The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1923-04-14
HON. JAMES HAMILTON LEWIS
REFUTES THE STATEMENT
THAT HE COMMENDED THAT
THIS is A WHITE MANS
COUNTRY"
CONTINUED from Pgae d

opportunity" lis an impossible one. !
beg you to look to my record. Though
a Southerner (born and bred), my
troubles at the two colleges attended
were in the FIRST instance because Of
the fight / made for opportunities for
Negro education by the SAME POL
ICY OF learning extended to the
whites. Then, after moved from the
South to the Western State Of Wash
ington-there to begin the practice Of
law-rny first fight as a member of
the upper house Of the Legislature
was for a Republican lawyer, Attorney
Hawkins (colored). There were but
few Negroes in that land to reward a
friend, and much prejudice against the
Negro coming in there could not
have had any rewards in mind for this
support
Later, as 4 Member OF Congress-at-
Large from that State Of Washington,
J got Negroes named as consuls to the
West Indies over much opposition.
You have some colored folks in this
town who know Of that fight
Then in Chicago, when | first was
made Corporation Counsel Of the city,
the FIRST act of my administration
in the City Hall was to protect and
insist on rights Of the Hon. Edward
H. Morris, the able colored lawyer OF
our town. He will confirm this. Then
| put three colored men in positions,
and kept William H. Clark, (colored),
as my personal aid. In this / had
much opposition to contend with.
In the United States Senate, my
FIRST personal appointment was Ne
gro as my assistant. Then in the Of
fetal position / occupied | fought
certain Southern friends on the Senate
floor, and for seven days continuously
until / got Judge Robert H. Terrell,
colored, made Judge for the City of
Washington, ID. O. Then it was, as
Whip Of the Senate, l led the fight
against the provision brought in DUR
ing the war to prevent Negroes from
being officers OF regiments of Ne
groes. This measure was not brought
in by Democrats-but was beaten by
Democrats and Republicans. Then,
later, had to fight Democrats to de-
feat the measure prohibiting Negroes
from coming to the United States. ]
beat this by parliamentary tactics, and
was sustained by Republicans and
Democrats.
In France, when ! went into the
service / called on the Negro officers,
and found out the needs of the men,
and promptly put these ahead Of all
work to Be supplied at once. Col.
John R. Marshall and Col. f. A. Dem
ison--both capable officials-will tell
you Of this.
Lately, as private citizen,-I had
my old friend, Judson w. Lyon, for
merly Registrar Of the Treasury, a
Republican Negro, taken care Of
because Of his great deserts.
| beg you to note these acts;-and
as your Cody ministers would say
prove the tree by its fruits-not by
the storms that sometimes warp it. !
beg to remain,
Your obedient servant,
J. HAMILTON LEWIS.
In the past, much discussion was
created, relative to some statements,
which were supposed to have been
made by the Hon: James Hamilton
Lewis, in reference to the colored
people at the time he was a candidate
for governor Of this state in 1920
THAT this is a white mans country
or government" and that the colored
man or the colored people cannot be
seriously considered as an important
factor in its civil or political affairs
Over his own signature, Senator
Lewis plainly sets forth the facts, just
what he did say at that time, so that
the world can read it. 1t must be
said, to the everlasting credit Of Sen
ator Lewis, that for FIVE or six years,
he employed a bright young colored
man, by the name Of Burns, in his
extensive suite of law Offices, which
were then located in the old Com
mercial National Bank Building
Failing health forced Mr.. Burns to
give up his position with Senator
Lewis, who held him in the highest
esteem and who was highly respected
BY all Of the associated Of Senator
Lewis.
It will be recalled that in Novem-
Der, 1906, at the meeting in Orchestra
Hail, which was addressed by the late
United States Senator Benjamin R.
Tillman Of South Carolina, Senator
Lewis refused to introduce Senator
Tillman or to preside over his meet
ing, Senator Lewis stating at that
time, that he was not in favor Of any
one coming to this city TO stir up
bitter strife between the white and
colored people.
For almost twenty years Senator
Lewis has been constant subscriber