The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-05
SENATOR DAVIS'S VIEWS.
LINES ON UHiCH TD SETTLE THE
FH!j IPPiAE QUESTION.

tue OF his place as Chairman Of tho Com mittco
on Foreign Relations 1T first view Senator
Davis apecms tn bc a singulariy unimprcssiyo
man Of colorlcss character This deceptive idea
is due in large measure to his ability to veil his
own individuality. lie liz slightly above the
medium height, more gentle than aggressive
In his bearing, tactful, Sympathetic, concla-
tory. His hair is thin, light brown in color His
eyes yelled by dropping lids are brown deepen
ing To black under excitement. His face is one
Of unusual mobility, scanned with many lines
expressive, delicate lines that come and e. with
changing moods When the affairs Of state do
no, weigh heavily, his smile is frcquen, and his
laugh boyish. II is progressive laugh, begin
ming with an upward twist Of the eyes, extending
down 10 the lips and lower part Of the face and
finishing with the shoulders, which sccm to move
up toward the head and throat. lie is constant
smoker. and 10 sec him without his big black
Cigar would b. almost az unusual as to zoe .
wn' picture II Gran, without his cigar
Senator Dayis's home In u large old sbioned
frame house on the corner n Laurel and Farrirg-
ton avenues, in ST. Paul MINI. Its furnishings
suggest the old colonial days and seem to be en-
velopcd In the aroma Of lavender and rosemary
The walls are lined with books thousands u
them. lie IN n universal lover Of books III,
favorie book in the book that satisfies tho mood
Of The moment and his favorite author. Dickens,
Thackeray. Shakespeare, Eipling. Balzac or
any one Of hundreds Of others, according 10 the
need II the hour
III | have any favorite authors says Senator
Davis. they are the ones who study the common
people, who treat Of them as individuals instead
w herdinR them. These interest me more deeply
than others. | am an Unconscious student 81
types, and while in Paris found great pleasure
in going TO the cafes. where the laborng cIasses
CDnRTegate study ind ydualit, h.
the lines In the face the movement Of the body
in gesture the tone Of the voice are all expressive
and full Of meaning 10 him who understands
] believe that mans power is In direct ratio 10
his sympathetic understanding ri the wants ~
the common people An affected understanding
will avail nothing II must BE- intuitive and sincere
Senator Davis was born at Henderson, .Jefrer-
son county. y y. June l6. 1888 but was early
uhnspantcd 10 Wisconsin. where he passed his
boyhOOd His education was bcgun In a log
schoolhouse in Wisconsin. his collegiate course
finished at the State University Of Michigan
1t was through his admiration and affection for
Alexander ". Randall the war Governor Of Wis
consin, that he concluded 10 study law and u
was while reading law in Alexander Randaira
office tina, hc first became interested in n,crnn-
iional law. subject which he has pursued vigor-
ously ever since. In those days Mr. Davis claims
he had little ambition except for knowledge He
loved study for its own sake and worked for the
mere pleasure Of working and without definite
purpose.
Mr.. Davis dates his public success back 10 1870
when he put himself into line for prominence
by a lecture called Modern Feudalism. " in which
he attacked the extraordinary abuses Of railruad
companies in what they called their lights A,
tina, time this Was a burning question and Mr..
DavIss lecture struck the popular mood Al.
though OF a non partisan characte! a committee
from the Legislature. which was then in session
requested hum 10 repeat II before that body: IN.
young hepnblifans took !! up and within three
Enta. Al this time the trend 81 his amtiticn
was toward legal rather than a political career;
fessiona duties until called by N. unsnim" n%
vote OF his party TO seat in the nited States
His Senatorial career has proved the value
yourself by superfiuous work aud study that
lar Inc = xost h, iof anything ihs' I may G' eone
When Senator Davis was questioned by N.
writer on what lines lc next Congress would
with deep conviction:
Congress will he concilia,ory although in Cuba
lr I'gslation will BE- required or even ius,ihate.
Porto Rico Is an I'D and finished community.
with social system Of its own This will re.
quiIc some notifications and adjustments, but
The colony will continue under the present sys
TEN with little interference as possible As
Great Britain and Holland have done with the
same race II people. dwelling in the same part
a s ran ana annd E IN e Srs sns
forty years ago the sane class Of people that
are dealing with in the Philippines, The Straits
as The Philippines These people were lharbnrnus
and piraucal forty years ago They have been
porous reorles on the face of the globe conmu-
mites which largely govern themselves have
sloHt in The the PHILIPPINES Tha, Congress sii
follow Great Brtain's example in regard W tt.se
islands Is my own and he general conviction
will he in a composed condition in the Philippines.
and from my study of the Filipino nature r.:
lirvc that the rebellion once ended. all likelihood
/ 81 further revolt will be removed forever With
Sw hc s @ IN hs sr
cncy by giving large proportion OF NE rrsr1n-
/ s'lle positions 10 trustworthy natives The Fiji
nlnoS possess many qualities 81 sell government,
/ II guided by a stcadving hand
| \rong tho most interesting collection Of books
in has house are SEVENTY four substantial volumes
in French on Nine. Roland These were used in
Z preparation for lecture given several S'ais ago
imported Tor the accession rs reference hnts by
Senator Davis who was able IN find out little on
me subject n local Libraries. This incidents m
indication ~ the ihoroughness ~ the man. When
! asked why he required 81 much Information i"f
! Comps'auyc!y incUnscOucn,ial O'CeSon, Senator
. Davis made a characteristic reply
One cannot have too much lnowlrdgc Of a sub
: jrct | did not need all thai Information for a
single lecture. IL was my reserve. ! believe in
suNcrnunus knowledge. II is supcrhuous knowl-
e,.:c that dhrrrnuatcs us | believe, speaking
generally. that young men starting out in life arc
much more nearly equal IN capacity than is gen
. orally supposed. have little faith In the thing
called genius. think any young man can attain
success, and great success, by good hard studious
labor, not intermittent labor but constant. con-
scientinus effort The men who have achieved
success the men who have worked read.
. Thought more than was absolutely necessary. who
have M; been content with knowledge sufficient
To- H." present reed, but who have sought add
. tonal knowledge and stored IL away for the enrt.
gcncy reserve. II is the SUI crnuous labor that
rCuIps q man for everything that counts mo- in
NE. There would be fewer wasted opportunities
II there more reel ability 10 grasp them wi en-
B they present themselves. ! began life as tclc
,'raph operator, believe was proicicnt in my
Inc II work hut was not content with bring
merely good telegraph operator ! wanted 10
b. y good citizen, and qualified myself for that
posi- lion by doing what have called surerfuous
Z work. advise every Young man 10 do the Same
thing Guod citizenship is a duty that requires
careful study NJ general politics do moi believe
/ Young nan taking up politics ~ proiessi"'.
Politics is Vocation that accompanies the orGi-
I rary business If life II the community needs =