Evening star., 1934-08-07
WILLIAM S. Ware,
.@, ,D|ESSUDDENLY
OF HEART ATTACK
Recently Deposed Political
Leader of Philadelphia
Rated as Millionaire.
LOSS OF SENATE SEAT
MARKED HIS DECLINE
Rose From Huckster to Position
Of Power-Fortune Based
on Ashes Contract.
By the Associated Press.


ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., August 2.
William s. Ware, Republican ma
tional committeeman and for years
the colorful leader Of the Republican
organization in Philadelphia, died
suddenly at 1880 am today at his
Summer home here. 1t was revealed
last night by his son-in-law, DR.. John
J. Shaw, that Ware, in Ill health six
years, suffered a relapse about "a
week ago from the heat.
Ware suffered heart attack and
passed away In 20 minutes. He was
SO years old In December.
Ware, who was elected to the United
States Senate In 1926 and was re-
fused a seat after q three-year fight
on charges of excessive campaign ex-
penditures, was stricken with q
paralytic stroke in August, 1928. For
many days his condition was critical,
but he rallied to continue his fight
for the seat in the Senate.
Recently Deposed.
Despite his Hines he continued his
political activities in Pennsylvania
until recently when he was deposed
as the leader of the Republican or
ganization In Philadelphia.
Confidence In himself and loyalty
to his friends were characteristics
that proved important factors in the
rise of Ware from huckster's wagon
to a position of dominance in Repub-
hcan politics of Pennsylvania.
Born in the lowlands Of South Phil
adelphia December "a, 1867, Ware was
the last of three brothers who for
more than quarter Of century con-
trolled to a large extent Republican
politics in Philadelphia.
He and his brothers, George and
Edwin, spent their boyhood years in
comparative poverty on the small
truck farm of their father. William
was the only one Of the three who re-
ceived any early education. After q
few years in school he went to work
as a cash boy in the Wanamaker store,
but left in short time for the huck-
ster's wagon to sell the products Of
the little Ware farm.
Fortune Founded on Ashes.
The efforts of the three brothers
with the truck farm soon lifted them
above their competitors and marked
the beginning of close association
in their private, business and politi-
cal lives that continued many years.
The beginning of the Wares rise to
fortune was a small city contract for
the collection of ashes, which Edwin
obtained when he was 81. The next
year he was awarded large nunic-
ipal contract for street cleaning. In
10 years the brothers handled more
than $13,000,000 in city contracts.
william was actively interested in
contract work as head Of the Ware
Co., but the consern had done no
municipal work since 1919.
1t was in 1895 that the Wares made
their first major move in politics and
the next year placed complete City
Council ticket in the field. They routed
the Republican organization in the
first ward and then gradually extend
ed their influence until they were in
control of the city politically shortly
after the turn Of the century.
In those days George Ware was
looked upon as the politician, Edwin
as the business man and William as
the candidate for office. The last
named began in public Office as a
member of the City Council and then
in turn served as mercantile appraiser,
recorder of deeds, member of the State
Senate and Representative in Con-
gress. He resigned from the House in
1926 upon his election as United
States Senator, the goal of his am
bition.
Battle Penrose.
A candidate for Mayor of Philadel-
phia in 1911. Ware was defeated by
Rudolph Blankenburg, running on an
independent ticket. That campaign
led to a break between the Wares and
the late James P. McNichol, a former
leader of the Republican organization,
who had entered into an alliance with
them. The late Senator Boise Penrose
threw his help to McNichol, beginning
a conflict with the Wares for control
of the organization that continued un-
til Senator Penrose's death, in 1921.
A year later the death of Edwin Ware
left William as the undisputed leader
Of the Republican organization, his
brother George having died several
years before.
The new leader, given loyal sup
port by the ward organizations. quick
ly solidifled the party and strength
ened his hold until he completely
dominated the political affairs of
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