Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-11-29
SENATOR CUsHMAN X. DAVIS.

the distinguished statesman. The
Kidney affection which developed dur
Ing his early illness refused to sue
cumb to treatment and this resulted
IN his death.
The family have been prepared for
the end since the first sinking spell,
which occurred Friday night. The
senator had been in n comatose state
during the day. Death came almost
lmperceptibly and the closing scene
Of the distinguished statesman's life
was marked with but little incident.
His last conscious utterance was the
expression of wish to live; not for
the sake of life itself, but because
he believed his country needed him.
His words were: "Oh that | might
i've five years more for my country's
sake"
Cushman Kellogg Davis was born In
kAVnutiSbilI J'hcisull Nuuutyt JUN
H. 1888, In that year his parents moved
to Waukesha, Wis, where his father
farmed until 1850. After attending the
common schools young Davis spent three
years In Carroll college at Waukesha, pre-
pairing himself for the University of Mich
igan. from which he graduated In 1851
In 1860 Mr. Davis began the practice Of
law and also took an active part In the
campaign resulting In the election of Lin
coin. Two years later war having come
he closed his law office to enlist In the
volunteer army, He served for two year,
In the army Of the Tennessee in Ken
tiicky, Tennessee, Arkansas and MIssIs-
sippi, part Of the time on staff duty When
In 1864 broken health compelled his re-
tirement he was first lieutenant Of COM
Danv b. Twenty-elghth Wisconsin vol
unteer lnrantry. Gong TO st, raul ne
formed law partnership with his army
chief, Gen. W, A. German, ex-governor
OF Minnesota territory. In 1868 he was
elected to the state legislature and two
years later was appointed United States
district attorney, serving Ave years In
that position. In 1873 by a majority Of one
vote he was nominated by the republic
ans for governor and elected by ma E.
5orlty OF 5,i96 The campaign issue was
then new, being whether the state could
control the charges OF railroads. Gov.
Davis asserted this right and such legis-
lation was enacted and enforced during
his term Of Office During a protractcd
senatorial contest at that session Gov.
Davis was one OF the candidates but Chief
Justice Mcmillan was finally elected. II
was at this time that the great grass
hopper plague devastated southwestern
Minnesota and Gov, Davis raised over
nOO0OOO In money besides supplies for tho
victims Of the plague,
During 1886 many Of the newspapers ad
vocated his election as United States SEN
at0r and when the legislature Of 1887 met
Senator Mcmillan withdrew as a cand.
date for reelection and Mr.. Davis re-
Geiyed every vote, Senator Davis first
craftsmanship In the senate was of the
committee on pensions. which he held
throughout his first term. He was the
author Of the pension law Of 1890 which
terminated the demands for excessive
pension legislation and also satisfied the
old soldiers. As a student and an au-
thority on international law Senator Da.
Wis furnished briefs to President Harrl.
son and Secretary Of State Blaine on the
Gillian dispute and the Behring sea con
troversy His advocacy OF the new locks
ut the Sault Ste, Marie ship canal car
ried to a successful result legislation the
wisdom of which has since been amply
demonstrated. During the past four years
Senator Davis position as chairman Of
the foreign relations committee of the sen.
ate and later as one Of the Paris peace
commissioners have kept him promI-
nently before the public Of all nations,
re was reelected without opposition in
l1oe for the third term.