The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-03
HE is A STAR
w. I'll. Lewis, Negro, Orator and
Athlete.
Came to Topeka to Talk for
Taft and Curtis.
HAS BOTH BRAINS and Drawn
Won LaureIs at Amherst and
Harvard.
Modest, but Held Race SPELL
bound at Jackson Park.
HAS BOTH BRAINS and Drawn

w. H. Lewis of Boston, ex-football
star and present assistant attorney
general of the United States, has been
the guest of James Guy of Topeka
and left for Washington Friday after
noon. He spoke at the celebration in
Jackson park August 1, and is leaving
many warm friends in Topeka. Mr..
Lewis holds the highest official posi-
ton of any of his race, and is one of
the country's foremost orators. The
stories that hover around his magnifi-
cent college record have endeared him
to old and young. He is genial, kindly
and of a splendid physique.
When his photograph was requested.
the assistant attorney general chuck
led. "Oh, I'm too modest to carry a
might tell you, though, that I've been
taken for Booker T. Washington, and
also Jack Johnson. Isn't that as good
as a photograph? At northern hotel,
the report spread that was Jack
Johnson. I can tell you 1 had all the
attention that was necessary
In giving a brief sketch of his life,
Mr.. Lewis said:
I was born in Berkeley, Va, and
went to school in Portsmouth, across
the river. I can remem GER distinctly
a teacher whom we called Old Man
Montague; he taught me many pages
OF the
Wasn't that what the bad boys
had to learn?" the reporter queried.
Mr.. Lewis assented. 81 never was
a grind he admitted.
Later 1 attended the normal
school in Petersburgh,'' he went on,
and prepared myself for Amherst
college, where 1 was graduated in
1892. I've just been back to my
twentieth class reunion. You know !
played football; / was captain the last
year. Here's a watch the boys gave
me-"
Mr.. Lewis produced a stunning gold
swatch bearing the neat inscription:
presented to w. H. Lewis by the
students of Amherst college, He IS
exceptionally loath to praise himself,
and said nothing of his brilliant foot
ball career; Amherst still boasts of his
kicks.
Strong for Football.
Herbert and George Pratt, sons oe
the Standard Oil millionaire, were I'M
der me in team work. he continued.
Pm for football in our colleges. It's
the greatest sport in the world. If
you don't put your energy in athletics.
you're not going to put it in grinding,
plenty of mischief for a college boy
to do, and football keeps him out of
it. was class orator in my senior
year at Amherst, and won the Hardy
prize debate and the Hyde prize ora
ton. 1t was just luck that I happened
to go to Amherst; Senator Hoar of
massachusetts sent jackson, a friend of
mine, and I decided that where Jack
son went, I'd go, too. Next I dFifted
down to Cambridge, and studied law
for three years at Harvard. 1 played
on the team, and haven't missed a
Harvard-Yale game for twenty years:
I coached the team for several years
after graduation"
Again he made no mention of his
plays that put the mammoth stadium
in frenzy of excitement; that courted
the everlasting enmity of Yale, and
sent the Harvard giants into costa
cies of exultation-
Next thing I did was to get mar
ried," he confided. my. wife went to
Wellesley college, and my three chill
dren are being educated in Switzer-
land.
How He Got Into Politics.
''I began practicing law immediate
ly, but soon got into politics. One
night after a Harvard-Yale game a
neighbor of mine came to me ard
asked me to run for city council for
the white district. l was feeling in a
pretty good humor and accepted. 1
was elected for three successive terms,
and spent one year in the legislature
in 1902. 1t was lots of fun. A good
experience for a young lawyer. The
Massachusetts legislature, by the way.
is particularly free from corruption.
Then President Roosevelt appointed
me assistant district attorney of Bos-