Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-29

James Hamilton Lewis will not go to
Washington a stranger. His trouble
viii not be IN making acquaintance,
but in living down Speaker Champ
Clark's facetious description Of him In
1911 as the biggest dude in America
The appellation was Indignantly
spurned By the colonel at the time. He
10 a lawyer with q brilliant reputation
rs an orator.
Colonel Iewis-he comes honestly By
the title by reason OF having served
on the stan Of General Frederick d.
Grant in the Spanish-American war
served in the house Of representatives
from the state Of Washington in the
Fifty-fifth congress. He then distin-
suished himself by fathering the res
Dlution which granted independence 70
the republic Of Cuba
Twice before-iu the state Of Wash
ington-Colonel Lewis was nominated
by his party for the United States sen
ate, but each time failed OF election in
legislature controlled by the opposl-
ton. He also declined a nomination
for congress in 1890 10 make an IN
successful race for governor Of Wash
inEtOn two years later
Every recent democratic national
convention has brought Colonel Lewis
10 the fore in one way or another. He
was a candidate for nomination as vice
president In the Kansas City conven-
tlontion OF 1900. but failed He was
strongly supported by the Pacific coast
delegation.
Five years ago at Denver Colonel
Lewis was called 10 the chair by Per
manent Chairman Clayton and attract
ed attention when he succeeded In re-
storing the convention, then in state
Of turbulence, TO order. The gayel also
was turned over 10 him for brief per
Tod by Chairman James in the Balti-
more convention last year.
Following the Spanish-American war
Colonel Lewis was credited TO the
Joint high commission on Canadian and
Alaskan boundaries at London He
came 70 Chicago in 1903 and almost i'm
mediately became active in political
affairs. He was corporation counsel
from 1908 10 1907 during the admins
Lration Of Mayor Dunno, and was a
candidate for the democratic nomiua-
Bon for governor OF Illinois in 1908.
Colonel Lewis is a native OF Virgin
", having been born in Danville, May
IS, 1866. He is. therefore, A years
old At an early age he removed to
Augusta, Ga, and was educated at
Houghton college and the University
G.
vannah, Ca, where he was admitted to
the bar in 1884 In November, 1898. he
married Miss Rose Lawton Douglass
OF Georgia In the meantime he had
located in Seattle. Wash, where he
vent In 1886, and where he began his
political career by serving in the then
territorial senate.
Colonel and Mrs. Lewis have trav-
eled extensively and his addresses on
various subjects have attracted atteu.
tion In European capitals as well as
In the United States He is a member
OF the Historical society OF Paris. His
wit and keen sarcasm have made more
than one opponent uncomfortable in
debate He is ready conversational
lst and his peuchant for giving inter
views and writing letters occasionally
has embarrassed him politically.
Tn the state primary campaign las
fall the colonel was the only demo
cratic candidate for the senatorial nom
lnatou. 40 other democrat OF prom
inence figured the party had a chanc,
"a control the legislature on joint bal
-.