The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-10
Oct0genarian Chosen
For Tail of Ticket
Henry @. Davis the Only Man in West Vir-
GINA to Bring the State Into the
Democratic Column


Eighty-one years ar age and a can
didare for Vice President-such man
does Che Democracy OF West Virginia
present to the voters of the United
States in the person of the Hon. Henry
G. Davis
The candidacy Of man at such an
advanced age FOR the high Office %
Vice President is said TO be without
precedent in the history Of American
politics II was thought by many that
the Hon. Levi T. Morton who was
elected Vice President when seventy
years Of age. was too old to perform
the duties Of that Office. yet he proved
one OF the BEST executives the Senate
ever had.
Mr. Davis. however. Is many years
Older than Governor Morton was when
he assumed the Vice Presidents chair.
II IS unusual fer "a man TO mold office
Ia the Senate at the age of eighty, but
there have been such exceptions. ana
rignt Wei have they performed lneir du-
Ties. Tine late Senator Morrill, of Yer
inont, was an example. and Senator Pet
rus Of Alabama is another
IL j., MOVIE yer, most unusual for a man
az tAe age OF eigGty-Oue after haVlng
been cut of public Office for a score OK
Q6lltcs and again become a candidate
But the lion. Henry c. Davis is a re-
inarkao!e man IN more ways than one
Has Repeatedly Declined Office.
Mr. Davis has repeatedly declined DO
dtlcai preferment when he might have
had 1t, or have had his lease upon Of
ice renewed b. simply giving his con
sent. The Mountain State is unanimous
IN the belict than he is tae one Democrat
Wtlo ctiH REGAIN the State and place II
cii.t more ~ the Democratic column
~ the person meeting and conversing
WITH Mr. Davis, hc does not appear To-
De more than sixty years OF axe In
TACT ilc j. more active than the av-
tfaBe man of sixty. mis- heath is excel
rent, ms constitution strong. his mind
alert, and he IS in every way as well
qualified 10 eerVe four years as Vice
PRESIDENT of the Emitted States as any
man IN the nation.
Possesses Yigor for Hard Campaign.
Not long ago he rode forty miles on
horseback in one day along the line
OF railroad ne is building from his home
town of Elkins 10 Charleston. ii dis
lance Of nearly 200 miles, and nc felt
the effects OF the long Journey in the
81 IDLE 10 more than would a cowboy
upOH q Western cattle ranch. With sucn
record his friends feel that he VIII be
able TO enter the campaign with vigor
aTd stir 40 things political.
Henry G. DAVIS IS Z native OF Mary
land, having been born at Woodstock
in thar State on November 10, 1923 lis
mother was an own sister to the mother
OF Senator Arthur Pue German and the
TWO men are therefore cousins. They
are furthermore most devoted friends
personally and politically, and Tor many
years have had business interests to-
gether. 4 boy in his teens when his
father died. he was forced as a youth
az d all "a
assist in supporting his mother His
nfSf employment was upon faFm
and his+lore for the vocation of farm
in3 has never left him. he IS stu
farmer as wei as railroad builder. mine
owner, b21ker capitalist. and states
rran
At the age of nineteen ne obtained a
position as brakeman on a freight
train on the Baltimore and Ohio
influence of Henry Clay.
There were then none Of the safeguards
which now surround the lives OF rne men
who operate the swift running trains on
the Baltimore and Ohio. The services
Of yOtng Davis were - efficient that he
was soon promoted TO be freight conduc-
tor, and afterward 10 passenger cOuduc-
tor ID was while serving In this latter
capacity that M met and formed the
acquaintance Of Henry Clay. VINO was a
passenger upon Mr. Davis train while
going from his kentucky home 10 the
Capital, and returning Clay would
board the train lu Baltimore. and leave
IL at us Western terminus and make
che journey over the mountains into
Kentucky IN the OId-fashioned stage
cOsch. Alr. Davis got his first taste for
politics from Henry Clay, Ia his CONVEX
sgatI0ns with that great statesman dur
ing these trips over the baltimore and
OHIO. and he cast his first ,.zilat- fOI
the Great Commouer for PRES dent h,he
Baltimore and OHIO grew, and sdr, 4t=.Tis
grew with IT, lie was quick = rs ,ize
the great possibilities OF what waS tnen
western virginia; he foresaw its deve;-
oDment and realized it's immense re-
sources. its hidden wealth Of ore, oil. and
timber and he invested his savings in
these rich lands.
Loyal to Union Cause.
The outbreak OF the civil war round
him a man oI means of great energy.
OF growing experience. good judgment,
and engaged in laying the foundation