The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
LEWIS B0OM FOR
 V|CE PRESIDENCY
Delegate to Georgia State Con-
 vention Wants Him
COULD NOT REFUSE HONOR
Col. James Hamilton Lewis Says the Wishes of the State Where He Was Reared Are Greatly
 Appreciated.

Chicago, June 25.-(Speeial.) )-Col James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois for Vice Presi- dent on the democratic ticket.
 This was the cry yesterday from Geor- gia, the state in which the Chicago Ches- terfeld and candidate for the democratic gubernatorial nomination was reared
 Colonel Lewis received a telegram yes terday from a delegate to the Georgia state convention asking him if he would permit that state to adopt a resolution recommending him for the vice presden- tial nomination at the Denver convention. The message came as a surprise to Colo nel Lewis, engrossed as he is in deep thought over the gubernatorial possibli- ties. But he thought it over, and, after several hours of meditation, he sent a reply. As near as Colonel Lewis could remember. the reply he sent back to the Georgia delegate was something like this;
 T am not candidate for the vice presidency, but 1 would very much ap- preciate an honorable recommendation such as you suggest. Being a Georgian, the honor accorded me would be one that no man could refuse. The office of Vice President, however, like that of the Pres ident, is neither to be sought nor to be declined"
 Not Native, Reared There.
 T am not a native of Georgia said Colonel Lewis in discussing the Vice Presidential boom started for him in the south. q was born in Virginia, but l was reared in GeorgIa. The wishes of the Georgians to recognize me as a Vice Pres idential possibility are very much appre- ciated. Four years ago, when I was men toned as a Vice Presidential candidate, Georgia would not lndorse me- What T difference a few years make!
 You know, I expect to see some sur prising events at the Denver convention. These powerful men in the party are will ing to concede the nomination to Bryan, but they are not willing to concede him the platform or the Vice Presidency. They may insist upon such a platform that MT. Bryan cannot accept. In that event, what can Bryan do? There may arise such set of circumstances that MT. Bryan would be forced to withdraw. As far as my beng candidate for the Vice Presi dency is concerned, there is nothing to it. I am a candidate for the democratic nom- ination for governor of Illinois, but 1 could not gracefully refuse a, proffered in- dorsement of recommendation from the good old state of Georgia.
 As to. the Vice Presidency, there are two other candidates whose names undoubted- ly will be presented to the convention. Charles A. Towne of New York, formerly a republican congressman from Minne- sota who bolted the party on the silver question and left the convention of 1896, is one of them. MT. Towne since allied with eastern interests, has been closely associated with MT Bryan and is now i'll consultation with him at Lincoln.
 Seeks the Nomination.
 MT. Towne wants the nomination. He says of himself when his candidacy IS mentioned:
 "The party might do worse. I am an eastern man with a western asset
 Another vice presidential aspirant is Congressman Ollie James of Kentucky. one of the giants in stature of the demo- cratic leaders. Congressman James has been prominent in the party councils for many years and is inclined to be some what conservative, though in St. Louis in 1904 when the famous Parker tele- gram arrived, after Parker had been nominated, MT. James was much per turbed, and was restrained with difficulty from kicking up a fuss.
 Congressman James is in sympathy with Bryan on many subjects, but is inclined to be a trifie more conservative as to national policies In Cincinnati a few days ago he admitted to some friends that he was a receptive candidate for second place.
 Gov. John A. Johnsons champions for the presidential nomination denied yes terday that they had conceded the victory at Denver to Bryan and indicated that some surprises may develop. Secretary Knappen of the Johnson headquarters re- ceived information from Pennsylvania that Col. James M. Guffey, democratic boss of the Keystone state, had insisted that the unit rule be prevalent in the convention. In that event the Johnson men declare Pennsylvania will cast it's 6S votes for Johnson, provided the nomi- nation is not assured for Bryan on the first ballot.