The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-07-03
A GLANCE AT THE REAL
J. HAMILTON LEWIS

Under the headline, "The Rea
Lewis" the Johnstown (Pa.) Demo
crat gives its readers the following
interesting view of the big senator
of Illinois:
Now that the newspaper humorists
have completed their picture OF
james Hamilton Lewis-"Jim Ham,
as they call him--the new senator
from Illinois, 1t would be we'll 70
sketch another portrait Of him-the
true one.
The newspapers have sufficiently
emphasized his physical peculiarities
the slim. dapper stature Of the man,
his red beard, his matched rings, cuff
links and scarf pins, his punctilious
selection Of hats, ties, vests and
socks.
To balance that picture | would
paint another-the picture of lone
ly boy thrown early upon his own
resources, of struggle to overcome
handicaps such as few successful men
ever meet of surprising ability which
quickly brought its possessor TO fame
and position in the world, and finally
of heart that beats in sympathy for
the poor and oppressed, n sympathy
carried by Senator "Jim Ham" on his
struggle upward from the bottom,
After the Illinois Legislature sent
him to succeed Senator Cullom for
the long term in the Senate, the let
ter Of congratulations which brought
most pleasure to Senator "Jim Ham"
was one from the Longshoreman and
Riggers' union. Senator Lewis is n
member Of that labor union, and not
an honorary member either. He
joined it when he was a worker in
the docks at Seattle, Wash.
He is Virginia born, and Of good
blood. His family, impoverished by
the war, moved to Augusta. Ga,
where Young Jim, between odd jobs,
managed to pick up an education.
He was sent to tutor by his aunt
and later moved to Savannah. His
work even enabled him to spend a
few seasons rs n student in the Uni
versity Of Virginia. He had gradu-
ated at Houghton College in Augusta
He found that poverty would keep
him from complete schooling. So,
like other ambitious boys had done,
he struck westward, and at the age
of 10 found himself alone in Seattle,
penniless. with n keen appetite and
the immediate necessity of finding n
job so that he might eat.
The first work that presented itself
was a job Of rolling barrels and
bags on the Seattle docks
and young Lewis took it. The work
was 700 heavy for his slight physi-
que, but the boss, observing that he
was keen chap, made him II checker.
He taught classes ut night to prepare
them for the state university.
He joined the union and worked at
his trade many months. Evenings
and odd hours he studied law. His
naturally brilliant mind served him
well then. In brief time he passed
the bar examinations As a lawyer
his reputation grew rapidly, until at
the age Of % his fellow citizens sent
him to the territorial senate.
This was his first step upward.
Immediately he did surprising
thing, one of the most remarkable
acts Of any man now prominent he
fore the public Only few men are
able 20 judge themselves correctly
Jim Ham Lewis was. He realized
Ic had extraordinary ability. Re
also realized the value of striking
personality TO men in public life.
So he set about it TO create per- |
onality for himself. lie adopted the !
.cccntricitics Of beard and drcs, that |
luyc since made him famous.
He was highly successful In . !
CIV years his appearance, coupled |
With his ability brought him national |
anne. Washington sent him to con
.rcss as rcDrcsentativc-at-la large |
When he was twcnty-scvcn years old.
le furesaw that the Democratic par
y was disintcgratne. And so at the
ge Of 80 he moved to Chicago. In
wo years he was made corporation
ounscl for Chcago-thc attorney
.eneral Of the city. In FIVE years he
ad established himself as one of the
,rcatcst trial lawyers in Illinois, and |
n ten years. when he was 4G years
Id, his adopted state sent him to the
United States Senate as the popular
hCicC i'm the senatorial urinary.