Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-11-30

DAVIS was tro:...ed ~ twinges of
pain in one of his feet. to which he
paid little attention, thinking it due
| to some neuralgia condition, which
would soon pass. He began an active
| campaign in this state. speaking at
Duluth September 81. and at Alex
andria. Mimi, September 25. During
the latter speech he suffered so great
| ly he could not wear his shoe. He re-
| turned home at once. and was ordered
to bed by his physician. A few days
later an operation was performed, but
he failed to improve. and Il consulta-
ton of physicians. was called Drs.
Stone, Lancaster ard Rcthrock partic-
ipating. An operation on October IA
was Immediately beneficial. and fur
Their operation WAS performed October
"a. 1t was at first believed the case
was one of blood poisoning. caused by
infection through Il Slight abrasion
of his foot from the dye of black
silk stocking. and the operations drew
off the accumulation of pus. His con-
lition improved steadily until Novem-
Der 4. when he grew worse. and DR..
j. b. Murphy. the Chicago specialist.
was sent for. a consultation being
held the next day. At that time a
slight gangrenous condition was dis
covered. and an operation was found
necessary. removing 4 portion of one
toe. The wound healed well. and the
physicians were hopeful of the out
come.
A Fatal Complication
However. November II kidney
trouble became apparent both neph-
ritis and diabetes. complicating the
case and making his condition
more critical. Another consultation
with DIR. Murphy was held November
l3. confirming the previous opinion,
and settling the presence of the kid
ney trouble. DR.. Murphy had been
sanguine of the senator's recovery up
to this time. but upon the discovery
of the fresh complications he private
ly expressed the opinion that the case
was hopeless. Since hen the patient
has steadily grown worse.
His Life and Service.
Cushman Kellogg Davis was born in Hen
derson, Jefferson county, N. Y, June H.
1885. 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 preparing
or no nj Of ict,i
from which he graduated in 1857. During
his boyhood he held for some time a po-
sition as telegraph operator In what Is
now suburb of Milwaukee. After his
graduation he entered the law office of
Alex. W. Randall. afterwards war gov
ernor of Wisconsin. In 1860 Mr.. Davis be-
gan the practice 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 of
flee to enlist in the volunteer army. He |
served for two years in the army of the J
Tennessee. in kentucky. Tennessee. Ar
kansas and Mississippi. part of the
line on staff duty. When in 1864 broken
health compelled his retirement he was
irst lieutenant of company B, Twenty
ighth Wisconsin volunteer infantry. Going
% st. Paul, he formed a law partnership
With his army chief, Gen. W. A. German.
ex-governor of Minnesota territory. In 1868
ne was elected to the state legislature and
wo years later was appointed United
States district attorney, serving five years
n that position.
Elected Governor,
In 1873 by a majority of one vote he was
nominated by the republicans for governor
and elected by majority of 5,A96. The |
issue was then new. being wheth- |
er the state could control the charges IF |
railroads. Gov. Davis asserted this right
and such legislation was enacted and en-
forced during his term of office. During a
protracted senatorial contest at that ses-
sion Gov. Davis was one of the candidates,
but Chief Justice Mcmillan was finally
elected. 1t was at this time that the great
grasshopper plague devastated southwest
ern Minnesota and Gov. Davis raised over
100000 in money besides supplies for the
victims of the plague. Gov. Davis declined
denomination and resumed the practice of
law. His successor, Gov. Pillsbury re-
tanned him to argue in the United States
supreme court the case of the state of Wis
consin against the city of Duluth and the
state OF Minnesota to restrain the opening
of the present Duluth ship canal through
which all the commerce of that port now
passes. Mr. Davis won the suit for Min
nesota. He continued the practice of law
until 1887, also giving considera BILE attention
tt politics. In 1884 he headed the Blaine
delegation To Chicago. where he made one
of the nominating speeches for that candi-
date
Goes to the Senate.
During 1856 many of the state newspapers
advocated his election as United States SEN
ator. and when the legislature of 1887 met
Senator Mcmillan withdrew as candidate
Tor reelection and Mr.. Davis received every
vote Senator Davis first Craftsmanship in
the senate was OF the committee on pen
sions. which he held throughout his first
term. He was the author of the prfsion
law OF 1870. Which terminate the demands
Tor excessive pension legislation and also
satisfied the old soldierR As member of
the committee On territories Senator Davis
led the fight for the admission of the Da-s
kotas to statehood, making his first speech
in the senate on that subject As student
and an authority on international law Sem
ator Davis furnished briefs to President
Harrison and Secretary Blaine on the
CHILEAN dispute and the Behring sea contro.
versy. His advocacy of the new locks at
the Sault Ste. Marie ship canal carried to a
successful result legisla ton the wisdom of
which has since been amply demonst rated.
IN 1898 the republican legislative caucus
voted III favor of the reelection of Senator
Davis, but before the legislature voted on
the senatorship various influences inter-
vened and he was finally elected by ma
1ority of one, although the republicans had
majority of II on joint ballot, At the be-
ginning Of his second term Senator Davis
was placed on the committee on foreign
relations and when Senator Sherman was
transferred to the cabinet of President Nc
Kinley Senator Davis was placed at the
head of that important committee.
In 1896 many friends of the senator
pressed his name for the presidential NOM
nation, but before the state convention to
name delegates met he withdrew and Me-
Kinley delegates We're sent from Mime
sofa. During the past four years Senator
Davis position as chairman of the foreign
relations committee of the senate and later
as one of the Paris peace commissioners