The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-18
A Welsh BarOmet
And Once a Knight.
A Pen Picture of Councilman Joseph Oliver.
Welsh Press Disloyal to the Royal Family.

Sir William Thomas Lewis is known
TO thousands Of the Welsh people of
Pennsylvania. Less than sixty years
ago he was born of comparatively poor
parents at Merthyr. Glamorganshirc,
South Wales. and before he was thir-
teen years of age he was learning the
trade of engineer. and before he was
forty years of age he was one of the
best known mechanical engineers in
the world. On the last Thursday in
December (Christmas, 1880 it was Of
ficiallly announced that the queen OF
England conferred baronetcy on him.
Although not unexpected. the acknow-
ledgment of Sir Williams exceptional
ability Is greatly appreciated by Welsh
men all over the world Sir Williams
well known personality Is not confined
to South Wales. In all the centres or
Industry in Great Britain, in America
and on the continent of Europe he has
made his name and his presnce felt;
but nowhere has he been more famil-
lar figure than in the committee rooms
of the English parliament. Sir William
and Lady Lewis have been the authors
of many charitable actions, particular
~ in the Aberdare district, where they
live. He was born In Merthyr in 1897.
At the age of thirteen he was appren-
ticed to an engineer at the Plymouth
works Subsequently he worked under
the late Mr.. w. S. Clark the engineer
who, at that time, was engaged in the
construction of the Butte Docks and
had charge Of the Butte mineral estate.
Upon the death of Mr.. Clark in 1864, Sir
William became his successor. and up
on the resignation of Mr.. Boyle. in 1880,
he assumed the control of the entire
Butte estate Ills name, however, will
he more particularly associated with
the Efforts he has made to adjust the
labor disputes in the mining districts.
A few years ago he visited America as
the representative Of the Iron and Steel
institute of Great Britain He is a
very busy man, and 10 seek an inter-
View with him, to submit new patent.
or to lease coal taking" time and
place have TO be liked and preordained
with Us much elaboration as though
you were an ambassador seeking aud
lehfe VI sovereign. and. I'm the end.
lpaybe the appointment is made for
an eNtemporized bureau in the COM
partmtnt of an express train, where
Sir William Is busy with his spcre-
taries. The new baronet has irons i'm
80 many iires that. as has been so well
said. his information IL something en-
cyclopaedic. or arq,lis!tivc habit he
mas been an Omniverous reader. He
pursued ms career as an engineer with
an unprecedented success, and i'm pro-
GfesS OF time he became a large coal
mine owner and a steel manufactures
as well. He has also won great noto-
riety as an inventor
The Mnn Of the Moment.
Mr.. Ellis Jones Griffith is. no doubt
tne man OF the moment in Welsh poll
Iics' lie Is the son of an Anglesea
N A,
u contemporary of Mr.. Tom Ellis, Mr.
Richard Jones. and Mr.. $. n. Evans at
Aberystwith college. Thence he pro.
exceptionally brilliant career, and
after graduating In law with the highest
honors was elected II Fellow of Down
ing college. Besides these accidental
distinctions. Mr. Griffith gained a repu-
tat1on as Il speaker and filed the post
of president OF the Cambridge union
Though man of parts and a brilliant
speaker, his manner Is too studied and
his trhetoric is too cold for a popular
audience, and he vii never perhaps,
ne as much of success on Welsh plat
forms as Mr.. Lloyd-George or Mr. Will
lam Jones. He is. however. a master of
biting phrases and neat epigrams, and
seems destined to achieve success i'm the
more cOngenial atmosphere of the
iioust vi commons. There Is no Welsh
meinbe: who can be compared to him
Tor readiness in retort and for certain
sardonic humor and Il genial cynicism
winch charm an assemblagc like the
mouse or commons. Mr.. Griffith Is, of
course. a barrister. and Is married TO 81
!auy VINO a few years ago was well
known in London musical circles no
Miss Mary Owen, and he has had one
chiid daughter. Personally. Mr.
Hrilllth Is popular even among the ex-
treme Cymru Fyddites.
The Welsh Press.
The Cardiff Weekly Mail and News
oI tne week accuses the press of
wares Oh Deing disloyal to the members
OF the royal family. This great news.
paper, published in the capitaI Of
Wales. says that portion of the Welsh
press makes 1t point to insult royalty,
ana snow contempt for monarchy
whenever an opportunity offers. When
members of the royal family visit the
principality these papers throw dirt at
them. Why they do so is unaccoupt
able-for the Welsh people, as a race.
are instinctively loyal More shame to
themO The birth Of son to the Duke
OF YORK, and the recent accident to the
Prince OF Wales. are taken advantage
of to dlsparage the monarchy and make
personal attack on the heir to the
throne. Both papers are published in
Glamorganshire. The "Celt" writes
thus: I'VE do not know whether the
Dfrth OF another son to the Duke of
York is to be regarded as family or a
political matter. 1t may be both The
Duke of York is the heir of the Prince
tf Wales. The last child born is his
second son. and the fact is announced
4.S .,n