The morning times., 1897-03-02
THE DAVIS CASE SETTLED
Senate Decides to Lay His Nom
nation on the Table.
THE VOTE A GREAT SURPRISE
Many Republican Senator's Favored
the Motion-Mr. Davis Tempor-
ary Appointment Hurt His Pros
peets-President Mckinley May
Allow Hin to Continue in Office.

Henry E. Davis both rose and fell yester-
day. He became full-fledged district
attorney by favor of the supreme court
OF the District, and then fell with dull
and sckening thud when the Senate came
to consider his claims in secret session.
The supreme court acted promptly on the
receipt of the signed bill from the Presi-
dent which determines its authority in
the premises. Mr.. Davis at once re-
appointed the deputies who had served
under Mr.. Birney, and was soon busily
at work at his new duties.
During the day in the Senate Mr.. Davis
stanch champion, Senator Hill, did all he
could to bring about an executive session.
Ali the friends of Davis were very con-
fident that the action of the supreme court
and the apparent urgency of confirmation
would prove very helpful to him. Late
in the Afternoon resolution was passed
to proceed to an executive session, and, as
it went through by the comfortable vote
OF SO to 20, it was regarded as affording
very encouraging sign OF confirmation.
When the Senate acted. however, it
gave Mr.. Davis ambitions q great blow.
After confirming several minor nomina-
tions made by the President, including
that of W. T. Anderson as postmaster
at Norfolk, the Davis case was reached.
There was a brief but interesting debate
In which the familiar claims for and
against Davis were repeated Then a
motion was made to lay the nomination
on tho table. This motion carried by
the surprising vote OF Al to 1T, or more
than to /. The silver men, who have
been open in their antagonism to this
nomination, were Joined in their oppo
sition by large number Of Republican
| Senators who had been confidently counted
| as supporters of Davis,
| The heavy adverse vote was equally
| astonishing to the friends and opponents
| of Davis. Senator Hill, who is one OF the
| most skiiiful political managers of the
| Senate, had taken charge OF the Davis
| campaign and did much good work In
| his behalf This, combined with the &C
| tion of the ssrpeme court, had given the
| Davis people confidence.
| The debate on the nomination was brief,
| but very spirited. Senator Hoar opened
in support OF Davis, saying that his char
| acter had been splendidly vindicated from
| the charges made gainst him. and that
| nothing remained on which to base oppost-
| ton. but the fact that tine nominee for
| District attorney had not supported the
| Bryan ticket. He said that he knew that
| some Senators were hostile to Mr.. Davis
confirmation because he was Cleveland
man. His loyalty TO President Cleveland
said Senator Hoar, appeals to me strong
| ly, although the President himself does
| not do So
| Senator Hill followed with a radical
| speech in favor OF the confirmation OF
| Davis. He took extreme grounds He
| belittled the opposition and declared 1T
| to be absurd and ridiculous. His speech
| was not a fortunate one and lost Mr.
| Davis some votes that were known to
be inclined to his support
Then Senator German took the floor
| and made an earnest speech against Davis.
1t was a direct personal appeal to the
Senators and was very forceful. He al.
| luded to the fact that the nomination Of
| Mr.. Davis was personally distasteful TO
| him, and quoted from the remarks made
| by Mr Davis at the Baltimore meeting,
| in which he said that he had nothing
| but the utmost contempt for a Senator
| who had done what German had in ad-
vising voters to march in Mckinley pro-
cessions and vote for Bryan. Mi. Cor
| mans personal appeal was very effective
| and did much TO break party lines on
| the ensuing vote.
He was followed by Senator Faulkner,
who took much the same position with
reference 10 Davis and that gentleman s
| appearance at Martinsburg, in his own
| home district.
| 1t became apparent at once, after these
addresses, that Davis confirmation was
impossible. The personal appeal Of these
Senators, together with the activity and
| earnestness of Senators Daniel and Pugh
| against confirmation, conspired to assure
his defeat
After Senator Faulkner completed his
remarks, Senator Pugh moved that the
nomination he tabled, which was carried by
vote of Al to IT. The Senators voting
in favor OF Davis were: Aldrich, Baker,
Caffery, Chandler, Gear. Gibson, Gray,
Hansbrough, Hawley, Hill, Hoar, Lindsay
Morrill, Palmer. Proctor, Smith, and Villas.
1t is said by many Senators that the
appointment of Davis by the supreme
court, instead of helping him, really proved
ex ceedingly injurious TO his chances.
Several Republican Senators who had IN
! tended TO vote for Davis are said to have
been influenced to change their attitude
by the fact that the supreme court had
fastened to act in the matter in favor OF
Davis at a time when that body fully
understood that the nomination was in
contention before the Senate.
The vote OF yesterday is regarded az
finally disposing of Mr.. Davis in the
present Senate. But 1t by no means
disposes of Mr., Davis chances of con.
tinuing as district attorney. He now
| holds the office by appointment OF the
court, and will continue to I'LL 1t until
his successor is nominated and confirmed.
| Therefore, il President-eleot Mckinley
sees fit to take care Of his gold Demo
cratic friend, he can do It in one of two
| ways-either by nominating him direct
or by permitting him to continue in office
by appointment of the court. Repub
lican Senators say they expect Mr.. Nc
! Kinley to name Republican for district
| attorney. Democratic Senators say they
expect there would be less opposition tt
the confirmation Of Davis If nominated
by Mckinley.