Merton E. Lewis
Encyclopedia
Merton Elmer Lewis was an American lawyer and politician.
He was delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1894. He was an alderman of Rochester from 1891 on, and as President of the Common Council since 1894 became Acting Mayor of Rochester after the resignation of George W. Aldridge in 1895.
In 1906, he ran for New York State Comptroller
, but except for Governor Charles Evans Hughes
, the whole Republican ticket was narrowly defeated by the ticket nominated by the Democratic Party and the Independence League.
In January 1915, he was appointed as First Deputy by Attorney General Egburt E. Woodbury
. Woodbury resigned on April 19, 1917, and six days later Lewis was elected New York Attorney General by joint ballot of the New York State Legislature (vote: Lewis 173, Morris Hillquit
2), and in November 1917
, he was elected to remain in office until the end of 1918.
In 1918, he declined to run for re-election, but ran in the Republican primary
for governor instead. In August 1918, he urged the Republican voters to repudiate his opponent, the incumbent Governor Charles S. Whitman
, because Whitman was backed by William Randolph Hearst
whom he accused of having undermined the United States
war effort against Germany
. Whitman was re-nominated, but was defeated in the election by Al Smith
.
Life
He was the son of Charles Chadwick Lewis (b. 1826) and Rhoda Ann (Willard) Lewis. He graduated from Webster Union School, then studied law with James B. Perkins at Rochester. He was admitted to the bar in 1887, and commenced practice in Rochester. On January 2, 1886, he married Adeline Louise Moody (1866-1894).He was delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1894. He was an alderman of Rochester from 1891 on, and as President of the Common Council since 1894 became Acting Mayor of Rochester after the resignation of George W. Aldridge in 1895.
In 1906, he ran for New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
, but except for Governor Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He served as the 36th Governor of New York , Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , United States Secretary of State , a judge on the Court of International Justice , and...
, the whole Republican ticket was narrowly defeated by the ticket nominated by the Democratic Party and the Independence League.
In January 1915, he was appointed as First Deputy by Attorney General Egburt E. Woodbury
Egburt E. Woodbury
Egburt E. Woodbury was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1886...
. Woodbury resigned on April 19, 1917, and six days later Lewis was elected New York Attorney General by joint ballot of the New York State Legislature (vote: Lewis 173, Morris Hillquit
Morris Hillquit
Morris Hillquit was a founder and leader of the Socialist Party of America and prominent labor lawyer in New York City's Lower East Side during the early 20th century.-Early years:...
2), and in November 1917
New York state election, 1917
The 1917 New York state election was held on November 6, 1917, to elect the Attorney General and two judges of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly.-History:...
, he was elected to remain in office until the end of 1918.
In 1918, he declined to run for re-election, but ran in the Republican primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for governor instead. In August 1918, he urged the Republican voters to repudiate his opponent, the incumbent Governor Charles S. Whitman
Charles S. Whitman
Charles Seymour Whitman served as the 41st Governor of New York from January 1915 to December 1918. He was also a delegate to Republican National Convention from New York in 1916.-Biography:...
, because Whitman was backed by William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
whom he accused of having undermined the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
war effort against Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. Whitman was re-nominated, but was defeated in the election by Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
.
Sources
- The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Lewis, K to N
- Descendants of Benjamin Waite at home.earthlink.net Lewis ancestry, at Earthlink
- Biographies of Monroe County People. at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com Bio from Rochester and the Post Express - A history of the City of Rochester from the earliest times; the pioneers and their predecessors, frontier life in the Genesee country, biographical sketches; with a record of the Post Express compiled by John Devoy (1895, page 196), at Rootsweb
- Biographies of Monroe County People. at mcnygenealogy.com Bio from Landmarks of Monroe County, NY by William F. Peck (1895, Part III, p. 153)
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9405E2D81231E733A25754C2A96F9C946797D6CF The Rep. ticket, in NYT on September 27, 1906
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D00E6D91438E633A2575AC1A9649D946596D6CF His appointment as First Deputy, in NYT on December 19, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A0DE1DA153AE433A25753C2A9629C946696D6CF Woodbury's resignation, in NYT on April 20, 1917
- M. E. LEWIS IS ELECTED in NYT on April 26, 1917
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C01E2D61F3FE433A25754C0A9639C946996D6CF Merton Lewis declined renomination, in NYT on May 7, 1918
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A04E2DE163EE433A25750C1A9639C946996D6CF His candidacy announced, in NYT on May 13, 1918
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9402EED91739E13ABC4B52DFBE668383609EDE His urge against Whitman, in NYT on August 13, 1918