Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-17

vious individual speeches and openings do
not count
The subject of how much ex-senator Da-
Wis VIII contribute to the campaign fund is
burning question. 1t has been such since
his nomination. but the story was scattered
widely few days ago that his limit would
be $4,000, and that his bachelor brother
Col. Thos. B. Davis Of. Keyser, will con-
tribute like amount. All the vice presi-
Dental nominee would say about it when
pressed for information was: ''Bosh,
haven't given cent yet
What Happened in Previous Campaign
To get a line on the Davis attitude it
may be interesting and likewise instructive
to recall some recent history. 1t will be
recalled first that Col. Tom Davis was four
years ago the democratic candidate for
Congress against Representative A. G.
Dayton. In the course OF time he was in
duced to contribute to the several counties
for the necessary expenses. and he is ac-
credited with having put too low q gauge
on the situation. To Marion county, now
in the first district. but then in the second
Col. Tom sent his check for $40. 1t was
returned with promptnesse Explanations
followed. the upshot of which was that
Marion county got a check for $500 with
Thos. B. Davis as the man behind the
check.
1t is recalled by students of politics that
the late William l. Wilson, a most bril-
the Davises because of his tariff views and
that to them is ascribed his defeat in 1894
and the incidental successful start of AL
ston Gordon Dayton. whose title now we'll
worn but which yet enthuses the boys in
the second district. is that of 1.-The man who
beat William l.. Wilson. Wilson's home
was in Jefferson county, and naturally the
feeling toward Col. Davis when he ran for
Congress was not cordial Davis was in
the position of trying TO defeat the man he
had helped. although his help on that occa-
sion was governed purely by business rea-
sons.
One Warm" the Other "Clammy."
To Jefferson county Colonel Tom sent a
IS 900 check in his congressional campaign
Just to show how money makes the mare
go Jefferson county gave Davis the biggest
democratic vote in its history, and also
gave him the biggest majority any candi-
date ever got in the county Winding up
his campaign there. and being met by a
brass band Colonel Tom remarked tc a
friend privately that Jefferson was
warm" whereas Hardy county, whence he
had just come. was ''clammy 1t may
throw light on the case to state that Har-
dy county Il victim of a 800 check.
Jefferson could not do 1t all and Davis
went down before Dayton and was num-
bered with Wilson. McGraw and others
One day last year Col. Tom, VINO IS eN-
ceedingiy generous 20 his relatives, and who
dearly loves his brother, Henry IT,, dis
trbuted 100000 among his nephews and
nieces and he has on other annual occa-
sions handed out favors in $4,000 lots This
generosity began after the sale of the
Davis interests in the West Virginia Cen
trail railroad to the Goulds and Wabash in
terests.
1t is freely said that Col. Tom will go his
brother few points better in contributing
| to the campaign this year. and while the
story that their combined yanks at the
| family purse strings will amount to but
| 100000 has some elements of foundation. 1t
lacks others. 1t may be true. as suggested,
| that they have cut down the original figure
on the advice of relatives. but 1t does not
| harmonic with the energy they are dis
playing, and the best evidence that the
story is not true is that there Is no COM
plant from the democrats in West Virginia
this year on the score of funds. although