The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-07-24
LEADERS OF The REUNITED DEMOCRACY.

coal region as a point at which the road begins to
ascend the mountains. Ii sort of central sta
ton the ROAD relay for all the heavy locomotives
that up the mountains, we'll for the light
engines that drew freighs from the east thus far.
He 81 years of when he first settled in the
little village assumed his duties living in
until house could be built for him The great
coal interests Of the section then practically
developed and ne began with the pioneers of that in
dustry His keen foresight early grasped the sdvan
tages Of the place for traffic, and he persuaded his
brother, William r Davis, to leave his Maryland
home and he established him in business shipper
OF coal and lumber for the producers. The town
rapidly and the occupation in which the brothers
gagged slowly but surely increased year passed and
/ Thomas B. Davis joined his fortune with his
brothers In 1858 the little business started four
years before, had done well that Henry G. resigned
his position the railroad joined the two brothers
and became the head OF the firm OF H. G. Davis &
Bros
The year he resigned from the railroad. he added
banking 10 his business cares He organized the Pied
mont Savings bank and elected its president No
single feature Of his illustrates his substan-
tial advancement in all the walks of life
spicuousIy than the contrast between that small be-
ginning in money dealing with the present Davis Ma
tonaI bank of Piedmont with its hundreds of thou
sands of dollars in business yearly that has taken It's
place and of which Mr. Davis long master spirit
The possessions and interests of the Davis brothers
then insignificant indeed IN contrast with their
vast belongings today. What then but begin
ming grown to the proportions of great fortune
Today they their capital by millions and their
/ landed estates by than a hundred thousand
acres William r. Davis died in 1879. The two
living brothers who almost half century began
life together by putting into the little business at Pied
mont their energy, toll and small amount Of money
lthey had saved from the fruit of their industry by
close economy have held everything in common until
TRUE TO THE UNION.
The war came on and brought its changes 70 the
avs brothers as it did to all others living along the
border While it hindered the increase of their bust
ness in one direction 1t opened up new avenues OF
trade in another All three of them voted against the
secession of Virginia from the Union their adopted
state remained true to the flag and lived under its
authority during all the years of the war. The con-
ederates once destroyed $4,000 worth Of their
or+v Large investments in coal and timber land
that rapidly appreciated in value swelled their profits
and when the closed they found themselves IN a
nosition to extend their operations considerably The
Baltimore & Ohio railroad, with which Mr.. Davis had
retained friendly relations, stood badly in need of
repair Lumber, bridge timber, cross ties and other
supplies needed. and the need employment
and opnortunitv TO the Davis brothers. Mr.. Davis
owned forest tract at Deer park, the summit
of the AIeghenies and the standing trees were con
verted into railroad supplies by means of portable
sawmils About this time also he entered largely into
the business of coal mining, and several mercantile
establishments added to his list Of enterprises.
Everything he undertook seemed to prosper, and in
4 1870 he was rated man of large wealth
At the close Of the Mr. Davis went into poll
tics. His sympathies with the Republicans and
he might have acted in full accord with that party
had it not been that Republican opponents de-
feated him for the legislature by getting his name
stricken from the registry list unregistered voter
being prohibited by law from holding office. This in
cident determined his politician In 1866
he elected a Union-conservative candidate
to the lower branch of the West Virginia legislature
He took leading part in the deliberations of that
body. Two years later he was elected to the state
senate.
He occupied even higher place in the business Of
the upper house than he had in that of the lower.
His contest for election to the state senate in 1859
vas a memorable one His opponent w H H.
Flick lately deceased, then of Pendleton county, W
Va of the ablest and most popular Republicans
of the state The contest exciting and close, and
Mr.. Davis elected, though the district at that
time nominally Republican. When the legislature
of 1870 met and indicted into the party with
which he had affiliated, he made chairman Of the
senate finance committee, and in other ways
Recognized as the leader of his party in that body.
| BY AID OF REPUBLICAN VOTES.
When the duty of electing United States senator
to succeed WatTnan 7. Wiley devoved upon the leg
fslature, Mr.. Davis chosen by almost unsni-
nous voice The representatives Of both parties voted
for him. the Republicans being in the majority, over
such distinguished men as Daniel Lamb and B. H.
Smith who were candidates He also elected a
second time, the Republicans, again in the minority
voting for him the least Objectionable of their oppo
nents His last term of service in the highest branch
of the national legislature expired March 1888 It
has been remarked Of him that he has never held a
public Office except by the votes of the opposing polt
ca party and that this rule has held good throughout
his political life
It is a safe rule to estimate man by the impress
sion he makes upon his associates 1t is axiom IN
our system of government that the popular verdict
shall be law It is apply this test to Mr.
Davis. When he succeeded Mr.. Wiley, a Of
ability and ripe experience who had been very prom
nent in public affairs ne found seat the Demo-
cratic side of the senate and that party in the minor
ity. He his position and performed the duties to
which he assigned with the same becoming mod
esty which has been conspicuous feature of his
conduct in every walk of life Gradually he became
known to his colleagues and it not long before
he occupied position among them equal to the best
Although a member and in minority party, he
was very on the best committees Of the senate
The salient points of the political career CT Mr.
Davis down to the time of his retirement from the
United States senate IN 1888, have been His advocacy
of the assumption by West Virginia Of fair proper
ton of the debt Of Virginia existing at the time the
new state created whenever such proportion
could equtaby ascerained his leadership chair
man of the senate committee appropriations during
two of his twelve years Of active service in the United
States senate and his practical work a member
OF the special committee transportation routes to
the seaboard. He is what may be termed tariff
Democrat favorng incidental protection. He also
favored and urged the resumption of specie payments
His best and by far the most of his work in the