Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-12-06
CUSHMAN X. DAVIS.

Cushman X. Davis was born ia
Henderson, jefferson county, New
York, June i6, 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 Car
roll college at Waukesha, preparing
himself for the University of Michi-
gan, from which he graduated in
1857. During his boyhood he held for
some time a position as telegraph
operator in what is now suburb of
Milwaukee. After his graduation he
entered the law Office OF Alex W.
Randall, afterwards war governor Of
Wisconsin.
In 1860 Mr.. Davis began the prac-
tice of law and also took an active
part in the campaign resulting in the
election of Lincoln. Two years later,
war having come. he closed his law
Office to enlist in the volunteer army.
He served for two years in the army
in Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas
and Mississippi, part of the time on
staff duty When in 1864 broken
health compelled his retirement he
was a first lieutenant.
Going to St. Paul. he FORMED a law
partnership with his army chief. Gen.
w. a. German, ex-governor of Minnc-
sofa Territory. In 1865 he was elect
ed to the state Legislature and two
years later was appointed United
States district attorney, serving five
years in that position.
In 1873 he was nominated by the
republicans for governor and elected.
Gov. Davis declined n denomination
and resumed the practice of law. Mr..
Davis continued in the practice of law
until 1887, also giving considerable
attention to politics. In 1885 he head
ed the Blaine delegation to Chicago.
where he made one of the nominat-
ing speeches for that candidate.
During 1856 many newspapers advo-
Gated his election as United States
senator and when the legislature of
1887 met Senator Mcmillan withdrew
as candidate for reelection, and Mr..
Davis received every vote.
Senator Davis first chairmanshin
in the senate was of the committee
on pensions, which he held through
out his first term. He was the author
of the pension law of 1890, which ter
minated the demands for excessive
pension legislation and also satisfied
the old soldiers.
As a student and an authority on
international law Senator Davis fur
nished briefs to President Harrison
and Secretary of State Blaine on the
Gillian dispute and the Behring sea
controversy. His advocacy of the new
locks at the Sault Ste. Marie ship
canal carried to a successful result
legislation the wisdom of which has
since been amply demonstrated.
In 1888 the republican Legislative
caucus voted in favor of the re-elec-
ton of Senator Davis, but before the
legislature voted on the senatorship
various Influences intervened and he
was finally elected by a majority of
one, although the republicans had a
majority of II on joint ballot
AT the beginning of his second term
Senator Davis was placed on the com
mittee on foreign relations and when
Senator Sherman was transferred to
the cabinet of President Mckinley,
Senator Davis was placed at the head
OF that important committee.
During the past four years Senator
Davis position as chairman of the
foreign relations committee of the
senate and late, as one of the Paris
peace commissioners, kept hisn prom
inently before the public of all ma
tons. He was reelected without on
position in 1899 for his third term.
Senator Davis has been twice mar
ried.