Arizona republican., 1916-08-07
]. Ham

]. Ham
 So long as J. Ham Lewis allowed his fame 10 rest on his purple, pink whis- kers it seemed secure. buttressed somewhat by his taste in the matter of apparel which has been called a fault less. though rather a vulgar elegance of dress Nobody has ever taken J. Ham seriously from the time he emerged from the wilds of Georgia, during his residence in Seattle where he became Dude" Lewis, or in his later residence in Chicago. J. Ham early rose to places of preferment and has remained there. That fact is one of the strongest arguments ever put forward against the intelligence of the American people to rule themselves. J. Ham, though said by those who know him 10 be a likable, accommodating fellow, has always been regarded by his associates in whatever level he happened to be. as more or less of joke. a good natured and even lovable joke. But joke in congress, especial ly tn the United States senate which We are foolishly prone to observe is the most dignified body on earth" is m-placed. swEa
 IL is when J. Ham participates in serious matters that we lose sight of his purple pink whiskers. his faultless apparel and are astounded by the ex- treme shallowness of the man. A United States senator can conceal his shallowness only by keeping his mouth shut and moving only on advice. J. Ham has never mastered the accom- plishment of silence.
 The senate has created for J. Ham a new position. that of whip" The house has long had whip and he was usually chosen for his efficiency for there was much to be done by an active and adroit man. But the sen ate. we believe, until now has never had a whip" and has never felt the need of one. This office. though. it was believed, would engage the atten- ton of J. Ham and prevent him from making a spectacle of himself and from bringing the majority into ridicule.
 The first need of something to ab- sorb the attention of J. Ham was felt at the time he secured the appointment of Editor Pindell to be ambassador to Russia. Editor Pindell was con- stituent of ]. Ham, had performed valu- able political service for him and for the Bryan wing of the democratic par " in Illinois. He thus came under the Bryanesque classification of "deserv- ing democrats" MT. Pindell did not want the appointment. He was aware of his limitations and so informed J. Ham. but that obstacle appeared to J. Ham to be none at all. He wrote MT. to do at St Petersburg. The appoint ment would be in the nature of vaca- ton. would serve to introduce him and his family into good society: in the event that any real work arose. such as the negotiation of an important treaty, then Mir. Pindell could resign and sail for home with his newly ac- quired prestige as a diplomat.
 J. Ham shared with MT. Bryan and, to some extent. with President Wilson, the notion that ambassadorships are not really important; that one man can fiIl one about as well as another. He was not aware that Russia was on the edge of a volcano which within a year Cduring which MT. Pindell would have nothing to do but look wise) would burst into eruption.
 From this episode in which J. Ham seriously embarrassed the administra- ton and the only man concerned, of ]. Ham. Bryan. the president and MT. Pindell. the last named alone emerged with credit Even J. Hams splendid nerve seems to have deserted him. He was quiescent for time.
 Now he has broken forth again. de- nouncing the republican national con vention as responsible for the slaughter at Carrizal and the utterance of the convention on the subject of the presi- dents Mexican policy. J. Ham should know if he does not that the senate is not a jury of ignoramuses, but 2 body every member of whom probably knew more of what J. Ham was trying to talk about than J. Ham himself
 J. Ham probably did not know tha,