The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-12
OCTOGENARIAN A CANDIDATE
FOR THE PLACE OF GOVERNOR
Henry @. Davis, 81 Years
Old, Heads the Ticket
in West Virginia.
Father-in-law of Senator
ElkinS, Both Opposed
in Politics.


the probabilities Of election in his favor
such a man does the Democracy Of
West Virginia present to the voters Of
that State in the person of the Hon
Henry @. Davis. The candidacy Of a
man at such an advanced age for the
high ONCE OF governor is said to be
without precedent in the history Of
American politics. II was thought by
many that the Hon. Levi P. Morton,
who was elected governor Of New York
ten years ago, when he was seventy
years OF age. was too OLD to perform
the duties OF that Office, yet he proved
to be one OF the best executives the
State ever had. Mr.. Davis. however, IS
eleven years older than Governor Nor
ton was when he assumed the gov
ernor's chair at Albany. 1t is unusual
for a man to hold once at the age Of
eighty, but there have been such ex-
Ceptions. and right well have they per-
formed their duties. The late Senator
Morrill, of Vermont was an example,
and Senator Pettus Of Alabama is an
other, but II is most unusual for a man
a. the age of eighty-one, after having
been out of public Office for a score or
more Of years, TO ever enter actively
into politics and again become a can
dlGate, but the Hon. Henry G. Davis Is
q remarkable man in more ways than
che.
Has Repeatedly Declined Office.
Mr.. Davis Is not a candidate for gov
ernor simply because he desires the
honor Of the Office. and certainly he Is
not candidate for ONCE for the emoI-
uments thereof. He has repeatedly de-
clined political preferment when he
r,fOhf har-a had ~ Hor-o 6,5 ~ ro,..
upon Office renewed by simply giving his
consent. He Is a candidate because his
party in the Mountain State is unani-
NOUS in it's desire TO have him make
the race. believing that he is the one
Democrat who can regain the State and
place IL once more IN the Democrats
column. Should Senator German be
nominated by the Democrats for Presi-
dent. Mr.. Davis will willingly and anx-
iously accept the call OF his party TO
lead IL in the State; should Senator Cor
man not be nominated, he may be some
what reluctant about making the fight.
but 1t is said by the politicians of the
State that the situation is such and
the demand so earnest that under no
circumstances can Mr.. Davis refuse to
make the race. In their anxiety to
nominate Mr.. Davis the West Virginia
Democrats have apparently forgotten
the fact that he has passed the four
score mark, and they consider only his
availability and the probability of his
election.
To the person meeting and conversine
with hr. Davis. he does not appear to
be more than sixty years Of age. In
fact, he is more active than the av-
erage man of sixty: MS health is excel
lent, his constitution strong. his mind
alert, and he is IN every way as we'll
qualified to serve four years as gov
ernor of West Virginia as any man IN
the State.
Possesses vigor for Hard Campaign.
Not long ago he rode forty miles on
horseback in one day along the line
Of railroad he is building from his home
town Of Elkins TO Charleston, a dis
lance OF nearly 200 miles, and he felt
the effects Of the long journey in the
saddle no more than would a cowboy
upon a Western cattle ranch. With such
a record his friends feel that he will be
able 20 enter the campaign with vigor
and stir up things political in the little
Mountain State as they have not been
stirred since the days OF the late Sena-
tor Kenna.
Henry O. Davis is a native OF Mary
land. having been born at woodstock,
IN that State, on November IS, 1923. His
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 for many
years have had business interests to-
gether. A boy in his teens when his
father died. he was forced as a youth
assist in supporting his mother. His
nrst employment was upon a farm
and his love for the vocation Of farming
has never left him. He is stin farmer
as well as railroad builder. mine owner.
banker. capitalist. and statesman.
Was a Freight Brakeman.
At the age OF nineteen he obtained a
position as a brakeman on a freight
train on the Baltimore and Ohio. Rail-
reading was then IN its infancy, and
that great system which now operates
hundreds OF miles OF road, and has done
so much for the development of West
ern Maryland. West Virginia, Ohio.
Pennsylvania. and the other States Of
that section, then operated only a single
lire Of track between Baltimore and
Cumberland. II was thought 20 be a
in those days. but Insignificant as com
pared with its great operations Of today.
Yet that line was the beginning Of rail-
road building IN America. and the Job
OF freight brakeman which Henry @.
Davis held upon the line was the begin
ming OF his remarkable career and ~ his
enormous fortune. In those days there
were no telegraph lines 20 aid in run
ming trains. and II was thought impos-
sible 70 operate cars after dark. Acct
dents were frequent, and n required
great nerve and energy 70 sUrmOunt the
difficulties which daily confronted the
trainmen.
There were then none Of the safe
guards which now surround the lives Of
the men who operate the swift running
trains on the Baltimore and Ohio The
services OF young Davis were so efficient
that he was soon promoted 70 be freight
conductor. and aft0rward 20 passenger
conductor. II was while serving In this
latter capacity that he met and formed
the acquaintance Of Henry Clay. who
was a passenger upon Mr.. Davis train
while going from his Kentucky home
20 the Capital, and returning. Clay
would beard the train IN Baltimore. and
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