James B. Wells, Jr., attorney of Brownsville, Texas, was the central figure in South Texas Democratic politics from the mid-1880s through the first decade of the twentieth century and continued to exercise power as the Cameron County Democratic chairman until 1920.

Wells served as chairman of the Texas Democratic Party from 1900 through 1904.

Wells held public office for only two brief periods: as Brownsville city attorney in the early 1880s, and in 1897 he accepted a gubernatorial appointment to complete the term of a state district judge who was forced to resign.

For the influential ranchers of the valley, Wells defended sometimes suspect land claims, arranged low property tax valuations, and lobbied for the deployment of Texas Rangers and federal troops to provide protection against cattle rustling and border raids. He relied on the ranchers to mobilize their Hispanic workers and tenants for elections. Wells welcomed the participation of prominent Mexican ranchers and businessmen in his political organization and local government, and he provided modest, informal welfare support for some of his loyal but impoverished constituents-in the tradition of the Mexican patrón and big city boss. In this he epitomized the contemporary style of Caucasian relations with Hispanic Texans.

With the support of the powerful ranchers of South Texas, Wells consolidated his control over the Cameron County Blue Club and eventually extended his influence over the Democratic organizations of Hidalgo, Starr, and Duval counties. In each of these counties he oversaw the rise of bosses who ran their own local machines but who acknowledged Wells's leadership on regional, state, and national questions.