1930–31 Volume 55 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

New Governor of" MassachusettsIs a Williams Phi(jovERNOR-ELECT Joscph B. Ely, Williams,'02, of Massachusetts is one ofthe most active Phis in New England.He comes of a Phi family, having abrother and a son who have beenmembers of Massachusetts Alpha.Those who were with him in collegeare not surprised that he has beenelected to the Governorship of hisstate. Ever since he arrived in Williamstownfrom his Westfield home inthe fall of 1898 he has been politicallyminded.Brought up in a householdwhere politics were constantly discussed—hisfather is still one of themost active Democrats in the centralsection of the Bay State—he broughtthe same instinct to college.In those days fraternity deals andpopular elections were the rule. JoeEly saw great possibilities in them.But from the very beginning he had aprofound belief in the wisdom of abetter attitude toward college honors.He thought they ought to be won. Hespoke and worked for the system ofapprenticeship in extracurriculumtasks; and now it is the rule at Williams.Joe made a strong record in college.While his watch-chain does not carrya * B K key, he led the Banjo Club fortwo years, was a class officer, managedthe track team successfully and in hissenior year was elected to the honorsociety. Gargoyle. He was on mostof the important committees and wasa popular character at all times on thecampus.Fortunately for Williams and MassachusettsAlpha his interest did notend with college days. -A^s an alumnus[181By DWIGHT MARVIN,Williams, '01he has been a constant visitor at thecollege, particularly during the lastfour years. This was accounted forby the fact that his son Richard wasa member of the class of 1930—andincidentally president of the class threeyears out of the four.From a fraternity standpointBrother Ely has always been a dominantfactor. When he became a memberof the chapter, Massachusetts••^Ipha occupied a small house threequartersof a mile from the center ofthe campus. As a result the chapterlacked the standing entitled to it onaccount of the type of men who composedits membership. Brother Ely,during his junior year, was one ofseven men who contributed $100 eachto hold one of the finest properties inthe village, between the Deke andAlpha Delt houses, until the alumnicould be solicited and mortgages arrangedfor its purchase. During hissenior year he lived in the new house;and a few years later he was one ofthe group who worked out a plan underwhich a handsome building waserected. Recently he and one or twoother alumni raised an additional$25,000 to pay mortgages and makepossible the construction of a diningroom large enough for banquet purposes.Westfield is only 75 miles fromWilliamstown and weather has neverbeen too forbidding to get him in Williamstownon call to help solve chapterproblems.Upon graduation in 1902 BrotherEly entered Harvard Law School and,after passing his bar examinations in1905, immediately started the practice