Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-06-02
The Democratic Nominee.

Colonel T. B. Davis, the Democratic
nominee for Congress in the Second
professional promoter. Bur d 1Hrge
hearted, genial, whole-souled man who
has energetically devoted himself to
many different branches of business
with view to lettering himself, along
with his neighbors, not at their ex.
pense. High moral ideas, unimpeach-
able personal integrity and success in
business beyond the lot of most men
are his leading traits of character.
All that he is he made himself
Without the advantages of early col
legiate training or influential social
ties, he won his way, step by step
through the stress and struggle of the
pioneer days of industry to the high
and well assured social and business
station in which he now enjoys the
unlimited confidence and esteem of all
his fellow citizens, without regard to
their political affiliations.
An ample fortune, the fruit of indus
try, frugality and foresight has for
many years enabled him to materially
aid others in the industrial struggle of
life; and it is the boast of his friends
that he has never been found wanting
In this respect, in a proper case 1t
is said that he prizes none of the ad-
vantages of large wealth so highly as
the opportunity it affords him of ex-
tending helping hand to deserving in
dividuals less fortunate than himself.
TO give any adequate idea of the
many and different ways in which he
has conspicuously helped along the
improvements and development of his
section of the State, it would be neces-
sary to write the industrial history of
this region, for doing which there is
neither space nor material at hand at
present.
Unlike his distinguished brother, the
late candidate for Vice President of
the United States, he has taken but
little part in public life. He has rather
preferred to aid his friends in their
political aspirations than to indulge
his own. Though for 25 years promi-
nent member of the Democratic State
Committee. during all of which time
he has rarely, if ever, failed to attend
meeting, it was not until 1898 that
he was personally a candidate. In
that year his friends and neighbors
insisted that he should run for the
State House of Delegates. and from
sense of duty rather than from any in
clination of his own he took the nomi-
nation, and was elected carrying the
county by about two hundred though it
is safely Republican by three or four
hundred.
In the Legislature he at once took
and held a commanding position.
Whenever hard common sense or bus
mess sagacity were required to dispose
of question no voice was more po-
tential in deciding it than his
In 1900 Colonel Davis was chosen to
run for Congress. He made a gallant
fight but the fates were against him.
| The personal popularity of President
Mckinley, the industrial situation, and
the question of foreign possessions
were factors so potential that the per-
sonality of no Congressional candidate
could avail them. though even under
these adverse circumstances he receiv-
ed some seventeen hundred more
votes than the head of the ticket.
Since 1900. though continuing to take
deep interest in public affairs, and
assiduously performing his duties as
member of the State Committee, Col
onel Davis has not participated per
sonally in any campaign.
| At the convention held at Keyser on
May 3rd he was, against his own pro-
| test, nominated by reclamation to fill
the vacancy in Congress caused by the
resignation of Representative Dayton.
While the Second Congressional dis
/ trict has Republican majority it is
understood that Colonel Davis many
/ friends in both parties have assured
him that he will this time receive a
majority of the votes and be the next
Congressman from this district
There can scarceIy De any doubt that
every Democrat who goes to the polls
will cast his vote for Colonel Davis
/ He has hosts of Republican friends.