The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-25
now IS The TINE To BUY, ,VI uT lNTRNE5SS
Congressman D1ViS hos Decided 10
Retire from Congress M0Ich
4ih, 1905.
His Political Obituary at this Time
a Trifle Previous. So it Will
not be Written.

NV w WllUUOIs
The Congressional Committee o
the Second Florida district met il
this city last Saturday, all the coun
ties except st. Johns being represent
d'either in person or by proxy.
The meeting had been called by
Chairman F. J. Fearnside of the re.
tirlng committee, and met for the
purpose of organization and to de.
eide whether or not an active speak
ing campaign throughout the district
would be inaugurated. Mr.. Fearn-
side was unanimously chosen chair
man of the committee for the two
years of its life, and Mr.. Peabody OF
Orange, was made secretary.
Since the active primary campaign
it was not thought that there was
further need for campaigning be-
tween now and the election. 1t was
arranged that the chairman and Sec
retary of the congressional eXecu-
tive committee should communicate
with the chairmen of the various
county executive committees and
with the congressional committee
men IN each county. for the purpose
of ascertaining whether public speak
ing was desired in their respective
counties, and speakers will be sent
wherever they may be required. No
list of appointments, however, will
be made. MIR. Davis was therefore
left to a sort of ''go as you please
campaign, but he has stated that he
will not only be willing but pleased
to go wherever in the district his
services are desired.
Secretary Peabody announced at
the meeting that Mr.. Davis had stat
ed that this would be his last cam
paign, and that he would retire from
CrOngress at the close of the term for
which he will in November be elect
ed. The announcement was surpris-
ing to but few, as Mr.. Davis had
made the statement to several in per-
son, and many of his intimate friends
in this city Were aware of his purpose.
The official announcement of his
retirement, however, was made in an
interview with Mr.. Davis published
in Tuesdays Times-Union and Citi-
zen. In this interview Florida's pop
ular Congressman says:
"By the way, | want to say in this
connection that after this time |
shall not again be a candidate for
Congress. | have fully made up my
mind that, after the next term, /
shall return home and resume the
practice of my profession. | appre-
ciate more than | can express the
kindness shown me by the people of
this district and the repeated honor
they have done me. 1t is gratifying
to me also to realize that my several
terms in Congress have covered an
important epoch in American histo-
ry. The financial discussion, the
Spanish war and its consequences,
the isthmian canal and other impor-
tant matters have been before the
country during my terms of service.
Then, too, our long deferred hopes in
Florida for getting our just dues from
the government, such, for instance,
as our Indian war claims and our m-
dian war pensions. our liberal river
and harbor appropriations, have
come to fruition since it has been my
to be a member of Congress.
1t is true that in all of these things
have played no conspicuous part, yet
can but feel proud that they have
occurred in my time.
"In gratitude to the people for all
lf their many kindnesses to me,
shall always be ready and glad to
serve them whenever can do so. |
nave tried hard to be faithful to the
rusts reposed in me, and | shall con-
jinue TO try to the end of my next
;erm-then | shall give place to some
me else"
Behold the modesty of the man
He "played no conspicuous part" in
he great measures secured for the
benefit of the state, but he is simply |
proud that they occurred in his
ime !"
Here is an example of political self !
that makes the recent ac-
ion of Speaker Henderson look like |
nutilated thirty cents. Henderson |
vas confronted with the possibility |
# defeat at home, and the certainty |
# it in a contest for reelection to the |
peak kership. He had ratified around |
% painfully in that post of immense
,ower and mighty responsibility that
lie was doubtless sore from his many |
pumps and falls and felt that a new |
would unhorse him.
On the other hand Congressman
Davis enjoys the full confidence of
III the people, not only of his dis
Fict, bat the entire State of Florida. |
lis popularity is so great that on
very hand is heard the query: why
Ion't Bob. Davis come out for the
senate? There isn't man in the
tate who could touch him."
Why? If any one knows, please
ell. All the News knows is that
Davis is chock-a-block
With charity-the kind that "envieth
lot; that vaunteth not itself, is not |
'utfed up, doth not behave itself un-
seeketh not her own, is not |
asily provoked, thinketh no evil"
Mr.. Davis is a poor man. His Con-
'ressional salary, beyond his actual |
expenses, is spent in efforts to bene-
1t his constituents. If any of them
-et in trouble or want favor, it's |
Bob" Davis to whom they go for
uceor; and they usually get it.
If Mr.. Davis should carry out his
determinations to resume the practice
f his profession in 1905 he will take
lis old place among the leading legal
of the state, and person
lily he will be be gainer-the loss
till fall upon the state of Florida,
or, Mr.. Davis to the contrary not
L. L