David John Lewis

David John Lewis (May 1, 1869 – August 12, 1952) was an American politician from Maryland, serving in the Maryland State Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

Early life Born near Osceola Mills, Centre County, Pennsylvania, to Welsh immigrants, Lewis worked in the local coal mines from 1878 to 1892. He studied law and Latin in his spare time, was admitted to the bar in 1892, and commenced practice in Cumberland, Maryland.

Political career Lewis served as a member of the Maryland State Senate from 1902 to 1906, However, Chairman Doughton, exercising what he took to be the Chairman's privileges, made a copy of Lewis' bill and submitted it himself. Then he persuaded the House clerk to give him a lower number than Lewis' copy. Newspapers then began calling the bill "The Wagner-Doughton bill." When Lewis found out, he sputtered and swore, then went to work to understand every sentence and master the arguments in favor of the bill. And when David Lewis walked down the aisle of the House to debate on the bill's behalf, he received a standing ovation.