Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-12-17

except in the case of man who had
ssrvaS In the United States Senate. Thus
was the friendship OF former years
emphasized by an act IS unusual as IL was
graceful in political adversary. -
The state OF West Virginia was hardly
tbres years old when Mr.. Davis stepped
into ;ts political history. The problem OF
its continued existence was sun unsoireo
when he left his mills, his mines, ana ms
bank, to give the aid Of his ponncai NINA
to the work of setting its future as otsIe'
and its standing in the National iamlIy.
After serving in the lower mousse ne va
elected TO the State Senate, ana took even
A higher place in the business OF the upper
hause than he had in that OF the lower.
His contest for a second election to the
STATE Senate was a memorable one, ana Is
Important in this sketch, because II really
fYed his position as the leader OF the Con-
seryatiye party Of West Virginia. HIS op:
nonents nominated w. 81. IL. Flick, Oh
Pendleton county, now unlteu 9Iates
District Attorney, one. OF the a6iest anu
most popular Republicans in the state. ne
had been . central figure IN the Union
party for several years, and had 0een tue
leader of its liberal element. The Sena-
tor;aI district in which he and Mr.. Davis
lived had been the playground OF the
Union and Confederate forces during the
war. and the prevailing political senu.
ment. after the close of the contilct, was
against the then dominant party IN west
VIRGINIA. IL il had been allowed express on
ut the ballot box. Flick had added 70 MS
strength with the people of the district, oy
offering a constitutional amendment re-
healing the section that distranchlsed men
for service in or sympathy with the Gon-
federate cause. 1t was known as the FLICK
q lannon's act OIL
legislation. The parties in West virginia,
at that moment, were known as the Union
and conservative, for the Contederates
were still denied the right OF suffrage.
Both Mr.. Davis and his competitor were
liberal, men, although Flick represented
the regular Republican, and Davis the OPP
nosition, The contest between them was
very spirited, but it was conducted TO the
close in the best of temper They traVeie9
together through the district, and presented
their claims to the people, not only on the
hastings, but at the firesides, or IN groups
at the country stores, as they could De
found Mr.. Davis was elected, and this
success opened the way to still higher ad;
yancement. The contest which resulted
in his second election to the State Senate
witnessed the success OF the CONSERVATIVE
Marty throughout the State, and 1t IS a
Generally conceded fact that besides being
chosen to the Senate himself, he con.
tributed more than any single man in the
State TO the general triumph OF his party.
Indeed, so important was the service he
rendered that II suggested his name to the
people as a candidate for the United States
Senate. When the Legislature OF 1871 met,
that induced the party with which he had
affiliated into power, he was made chairman
of the Senate Finance Committee, ana In
other ways was recognized as the leader OF
his party in that body. When the duty OF
electing a United States Senator to sue
coed Hon. Waitman T. Wiley deyolyed
upon the Legislature, Mr.. Davis was chosen
by an almost Unanimously voice. The repre-
sentatiyes of both parties voted for him,
over such distinguished men as Hon.
Daniel Lamb and Col. B. H. Smith, who
were candidates. He was elected second
time, and thus his twelve years OF service
in the highest branch of the National
Legislature will expire March 4, 1888: In
some respects the political career OF Mr..
Davis was important up to the time he
was elected to the United States Senate,
but from a general point of view 1t was
little more than interesting. To be sure,
he spent five years. the service OF his
State. Years full of good deeds aud i'm.
portant efforts, he had given freely TO 1t
and to the party he represented. He had,
in many respects, had singular expert
ence, even then. He had never held
public office except by the votes OF the
representatives Of opposing Polluca!
parties and that rule has held good all Of
his political life.