The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-12

politics from Henry Clay, in his CONVEX
satjons with that great statesman dur
ing these trips over the Baltimore and
Ohio. and he cast his first ballot for
the Great Commoner for President. The
Baltimore and Ohio grew. and Mr.. Davis
grew with 1t. He was quick to realize
the great possibilities OF what was then
western Virginia; he foresaw it's devel-
opment and realized its immense re-
sources, its hidden wealth Of ore. oil,
and timber, and he invested his savings
in these rich lands.
Loyal to the Union Cause.
The outbreak Of the civil war found
him a man Of means. of great energy,
Of growing experience. good judgment,
and engaged In laying the foundation
of the fortune which he now possesses.
Although the war caused him TO sus-
tain temporary losses, he was intense
~ loyal to the Union throughout the
struggle, at a time and amid surround
ings where II was frequently dangerous
to express Union sentiments.
When the great conflict was at an end
and West Virginia had become a sepa-
rate and independent Commonwealth,
Mr.. Davis branched forth into still
greater fields OF effort, and he has since
been instrumental and active IN every
movement looking toward the develop
ment Of the vast resources of that State
No man has done more to make West
Virginia the great wealth-producing
State that It is today than the Hon
Henry G.. Davis. He Is conspicuously
| Identified with all OF its leading inter
ests. in the production Of coal. oil. tim
Der. in railroad building. town building
and a dozen or more enterprises Of vari-
! Gus kinda
| At the close Of the war Mr.. Davis first
entered politics. Having been strong
Union man his sympathies were at first
| with the Republican party, and he be-
| came a candidate for the Legislature
| The discovery of trickery and dishon-
| esty on the part OF some OF the Repub-
] lican leaders in the State at that time
| however. turned him from the party
/ Thoroughly honest and upright himself
| in all Of his dealings he could not toll
crate dishonesty in politics, and he
| therefore cut loose entirely from the
Republican organization and Joined the
/ opposition In 1866 he was elected TO the
| lower house of the Legislature as 9
Union-Conservative, and took a leading
/ part in its deliberations. Two years
later he was chosen State senator as a
/ Democrat.
Chosen United States Senator.
| In 1871 he was elected United States
| Senator from West Virginia, as a Demo
! crat, succeeding the Hon. W. T. Wiley
He received almost the unanimous vote
/ of the Legislature. even Republicans
voting for him. Six years later he was
reelected, and during two years Of that
! latter period when the Democrats were
in control Of the Senate ne held the i'm
portant position of chairman Of the
| Committee on Appropriations. He was
| in fact, one Of the leaders OF the Senate
| At the expiration Of his second term
| he declined to become a candidate for
reelection. fearing that by longer ser
vice in the Senate he would jeopardize
his business interests In the state by
reason OF his inability 10 devote his
| entire time and attention to them. BY
retiring from office Senator Davis die
not cease his interest in political affairs
he continued to take an active part
| both in State and national politics and
his opinions and judgment carried great
weight I'm the councils OF HIS party.
In the Democratic national convention
Of 1884 Senator Davis was one Of tho
foremost candidates for Vice President
and doubtless could have had the nomi-
nation had he consented TO accept Il
II was believed that the late Thomas
4. Hendricks. who had been a candi.
date for President, would not accept the
nomination for Vice President. and that
IL would go 20 Senator Davis. Senator
Davis refused. however. to allow hls
name 20 be considered and threw his
strength to Mr.. Hendricks. who was
nominated on the ticket with Cleveland
and elected Senator Davis was called
into consultation with the Democratic
President-elect upon the matter OF the
selection Of members Of his Cabinet. and
other than a New York man Senator
Davis would undoubtedly have filled
| that important position.
Once Declined Nomination for Governor
In 1888 Senator Davis was urged &c
accept the nomination for governor, but
declined In the matter Of attending
Democratic national conventions. II i,
said that his record exceeds that O,
any other Democrat IN the country. Hs
/ has been a delegate 10 six national con.
ventions Of his party and again tbi,
year heads the West Virginia deIega.
ton 10 the 81. Louis convention. malkina
In all seven national conventions OF
which he Will have been a member
Just now he is most active in his sup
port Of Senator German for the Demo.
cratic nomination, and that the four.
teen votes Of the Mountain State Will
be cast for the Maryland Senator viii
be due 10 the fact that Senator Davis IS
for him. He IS anxious 20 make the
race for governor IN case Senator Cor
man Is nominated in order that ne may
| swing West Virginia to the Democratic