The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-30
JIM HAM LEWIS ANALYZED.
SOME ELEMENTS THAT HAVE MADE
HIM A NATIONAL FIGURE.

Takes 10 Pieces, the Wonder CT
seattle and Settles Some of the
Points That Have Given Him
Prominence-Savann with
other People Have Wondered
PRODUCTION to the West Through a
Seattle Newspaper a Prophecy of
His Future.
Jim Ham Lewis, the most picturesque
example of success in American politics,
is written up and illustrated at length by
E. d. Cowen in Ainslees Magazine for
May. There has always been more or less
of a. mystery in the success Of
James Hamilton Lewis to Savan-
nahians even, among whom he spent a
good deal of his youth, before he went
West 10 become a congressman He read
law here, was admitted 10 the bar here
and during his infancy in the law occa-
sionally did odd jobs of court reporting,
principally his own cases, for the Morn
ing News, taking notes on his celluloid
cuffs. They have wondered how 1t
was that he attained national promi-
nence A good many other people have
wondered ABOUT the same tnlHS.
Col" Lewis, as he Is sometimes known,
has paid several visits TO Savannah since
he went 10 the Northwest and ono Of them
was on his bridal tour a few days after he
was married in Screven county. He was
here again a few months ago. During
1nese visits Savannahians. saw little>of
him, however, and, like everybody else,
al m
They were ready, though, to concede his
euccess co some ability, backed by remark
able energy and push. His characteristic
Introduction to Seattle through the Chron-
,cle when ne arrived there in 1885 was a
sort of prophecy of his future. Lewis had
called on the editor decked out in cheap
rainbow attire and wearing a sad-looking
stoVepipe hat.
Il have come out to this territory 10 go
10 Congress when it becomes a state" he
said, land have decided TO settle in Seat
lie to practice law. Now would be very
grateful If you would give me a little no
tice. l don't care what you write about
me so long as you give me a send-off."
The editor took him at his word describ
ing him as a hand-me-down dude and
quoted him precisely. The people laughed
at his skit, while Lewis expressed his de-
light at the kindness of his editorial car
icaturist. No one took him seriously. He
had only one client in six months. The
offender had stolen a box of cigars Lewis
defended him on the pretext that he took
the cigars for safe-keeping and secured
his acquittal. The future congressman Sc
cured as his fee 80 cents, half the capital
of the man he had defended Failing to
earn a living at the law, he got a position
as checking clerk on the docks, and even
the longshoremen made fun of him. But
he finally won them over, was elected at
his own solicitation an honorary member
of their association, and on this is said
to rest the tradition of his popularity with
the laboring classes. Getting back to the
law he obtained his first distinction
as a criminal lawyer by securing under
habeas corpus proceedings, the wholesale
release of all the prisoners in the Seattle
jail about twenty of them. His reward
was a collection of valuables, ranging
from silver watch to
Siwash pony. "Habeas Corpus"
Lewis, as he was known from this
incident then embarked on his career
as police court lawyer and began the
structure Of a fabric of friendships
among the criminal classes. When the
Chinese riots broke out at Seattle, in
1885, Lewis Joined the Seattle Rifles as
private, and when quiet was restored
he defended the rioters in court. Thus
he earned the reputation of a law-and-
order citizen, won the gratitude of the
half and solidified himself with the labor
organizations, by which the trouble had
been fomented.
These are some of the incidents of
Lewis early career in the West, noted
by Mr.. Cowen as characteristics of tIie
man who has become a national curiosity.
MT. Cowen does not take Lewis seriously,
and he picks him TO pieces with a tren-
chant pen. Dealing with him generally,
he says
while James Hamilton Lewis of
Washington is not to be considered in the
class of the sockless Kansan and the
Texas gas-blower, he is the most pictur-
esque example of success in American
politics. Any conscientious review of his
life and character must seem malicious
ly exaggerated. He was a fusion Pop;
campaign >incongruity who polled the
largest vote of any candidate on his
ticket. He strutted in the polychromatic
fal-lals of a cakewalk champion, and
won the adherence of every bewhskered
and unwashed Jacobin of his state. When
he began his Thrasonic bombardment of
Congress he was pointed out a magnilo-
Quent absurdity; yet he made bold to as
pire to Democratic leadership on the
moor. Manifestly an articulate, ambulant
vanity, he obtained an unaccountable in
huence over members of both Sides.
Newspaper Row gridironed him daily and
grew fonder of the the delighted victim.
Photographers embalmed him as a con-
gressional joke. little thinking that recog-
milton of whatever sort was the acme Of
his aspirations. And, after all, when
the same fusion combination that nomi-
mated and elected him in 1896 went down
IN the defeat of 1898, he again poled the
largest vote on the ticket Meanwhile,
within the brief period of one term in the
lower house he had achieved national no.
toriety Now he is renascent as a con-
gressional candidate.
ON the other hand" says Mr.. Cowen,
Lewis is to be accredited with remark
able Intuition and insight. He is studied
IN both the diagnosis and the therapeu-
tcs of human weakness. He is like a
specialist In the treatment of an organic
disease with which he is unsentienty af-
nlcted. He is master in the art of
pandering to the egotism of Others, and
as skilful as the most accomplished ac-
tor IN Stimulating sympathy. Two in
hrmlties are the poles of his political
strength; his mania for self-advertisng
and his jocular disregard of the truth.
throughout his singular progress may be
raced diant reliance on human cre1ul-
4 faI 10 H. lie ii.