The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-17
Loads @aroUna Daily Fapes Nevs amd Generalization

drew report which was
unanimously adopted, and which
provided for carrying on the
work in the interest of the construc-
ton of the road in the interval be
tween that conference and the next
His intense personal interest in thlS
railway project is shown by the facl
that he and Mr. Andrew Carnegie ad
vanced almost all of the money nee
essary to send Mr.. Charles NJ. Pepper
to Central and South America t.
make a report on the present status
of railway construction and the com
mercial prospects of an internauona
line. 1t may truthfully be said thai
whenever this great project is real
lied, the credit for its success will be-
long to Henry G.. Davis than to any
other one man or combination OF
men.
Always "a Conservative Democrat.
Mr.. Davis has been n conservative
Democrat in politics. When he was
in Congress he was not in entire har-
mony with the extreme low tarih
wing of his party. He believed that
as customs duties were necessary foi
the support of the government, they
should be levied with some regard
to the interest of American industries
He was an advocate of the free anc
unlimited coinage of silver when thai
question was before Congress while
! he was in the Senate. South Africa
and the Klondyke were then unknown
| as gold fields and the gold produc-
/ tions of the world, showed signs OF
falling below the need for a univer-
sal monetary standard. In company
with many of the leading men of both
lparties. Mr. Davis advocated and
voted for propositions for an enlarged
Of ell in ha
of the United States. He supported
Mr.. Bryan in both of his campaigns
! for the Presidency, though there Were
many things in the Chicago and kan
sas City platforms that he did not re-
gard with favor. Mr.. Davis went t
the Democratic Convention in st
Louis the seventh National ConveD-
| ton that he has attended, an earnes
advocate of the nomination of Sena-
tor German for the Presidency. He
| has always been a supporter of his
Maryland cousin for that high office
since he began to be talked of as {
Presidential possibility.
| Urged for Cabinet Places.
After the first election of MIR. CleVe'
Hand Mr. Whitney suggested the ap-
pointment OF Mr.. Davis as POSTMASTER
General, and he went to Albany anu
! had a conference with the President
| eject his DllSHlSSS etllciiiS NNiS -
such a condition, however, that he
could not accept a Cabinet place. La
| ter. when Mr.. Manning left the Treas
ury Department and again when Mr.
! Lamar left the Interior Department
he was considered for the Cabinet.
! The first Cleveland campaign was
lone of several in which loyalty to hi:
party has arrayed Mr.. Davis agains
/ some of those most closely connected
with him by family and personal ties
/ In that campaign his warm persona
| friend. Mr. Blaine, was the candidate
of the Republican party. and his SON
| in-laW Stephen B. ElkinS, was chair
man of the Republican committee
Notwithstanding the close family anc
| business relations that have existed
! for many years between Mr.. Davis
and Senator Elkins, they have always
| been political opponents, and vii
doubtless be so in this campaign, not
withstanding the nomination OF Mr
Davis for the second place on th'
Democratic ticket. He has severa
times declined to run for Governor o.
West Virginia, but was counted upoI
to accept the nomination and make
| the race for that office this year.
Mr.. Davis has three children liv
ing. They are Mrs. Stephen r. El
kins. Mrs Arthur Lee and Mr.. Johi
Davis. His other daughter, Mrs. r
| NJ. G. Brown, survived her mothe
only a short time, and died early, il
1898. leaving a young daughter, Cath
arine, to whom her grandfather Il
/ very devoted