New-York tribune., 1918-09-06
Park Commissioner Restores
Right to Do Business to
John Williamson, Who Re-
fused to Sell Unpatriotic
Papers and Appealed to
Court

The newsdealers who are making war
on Hearst have won their fight to pre-
vent Mayor Hylan from revoking their
licenses for that reason.
On August % Mr. Hylan ordered that
the licenses of all venders who refused
to sell Hearst papers be revoked. In
compliance with that order Acting Park
Commissioner William H. Muldoon, Of
Brooklyn, served notice on John Will
hanson that his license to do business
in Borough Hall Park had been re-
voked, and notified the police to see
that Williamson ceased to operate his
stand.
Yesterday, after Justice Lazansky, of
the Supreme Court, had granted the
Corporation Counsel until this morning
to meet Williamson's demand for an
injunction to prevent the destruction
of his business, Lemuel Ely Quigg,
counsel for Williamson and his fellow
venders, was handed a letter notifying
him that the order to Williamson had
been withdrawn and that Williamson
was free to resume business as though
nothing had happened.
Breakdown Is Complete
The restoration of Wiliamson's H.
cense was without strings or limita-
tlons, and leaves him free now to pros
ecute suit against the city and against
William H. Muldoon. as an individual,
for interfering with his business. No
action will be taken against the police
who enforced Muldoon's order, Will
hanson feeling that they acted under
orders and in good faith, as we'll as
with courteous consideration.
Williamson, who has been selling
papers from the sidewalk near his
stand, opened up the stand immediate
ly he was notified that the city had
quit in its effort to bulldoze the news
dealers into doing Hearst's will.
"They thought they could scare me-
said Williamson, between sales to Gus
toners who were congra tulating him on
his "return home" "but they have
seen their error. We're not the quit
ting kind.
my next move, l expect, will be into
the army. There are four of us boys
who are in this next draft. We will
all waive exemption. When l come
back-that is, if l come back want
this stand and I think | will have it.
Anyway, when am licking Germans
over there I won't be feeling badly over
the thought that they licked US over
here"
Explanations Are Lacking
No explanation of the right about
face of the administration was forth
coming from Mayor Hylan's Office
Neither did any come from Deputy
Park Commissioner Muldoon, nor his
immediate superior, William N. Har-
man, whose name is signed to the let
ter cancelling the order of Muldoon.
Muldoon has previously explained that
he was following orders. On behalf of
Commissioner Harman friends said
yesterday that he greatly regretted
Muldoons action. Had he been in the
city, they said, Williamson would not
have been interfered with. The aban-
donment of the attempt to fight Will
iamsons suit for an injunction followed
two adjournments granted at the re-
quest of the Corporation Counsel on
the ground that his office had not had
time to prepare defence, though Lem
uel Ely Quigg, Williamsons counsel,
was prepared at all times to argue his
case. 1t was apparent, however, that
the city's representative was having
early in the week signals of distress
began to fly. These took the form of
ntimations to Williamson that he
might have his license back and all
would be lovely if he were willing to
agree that it was all misunder-
standing.
Refused Any Compromise
The plaintiff, however, took the
ground that he would be satisfied with
nothing save the return of his license
CT the determination of the court of
last resort that he had no right to it.
This left the Corporation Counsel with
but one course to follow, and he fol-
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