Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23

particularly long-winded republican SEN
ator had OCCUPIED tfIe floor for four hours
and Senator Dsavis, Mlled by the monoton-
GUS tones and brosaic-theme of the address.
had fallen asleep in his big arm chair. He
had reached the snoring point when Allen
G. Thurman rose to his feet and as prep
aration for answering the republican sena-
tor produced hts famous red bandana and
blew two very resonant nasal blasts there
upon. TO the ogreat establishment of his
colleagues. Senator Davis awoke with a
start, darted out of his chair, grasped his
little desk top on either side and with a
circular twist appeared to be trying to
wrench it off. The Senate was soon In a
state of CONSERVATION. To his colleagues
who surrounded him the West Virginlan
explained that he had been dreaming of the
old days when he was brakeman on the
Baltimore and Ohio: that he was on
sharp grade in the mountains and that the
engineer had whistled down brakes
Just twenty years ago Mr.. Davis was urg-
ed as strong candidate for Vice President
at the democratic convention, which nom
mated Cleveland for the first time. he old
not wish to be the fifth wheel of the stage
coach at that time and threw his strenS IN
to Hendricks. VINO got the nomination
President Cleveland afterward offered him
the portfolio of Postmaster General. on
the advice of Mr.. Whitney. In 1888 he was
offered the nomination of governor, but de-
clined to run. He has been, however,
delegate to seven national conventions ana
went to st. Louis to work for the noInfra-
Senator German. He was asleep In his
private car and on his way home when his
own nomination occurred. He Is the only
candidate for either President or vice
President who was ever nominated on Sum
day.
The same year in which Mr.. Davis be-
came a United States Senator, his cousin,
A. P. German, became speaker OF the mary
land house of delegates. The latter hao
served a page in the Senate while his
cousin Henry, sixteen years older. Was
conductor on the Baltimore and Ohio. Mr.
German came to the Ser ate in 1881 and was
thus a member of that body during Two
years of his relatives last term
The Man From New Mexico.
While Mr.. Davis was serving in the Sem
ate a stocky, round-faced young republic
can, not far in his thirties, was serving as
territorial delegate from New Mexico. His
name Stephen B. Elkins, and he was a
native Of Ohio. although he had gone to
Missouri in childhood, and had been grad
uated from the university of that state,
emigratins to New Mexico during the civil
war. Elkins wooed and won the daughter
Of the rich West Virginia senator. He
moved to West Virginia in 1877, and. enter
ing business with his father-in-law, soon
built up for himself a fortune of many
millions. He served two years as Secretary
of War under Harrison, and came to the
Senate in 1898, having remained there ever
since. He is now the republican leader of
his state, and this fall is faced with the
task of helping to defeat his father-in-law
for the vice presidency.
Mr.. Davis home town bears the name of
Senator Elkins. On the crest of a hill north
of Elkins the vice presidential candidate
built for himself "Graceland," one of the
handsomest country seats in America. His
magnificent private car also bears the
name "Graceland."
Mr.. Davis maintains in winter a Wash
ington office. in the same building where
John r. Mclean. editor of the Cincinnati
Enquirer, has his sanctum. This building
is the headquarters of what is known in
Washington as the Davis Elkins- Mclean
German syndicate. Mr.. Mclean, one of the
democratic leaders of Ohio is largely inter-
ested in the Davis investments, as is Sena-
tor German. The latter will be a great
democratic power in the fall campaign, as
will also Mr.. Mclean. Senator ElkinS will
not only be pltted against his wife's father
but against ell three of his partners
Wife and Children.
The vice presidential candidate is a wild
over his wife having died in December
1902. He has three children living-Mrs
Elkins, Mrs. Arthur Lee and Mr.. John Da-
Wis. A third daughter, the wife of Lieut.
mother only few months Lieut. Brown
was one of the masters of ceremonies at
the White House during the Harrison ad-
minstr ton, and met Miss Davis through
Mrs. Mckee. President Harrison's daugh-
ter, her Schoolmate and best friend
MIR. Davis is older than any man elected
either President or Vice President of the
United States.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS.