The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-01-09
THE IDOL OF HIS PARTY
Col. j. H. Lewis Holds His Head
High at Washington.
HAS DECLINED A FAT OFFICE
said II Was Not on Parallel With His
Position in His Party-In-
terviewed on Politics

Washington, Jan. 5.-Colonel James |
Hamilton Lewis has returned to Wash
ington city after spending the Christ |
mas holidays at the old family country |
home at Sylvania. Georgia, where the |
Yuletide was celebrated in the old-time
hospitable fashion. 1t is learned at the
state department that before he went
away he declined the commission that
had been offered him, and which he
had intended to accept, because of a
misunderstanding as to salary, and be-
cause there was no appropriation to
cover the expenses of the sea voyage,
etc.
Assistant Secretary of State Uhl eX-
planned to Colonel Lewis at length that
there was a deficiency in the consular
appropriations, and that the court eX-
penses through many states of the
Union had not yet been met. While
there would be a probability of get
ting a special appropriation for the
expenses of this commission from the
present congress, it would not be availa-
BILE before some time next summer.
The secretary stated to the gentlemen
comprising the consular commission
that they might go at once upon their
mission, but that it would be at the
compensation heretofore announced
$40 a day during actual service-the
compensation of an United States COM
missioner. Otherwise the matter will
have to wait until next April, or even
later, in order to have expenses ad-
Vanced.
DECLINED A FAT OFFICE.
Lewis was not favorable to this plan
and as for himself declined to accept
it. He told the secretary that it was
not on a parallel with the position he
held in his party to accept such a small
compensation, Notwithstanding the Of
flee was considerable of a sinecure; he
also stated that he was not in favor
of accepting for the democracy of the
state of Washington so small recogni-
ton in the foreign service. He is re
ported to have told the secretary that
unless the mission could be placed on
he level of a special envoy or special
court, he would prefer to wait and take
his chances for something consistent
with his standing in his own home
that "he would not minimize himself or
his party in the state
The matter is still undecided, but it
is very likely that the commission will
never be formed again. The president
has recommended an examining board,
for all consuls, which will be a saving
of expense.
The secretary said yesterday that
while Lewis was not the only man who
conducted himself as though he felt
himself bigger than the state depart
ment, he was the first man coming un-
| der his notice who would not take an Of
| flee. especially one that paid 800 a day
and gave the opportunity of a visit to
| Europe.
During a portion of the time Colonel
| Lewis has been absent from the city
| he has been a guest of Senator Daniel,
| at the latter's home in Virginia.
The Nordstrom murder case, in which
| Lewis is counsel for the defense, will
| probably be taken up in a few days
| by the United States supreme court.
| Both the state of Washington and the
| defendants attorney are anxious to
have the matter advanced and get an
early decision on the points raised by
the latter. Attorney General Jones has
asked Representative S. c. Hyde to
appear for the state at this time, and
| he has consented to do so.
| A DEMOCRATIC IDOL.
Colonel Lewis has been interviewed
| by a reporter of the Washington Post
| in the course of which he says some
| things very complimentary of his state
and some of its most prominent citizens.
| Lewis is introduced to the reading pub
lie at the national capital as "the first
| democrat of his state,' this being at
tested by his party making him its
choice for governor, frequently tender
| l.ff
and further recognizing his exalted po-
sition by giving him it's vote in the last
| legislature for United States senator
to all of which is added that the colonel
| is "one of the conspicuous public men
| of the Pacific coast"
The mission rendered him by the state
| department is delicately hinted at and
a history of the Coquitlam case is Civ
en-, which will come up in the supreme
court next week, and in which Colonel
| Lewis is associate counsel with Mr
Calderon Carlisle of this city, who rep
| resents the government of Great Brit
ain. Judge T.. c. Hughes, also an ack-
nowledged authority on the sealing sub
| ject, will be here from Seattle to rep
resent the owners of the cargo. Attor-
ney General Harmon and United States
Attorney Cater. of San Francisco
will appear for the United States
When asked about business and poll
tics in his state Colonel Lewis said that
business was rapidly increasing, that
the banks in the city Of Seattle had in
creased their deposits in the last few
months to a greater extent than for
two years previous; that all the mills
and factories had started up again and
were overrun with orders.
ON WASHINGTON POLITICS.
As to politics, the interview continues
1--WE have all kinds Of politics in my
state. The republican party has plu.
rality and elects its tickets, but the
democrats hope TO avoid this at tn,
next election. The populists have so in
creased in the state as to greatly EN-
barrass any calculations the old par
ties may make, and a fusion betweeI
the democrats and populists is not un
likely.
I'VE elect United States senator thi
, approaching fall" continued Colone
Lewis, "and the outcome is at present ;
political puzzle. The present senator
Watson c. Squire. whose term expires
has announced his candidacy. lie /
wealthy and popular with one wing o
his party, and all admit the full meas