The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-01
Picturesque Mlner.C Congress-
man Has Forty.sevent An
nivsrsary on Primary Day.
VIEWED AS A GOOD OMEN
Friends Believe Coincidence
Of Two Events May Win for
"Davey."

CONGRESSMAN David J. Lewis. OF
Maryland. candidate for the Democratic
nomination for Senator. 10 forty-seven
years old today-and the primaries are
being held on his birthday anniversary.
The natural query that IL running
through the minds Of Mr.. Lewis and his
supporters Ii:
"wili. we get that nomination a. a
birthday gift7"
Congressman Lewis IL confident that
II he can land the nomination he will
win the election this fall.
selection Of his birthday. nor did ne fix
the primary date. Since, Il happens.
however. that they both fall on May 1.
the Maryland candidate cannot avoid
attaching a BIT q sisnnieance to that
have It within their power to make a
real suitable birthday offering.
II Congressman Lewis should get the
nomination on this. his birthday ami
should follow, Il Is assumed that Nj.
Lewis would not bother his friends
about another birthday gift for at least
six years.
Has Good Chance.
"Davey' Lewis. who has become
recognized as one Of the thinkers Of tho
House, has a good chance OF landing
the nomination, according to Maryland
reports.
hTe greatest interest Is being taken
In the Maryland primaries and the can
didates worked up to the eleventh hour.
own home Of Cumberland, a little city
set In the mining region OF the State
where the candidate for Senator grew
UP as a miner.
Congressman Lewis went to work In
the mines when he was but nine years
old. A Sunday School gave him the
ambition to learn to read and write and
he learned to read there. A little taste
of learning made the miner lad all the
more ambitious and he began to study
at home. He dug In the mines by day
and wrestled with grammar. arithmetic,
geography. and Latin at night. Subse-
uucntly he began the study OF law and
ny ne H" Sonsnaesd at teE MINING unt 1891
when he was admitted to the bar of
Allerany county. having pursued his
occupation as n miner and his studies
In law and Latin at the same time. Was
BENJAMIN A. Richmond and In Latin
by the Rev. John w. Mott. ID. D."
Expert In Figures.
Dave Lewis undoubtedly learned well
his lessons in arithmetic. for during his
has used columns and columns OF fig
ures to show the advantages OF the par
eel post. lie was co-author OF the
parcel post law. and before and after
the passage OF that Ia whe marshalled
figures to show the big earnings OF the
express companies.
CONGRESSMAN Lewis now Is working on
| OF telephone and telegraph lines. and
the Postoffice Department values his
Judgment and research ability to such
an extent that during the past sum-
| mer he had a work and study room
in the Postoffice Department building.
"Davey" Lewis never fails TO get an
audience In the House when he speaks
on the parcel post or the installation
| OF the telephone and telegraph lines.
which latter he would make a part OF
the postal service.
The Maryiander has spend days and
| weeks in the study and analysis Of fg-
| ures concerning the express. telegraph.
and TELEPHONE business OF the United
States and Europe. and he cannot be
AS a former miner. Mr.. Lewis was
made chairman of the House Commit
tee on Labor. He has a sympathetic
understanding of the needs of the
working man and although he has
risen above the station he occupied in
his younger years, Lewis has never
lost 1.-The common touch" that makes
him the friend or poor and rich alike.
Picturesque Figure.
The Marylander is one of the pic
turesque figures of the House. He is
scarcely Ave feet tall, but his rather
diminutive body is surmounted by a
massive head that holds much gray
matter. HIS form Is a bit stopped
as though the pick were still in his
hands-but his appearance on the
Ia IAA asa 10 hnf ~ nf
strength and resourcefulness.
The Senatorial candidate received a
great wind-up ovation from the miners
OF the Cumberland region Saturday
| night.
Congressman Lewis. however. has for
midable opposition in the primaries to-
day. Senator Blair Lee and William
Cabell Bruce are contending for the
powerful factions at their back. The
II primary at this hour Is a free-for-all
with no man able to claim a walkaway
from well fortified and able opponents.
On the subject OF that birthday, new.
ertheiess, the friends OF Mr.. Lewis are
hoping Maryland will remember that the
Cumberland candidate came here or
May /. 1869, and will deliver tonight q
birthday offering that will last for sir
years.
4 Viewed As Favorable Sign.
Charles T. Clayton. campaign treas
urer for Mr.. Lewis regards 1t as
favorable sign that the primary come
today.
II hope the people OF Maryland will
give Dave the nomination as a birthda,
, present." he said today. He's forty
seven today. and II would certainly b
an appreciated gift and deserved one.
Thu Republican contest In Marylan
today is between former Governor Colds
. borough and DR.. Joseph !. France.
"All OF the Senatorial candidates ar
/ back home" today-Mr. Bruce in tn
city, Senator Lee in Montgomery, Nj
Lewis in Allegany. Mr.. Goldsborough 1
E Dorchester. and DR.. France in Ceci
a They will receive the returns at thei
!. homes or their headquarters.
The candidates are in hopeful moods
Lee and Lewis believe they are as goo
I as nominated; Bruce feels very great
encouraged by reports brought to hin
and neither Goldsborough nor Franc
will hear the possibility that he will b
beaten
Davis Guard SucCumbS,