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

Growing with Each Responsibility.

would be familiar with the questions that
he had to deal with in the important COM
mittee upon which he was first called to
serve. But it was surprise, even TO his
best friends, to see the facility with which
he grasped the graver and broader problems
that necessarily forced themselves upon
him after he entered the Senate and the
ncwness wore Off Neither his early train
ing, nor his educational advantages or hab-
its of thought and action through his
whole life, had fitted him for the role OF
public speaker. But they had equipped
him with more powerful weapons for use
in q legislative body, good judgment, dis
erection, and the force to work successfully
in the committee room. IL had also given
him the power TO reason with success upon
each new issue raised, or question which
might be presented and to apply to them
practical ideas instead Of theoretical prin-
ciples. The speeches he has made have
been valuable not for their rhetoric, but
for the fund of information they contained,
and for their clear, common.senSe, practl-
cal statement of the matters at issue. This
fact has given him a hearing and gained
him an influence that man who deals
with mere words could not have attained.
To my mind, his speech on agriculture,
in the Senate, on January 4, 1879, was
the most interesting of all his efforts.
Reared at the pillow. and diverted from farm
labor to railr0ading while yet lad, he
seems ever to have turned to the powers and
possibilities of the soil and the treasures
hidden beneath with more pleasure than to
anything else. Almost his first move after
obtaining foothold in the world was to
purchase farm, and for fifteen years his
agricultural operations have grown gradu-
ally. until he is to day, no doubt, the most
extensive land owner and tller in the
State. His speech of Tuesday, May 3,
1881, on the debt question between the two
Virginias, was also very strong and equit-
able presentation OF the issue in which
the two Commonwealth have such vital
interests at stake. The attack upon the
book. keeping of the United States Treasury
was one of the most significant acts OF his
public career. He charged that changes
and alterations had been made in the books
of the Department to such an extent that
they did not present a correct view OF the
public accounts, and especially that changes
in the total OF the public debt had been
made after the books had been balanced
for many years. His first speech in max.
ing the charges provoked very general COM
ment throughout the nation, and as an ef-
fort showing a careful study OF the SUB
ject, resulting in its comprehensive state
ment, was q remarkable effort. He made
no charge of defalcation or criminal wrong
doing OF any kind on the part OF the Treas
ury officials, but asserted that the balances
had been altered to suit the idiosyncracy
of some officer after having stood unques'
toned for a number OF years. lie was
made chairman of special committee 10
investigate the subject, and the finding OF
the committee not only sustained his as
sertions in relation to the changes IN the
Treasury balances, but made valuable rec,
concentrations as TO the conduct OF the
work of that Department, some OF which
have become laws. His service as Chair
man of the Senate Committee on Appro.
priations during the entire time his party
was inseontrol OF the body is familiar
history. The great importance Of the work
done by this committee make it virtually
the lcadink one of the Senate, and Mr..
Davis presided over IL Tor two years with
SUCH conspicucus ability anu frmnsss ttlhtl
when che Republicans again obtainsa COP
troll they created special committce thar
he might retain the prestige ana pm
leges of Craftsmanship. They as9onauznd
him as the first Democrat on tne ApFrlt
priation Committee and he still hoios thaf
distinction.
Any man. whether friend or foe, who
speaks with fairness and truth, must say OF
him that no one in the Senate is more con.
spicuous for fidelity to his trust and intel
lieent in the discharge Of the duties de-
yolying upon him. These are the qualities
which during his whole career in the SEN
ate. have caused him 20 win and always re-
tain the respect of his colleagues, without
regard to political or other differences OF
opinion upon public questions. His so
cial relations with the leading men OF the
Nation have been as strange as his politi-
cal. Sherman, Bayard. Blaine, Thurman.
n Window
and nearly every other leader of both po-
litical parties, has been his friend, almost
from the beginning of his career in Ma
tional politics. Few men have enjoyed
wider acquaintance, or had more entirely
the confidence of those with whom they
came in contact whether political friends
or opponents. His elegant summer resi-
dence at Deer Park is always filled by his
troop OF friends, who come to enjoy his
omen. handed hospitality. How many times
have seen a dozen leading men OF the
Nation, from both political parties, gath
| cred under the oak trees that surround MS
home? AOnce met three Presidential can
| didates, all his guests, chatting pleasantly
in the summer house, and it is almost I'M
possible TO 60 there at any. season. when .
| The popular proprietor Is at home, ana not
| find lesding men Of the Nation IN business
/ and pS S,;iins anloying the good cheer Oh MS
roof tree. ri.
The political position Of Senator DAVIS
in his party has been as eminent Is MS slO'
cess in business and social lie. he nas
been a delegate to every Democratic Ma
| tjonal Convention since 1868, and ever
since he has been Senator he has had q
leading place upon its working commit
| tees In the last campsign this RESPONSE.
b;Iity was made especially conspicuous and
oneIous. He was made chairman OF the
senate part of the Congressional Cam paigl
| Committee, one of the members OF us
Board OF Control, and the Chairman Q. sn n
| senator Mcdonald, Augustus Schell and
| LLyam 8. Hewitt, IS members. IL is no'
necessary, however. 10 furnish example
| of his wide acauaiDtance and aineast %
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