Evening star., 1900-11-28

| even though students, possess out super
| flcial knowledge He was probably super
| fetal in nothing.
As a lawyer ne went to the very bottom
| of his cases, even to the point of scientific
| analysis. In a report on the Nicaraguan
canal he showed knowledge Of engineer
| ing, geology, the effect of the tides and gen.
| orally degree of scientific skill not looked
| for in a congressional report. In treating Of
| international questions he showed thor
ough knowledge Of diplomacy, international
| law, history and the policies of people
| through all periods of national development
| In literature. art and music he disclosed
| the same sort of close familiarity. Some
| one suggesting the peculiar sweetness in the
note of certain musical instrument after
| listening to an orchestra one day, the con-
versation drifted Onto the subject OF musical
| Instruments in general, and, in that fasci-
| mating style which compelled attention With
| out the least self-obrus on, the senator dis
| coursed on the subject of the development
| of musical instruments by all races from
| the earliest infancy Of harmony, giving the
names of and describing instruments known
only to the earliest times, and showing the
| relation between the development of peo-
| pie and their taste in the appreciation Of
| harmony. His familiarity with the classics
| was great and the range of his reading was
| almost unlimited, including the best modern
| fiction in the best literary languages, as we'll
| as the more substantial literature that can
| claim the attention of scholars. Whatever
| he entered upon he went to the soul Of
| In his library there are more than GU
| volumes on Napoleon, the study of whose
character and surroundings interested him.
He was also a student of Shakes peare OF
recognized standing. 1t was his habit fre-
quently to read until or ) o'clock in the
morning.
He was man of very pleasing character.
modest and considerate in his association
with men, and his superiority would break
upon strangers as surprise after they
had been impressed chiefly by his simplicity
of manner. AS chairman Of the Senate
committee foreign relations he rendered
valuable service with reference to treaties
and all international matters:
Career of Senator Davis.
Cushman Kellogg Davis was born in Hen
derson, Jefferson county, New York. June
16, 1S5S 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
himself for the University of Michigan,
from which he graduated in 1857. During
his boyhood he held for some time a posi-
ton telegraph operator in what is now
a suburb of Milwaukee After his gradua-
ton he entered the law office Of Alex. w.
Randall, afterward war governor Of Wis
conSin.
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 vol
unteer army. He served for two years in
the Army of the Tennessee, in Kentucky,
Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, part
of the time on staff duty. When, in 1864,
broken health compelled his retirement, he
was first lieutenant Of Company B, 2Sth
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Going to st. Paul, he formed law part
nership with his army chief, Gen. W. A.
German, ex-governor of Minnesota terri
| tory. In 1868 he was elected to the state
legislature, and two years later was ap
pointed United States district attorney,
serving five years in that position.
In 1873, by a majority of one vote, he was
nominated by the republicans for governor,
and elected by majority Of 5,496.
Gov Davis declined denomination, and
resumed the practice of law. His success
sor, Gov. Pillsbury, retained him to argue
in the United States Supreme Court the
case of the state of Wisconsin against the
city of Duluth and the state of Minnesota
to restrain the opening of the present Du-
luth ship canal. through which all the
commerce of that port now passes. Mr.
Davis won the suit for Minnesota. He con-
tinued in the practice of law until 1887
also giving considerable attention to poll
tics. In 1886 he headed the Blaine delega-
ton to Chicago, where he made one of the
nominating speeches for that candidate.
During 1886 many Of the state newspapers
advocated his election as United States
senator, and when the legislature of 1887
met Senator Mcmillan withdrew as can
didate for reelection, and Mr.. Davis re-
ceived every vote Senator Davis first
Craftsmanship in the Senate was of the
committee pensions, which he held
throughout his first term.
AS student and an authority on interna-
tional law Senator Davis furnished briefs
to President Harrison and Secretary of
State Blaine on the Chilean dispute and the
Bering sea controversy.
At the beginning of his second Term Sena-
tor Davis was placed on the committee of
foreign relations, and when Senator Sher-
man was transferred to the cabinet Of
President Mckinley Senator Davis was
placed the head nj IA
mittee.
In 1896 many friends of the senator
pressed his name for the presidential nomi-
nation. but before the state convention to
name delegates met he withdrew, and Nc
kinley delegates were sent from Mime
sofa.
During the past four years Senator Da-
Wis position as chairman of the foreign re-
lations committee Of the Senate and later
as one Of the Paris peace commissioners
have kept him prominently before the pub
lie of all nations. He was Reelected with
out opposition In 1899 for his third term.
Senator Davis was twice married. His
first wife was Miss Laura Bowman and
after she had secured divorce from him
he married in 1880 Miss Anna Malcolm Az
new.
Political Starting Point.
Mr f. A. Johnson, correspondent of the
st. Paul Dispatch, in speaking of Senator
Davis political career, said:
His starting point in life, of course. was
when he enlisted during the dark days of
1861 to defend the of the Union |
have heard Major Davis the aged father
Of the senator, relate how he tried to
dissuade the boy from going to war Young
Davis was frail youth and was threat
ened with quick consumption at the age
Of nineteen. But all arguments, and even
the parental command, were of no avail
against the determination of Cushman X
Davis when the news was received that
Fort Sumter had fallen Although taking
an active interest in politics, after return
Ing from the war as a captain, Senator Da-
Wis for some years devoted himself strictly
to his profession Of the law, of which he
became such an able exponent But there
came an opportunity for Davis and he was
ready for it During the early seventies he
was invited to deliver address before
the graduating class Of the State Univer-
sty. At that time there was a period of
speculation and prof1igacy upon the coun-
try. Money was more freely used in poll
tics than 1t is today or, to speak more cor
rectly, perhaps 1t was more openly used
Mr.. Davis chose as the subject Of his ad-