Cerro Gordo County IA Archives Obituaries.....Lewis, James Hamilton 1939
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Mason City Globe Gazette Apr. 1939
From the Mason City (Cerro Gordo, Iowa) Globe Gazette, Monday, April 10, 1939,
p. 3, col. 4. Used by permission under provision of acknowledgment of the Globe
Gazette in all postings:

DEATH TAKES SENATOR LEWIS
Had Served States of Washington and Illinois in Congress

WASHINGTON, (AP) - Senator James Hamilton Lewis (D, Ill.) of the courtly manner
and flowery speech is dead.

The bewhiskered senator, whose collegues often referred to him as the Beau
Brummel of congress, was stricken with a heart ailment Sunday on a train enroute
here from his Chicago home.

He was taken to Garfield hospital, where he died Sunday night at 7:25 o'clock
(C. S. T.) of coronary thrombosis. Mrs. Lewis, his only immediate survivor, was
with him.

WAS IN POOR HEALTH
Although he suffered from asthma, he had conquered an attack of pneumonia in
Russia in 1935, and only a few intimates knew that he was in poor health this
spring. He had gone to Chicago to vote in the recent city election.

"He was one of the most brilliant and colorful men ever to occupy the stage of
public life in America," said Senate Leader Barkley (D., Ky.) who had been aided
by Lewis in the latter's capacity of democratic whip."

NEVER TOLD AGE
Although he had served both the states of Washington and Illinois on congress,
Lewis was a Virginian by birth. He never told his age, but there were varying
reports that he was 72 or 75 years old when he died.

He was elected to the senate from Illinois in 1912, but was defeated for a
second term. In 1930, however, he "came back" and then was re-elected in 1936.

HIT DEBT DEFAULTS
As a member of the foreign relations committee he kept in close touch with
international affairs and repeatedly criticized European nations for defaulting
on their war debts.

Speculation arose in political quarters as to Lewis' successor, who will be
appointed by Governor Horner of Illinois, also a democrat. Lewis' term would
have expired in 1943, but the appointee will serve only until the election in
November 1940.

Lewis said last year he would have retired had he not wished to assist President
Roosevelt in putting through the new deal program.


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