The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-08-30
.nAI,Ico Toaf,sp CAREER.
A rnbuto from one Who Taught Hin
When n Boy and Knew Him In his Early

A rhbuto from one Who Taught Him
When n Boy and Knew Him In HIS Early
Struggled.
To he Editor Of he InteVtaeaea,
S1R:-It is due to Thomas Z. Davis
that 1 should speak aword in common
dation of him as the Republican candi-
date for goyernorof West Virginia. ]
have known him intimately from his
childhood. In the years 1859, go and
part Of 'el / was engaged in teaching in
the village of bennington. Taylor coun-
ty, Va, now West Virginia. Mr.. Davis
was student in my school large por-
ton Of this time. He boarded at his
home in the town OF Simpson, three
miles distant from the! school. Yet
each day Of the school, for month after
month, Mr.. Davis walked to my school,
never once being marked tardy and.
never being known to be negligent Of
his studies. He was then about six
teen years Of age.
1t will be borne in. mind,that at this
time we had no public school system,
and that each student had to pay his
own tuition. This Mr.. Davis did; for
at that time his father was an invalid
and unable to educate his children as
was his desire. But Thomas, as he was
then familiarly called. labored and paid
his own tuition. He never was OF a
stout and rugged form, and often have
/ pitied him in his exhaustion after
walking three miles and then have TO
begin his days studies. But, without
complaint, he piled himself pnremit-
tinely to his studies and was always
equal to the other members OF his class.
He was anxious to fit himself for mer-
camille business. His education was
largely in that line. The war breaking
outin 1861, my school was broken up.
In 1865, or near that time, Mr.. Davis
moved to Grafton, w. Va, where he.
engaged in the mercantile business, and
has remained there in that business TO
the present time with the exception OF
the time he was in the war By close
attention to business, economy and in
dustry, he has acquired some wealth,
and above all, has established the repu-
tation of an honest man. We cannot
speak Of Mr.. Davis as an experienced
politician or lawyer, but We can COM
mend him to the people Of the state as
an honest, safe and first class business
man.
Heyis by no means ignorant OF the
issues and questions Of the day that
occupy the minds Of the leading states
men Of all parties. The financial con-
dition Of this state is such that we need
a business man in the executive chair,
rather than q lawyer, politician and o
would-be party leader. }
The state needs a man who can and
will correct business mistakes and re.
store the state to her proper financial
standing. Such an adviser and execu-
tive will be found in an eminent degree
in Hon. I. E. Davis. Mr.. Davis has
served with distinction in the state sem
ate.
When call to mind tho boyhood Of
Mr., Davis, and how he struggled to lit
himself into noble andrespected man
hood, Ileel free in saying to my fellow
citizens, you can find no truer, no more
honest and faithful man to fill the. ex-
ecutive chair Of the state Of West Vir-
ginia. M
Virginia to give support to one VINO IS
a model and a hope to you, to reach
something noble and honorable. Mr..
Davis is born West Yirginian, not an
importation.
Let the vote for Mr.. Davis next Mo-
vember: be such that no party or party
leader can count him out. Our state
has been run and guided by party
leaders and for party purposes long
enough. It is time the people should
assert their rights and putt plain mat
ter OF llct business man in the COVER.
nor's chair and not a trickstering poli-
tician or third or fourth rate lawyer or
pettifoeger. We assure the people OF
West Virginia II I. E. Davis is elected
governor OF the state, they can boast OF
an honest man in the executive chair.
DAVID POWELL.
Flemingi0n, ". Va, Aug.t2I