The Washington times., 1912-06-20
VICE PRESIDENTIAL
BOUQUETS ARE NOT.
FAVORED BY LEWIS
Chicagoan Says Position Is
of Too Much Responsibility
to Be Taken Lightly.

BALTIMORE, June Cool. ]. Hamil-
ton Lewis, veteran of political battles
OF the Northwest and OF Chicago Span
ish war veteran, and Southerner trans
planted to the West, whose name has
been suggested as a candidate for Vice
President at each national convention
of the Democratic party since 1900, sml-
ingiy announced this morning that he
would not take seriously any bouquets
done up in that form which the conven-
tion might prepare for him during the
first moments of its assembling.
1t was the habit of conventions, he
explained during the first few moments,
when the hilariousness Of things hadn't
been worked off, to fling bouquets at
those who stood about smiling and look
Ing as II they expected them.
1T has been the practice of conven-
TONS" said Colonel Lewis, ito sug-
gest men for the Vice Presidency, 40
that they might go back home and run
for the city council or the Legislature.
MS I have said before, men should not
be named for that high office unless
they are supposed to he of sufficient
strength to discharge the Presidential
responsibilities If they should be thrust
upon the rise such a circumstance Is
likely to arise"
The colonel lifted his cane from his
right hand to his left. felt his brown
ascot tie, adjusted his brown, soft hat
a cit tighter on his head and looked
out over the parked space between Mt.
Royal avenue and Union Station
Easy To Identify.
1t was on Mt. Royal avenue that ne
was found, just after a late breakfast
at a lunchroom near the Arundel. where
he spent the night. The colonel had
started out for stroll eastward from
Charles street. He was easily identi-
tied-a nicely proportioned figure slight
ly above the average height and sturdily
built, although not in the least stout
dressed in brown from his shoes to that
soft hat. Even his luxuriant brown
whiskers and mustache-the whiskers
have been called pink by those jocH-
larly inclined-harmonized with the
clothes and hat. making the colonel
one brown note on the BACKGROUND
which the tall apartment houses and the
green parked place provided.
Not a Delegate.
The colonel walked with that swing
which suggests the gentleman of the
old school, casting his eyes about in
leisurely observant manner, enjoying
the morning in spite of the rain: philos-
ophizng. He is an alumnus of the Uni
versity of Virginia, who says that he
| has known what 1t Is to work on a
| newspaper at IS a week: who went TO
| Washington State and was Congress-
man-at-large from there; who removed
! to Chicago and was its corporation
| counsel: has been candidate for gov
! ernor of Illinois once. and who in April
was given the popular vote for United
States Senator. He Is neither a member
| of the national committee nor a delr-
! gate to the convention, but he will o.
| cupy seat on the convention floor
and he Is always one of the most con-
| spicuous figures at the national gath
ering of the political clans.
The only speech ! have ever made
at national convention was in 1900 in
Kansas City" he said. when declined
the nomination for the Vice Presidency.
knowing that | could not get it,"
Colonel Lewis laughed, stepped back
ward foot or two, stroked his beard,
and closed his eyes thoughtfully. and.
having dismissed himself, took up the
discussion of Presidential possibilities.