Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-12-01
Senator DaViS's Career.

Cushman Kellogg Davis was born in
Henderson, jefferson County, New
York, on June 16, 1885, His ancestors
were New-England Puritans. When he
was babe in arms his family re-
moved to Wisconsin. He was there
fore essentially of the West, Western.
As of his residence, so of his education,
which was begun in Wisconsin log
schoolhouse, continued at the State
University of Michigan, from which he
was graduated in 1857, and supple
mented by a term of law reading in
the Office of Alexander w. Randall, the
famous War Governor Of Wisconsin.
Young Davis was admitted to the
bar, but had little opportunity to test
his professional abilities before the
outbreak of the Civil War. At once
Joining in the enthusiasm which swept
the North, he assisted in raising a
company for the 2Sth Wisconsin, with
which as a lieutenant he joined the
Army Of the Tennessee. His service
covered two years, and he took part in
the Vicksburg and other campaigns,
until, prostrated by malarial fever, he
was forced to resign. He was sick
two or three years, and then went to
Minnesota to try to regain his health.
In this he was successful, and with re-
stored health he rapidly built up an
extensive law practice.
The political career of Senator Dav-
is began in 1867, when he was elected
a member of the Minnesota Legisla-
ture. Following this he was United
States District Attorney until his
election as Governor OF Minnesota for
the term of 1874'75. He was elected
to the United States Senate to succeed
IS. j. R. Mcmillan, Republican, taking
his seat on March 4, 1887. He was re-
ielected in 1898, and again in 1899, for
the term ending March 4, 1905.
Senator Davis soon made his in1u.
Ience felt in the higher branch Of the
National Legislature. He served as
chairman of the Committee on Pen
sions, and was also a member of the
Committee on Military Affairs. He
gave valuable service in championing
the rights of the Territories, which at
the beginning of his Senatorship
filled the vast region between Mime
sofa and the Pacific Coast until their
admission as States was secured; in
revising the pension laws; in secur-
ing the annexation of the Hawaiian
Islands, and in other affairs of momen-
itous Importance to the Nation. Upon
John Sherman's retirement from the
Senate Mr.. Davis was appointed chair
man of the Committe on Foreign Re-
lations.
On April II, 1898, President McKin-
ley transmitted to Congress for it's
consideration the report of the Naval
Board of Inquiry into the cause of
the destruction of the Maine, in re-
Spouse to which Senator Davis pre-
pared, and on April 13 reported to
tho Senate, from the Committee on
Foreign Relations, the resolutions
which were practical, if not a formal,
declaration of war against Spain, and
justified them by his accompanying
report, which was a terse, forceful and
clear application of international law.
When Spain was forced to sue for
peace. under a protocol which left the
fate of the Philippines as the vital
question in controversy, Senator Davis
was named on the Peace Commission.
The views of Senator Davis favoring
the retention of the entire Philippine
archipelago, or at least the greater
part of it, were well understood before
the departure of the Commission for
Paris.
Senator Davis personally was genial
and responsive, thoroughly democratic
in his manner, and one of the best read
men in the Senate. During his entire
life he was a deep student, and not ou-
ly had the history of England and
America at his tongues end, but had
made comprehensive study of Africa
and Asia. He was especially we'll in
formed on the politics of China and
Japan, and few people at the time of
the troubles in the Transvaal had a
clearer knowledge of the situation or
could more lucidly explain it.
His wife not only survives, but also
his parents, two remarkably we'll pre-
served and attractive persons, who
ihave long graced his home in st. Paul.
nnnd oknu,