the back Of a cayuse over some
1000 Of his own untamed acres. When
he got ready to enter this municipal
campaign he modified some Of his bat
ting tactics to suit the subtle ways Of
politicians. stuck his tongue in his
cheek and began vigorously but SILENT
ly to nail a good part Of the Repub-
ncan primary vote to his own hagpole,
with the result that the fusion man.
ayers got the shook Of their lives on
primary day.
As for that matter Of having the
law amended so that Mr.. Bennett can
few interesting things to say about
that the other day. He smiled when
he said them. too.
You see. tried for three years to
have such a law passed. but the
direct primary people opposed 1t on
the ground that q boss could put up
a candidate and then withdraw him
IN q way that would absolutely nullify
the law. / foresaw Just such a situa-
ton as this at that time. but Of course
I had no idea that l would be the
centre OF 1t. No. said Mr.. Bennett
with another grin. II have no inten-
ton OF withdrawing. I offered to
withdraw If Mitchell would and they
called that bombast, so I am in to
stay"
There could be no doubt about that.
Mr. Bennett rubbed his head, which is
getting slightly bald. smiled again and
looked as II he relished the idea Of the
fight that is coming more than he ever
did the work Of wringing reluctant
hundreds of thousands of dollars out
Of the directors Of corporations for the
benefit of minority stockholders.
Whether 1t is in the bad lands of Mon
tana, the wilds OF politics or the Jungle
Of corporation finance he has always
Just dotted on a fight. and when the
fight il hottest he always smiles.
Started a. . Lawyer.
william NJ. Bennett il Just forty
eight years old. He was born in
Tennessee, the son Of a university
president, man who gave up the lat
ter years of his life to go South and
help in the task Of bringing education
to the negroes. Bennett went to Ober-
lin University. from which he was
graduated in 1890, and then to Colum-
bia Law School. from which he OBJ
tanned his degree in 1898.
He made such q good record there
a. a law student that. when in 1895
three Of the professors were taken i'll
he was asked to lecture on the subject
Of Quasi-contracts. a second year sub
ject. James C. Cropsey. now a Justice
Of the Supreme Court, was one of his
classmates.
In November, 1905, he became a
member Of the law firm Of McElheny
& Bennett at Is William street, now
McElheny, Bennett & Sicher, and in
that same year had the distinction OF
successfully winding up litigation
which netted him a fee Of 100000
The money he had inherited from his
father was lost in tho American Malt
Ing Company, and Bennett set out t6
get 1t back.
The start no got in that direction
has made his law practice q specially
Of representing minority stockholders
His activities against this corporation
forced the directors to pay over $780,.
900 in cash and $1.000,000 par value
Of common stock. Another actor
against the American Grass Twint
Company the next year resulted in the
to the corporation.
The name which he made for him.
eelf in those suits brought him q lo'
of business and the young man who
a few years before had seen all hi