The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-03-03
GREAT MAN GONE.

The news of the death of r. H.
Davis, which reached Malad Sun
day, came like thunderbolt from
clear sky In the midst OF action,
busy with plans for the future, and
partly matured plans of the present,
he was suddenly and unexpectedly
summoned He was just at the
prime of his usefulness to his party |
and his state. By his death his
family have lost loving father, his |
relatives noble kinsman, his |
friends a trustworthy companion,
the newspaper fraternity of Idaho |
its most brilliant writer, his
party its ablest champion, and the
state one of It's most useful citizens.
Mr. Davis possessed those rare
gifts of intellect which made him
tower above his fellow men. AS a
newspaper writer he ranks with
Dana, Greedy, Prentiss, etc. He
had but one equal in the Rocky
Mountain State-Judge Goodwin
Like the great majority of men
who have accomplished something
worthy of note in the world, Rees
Davis was handicapped by the lack
of college training. But by his
unceasing work he succeeded in
obtaining liberal education. His
successful career is an illustration
of what may be accomplished by
devotion to study stimulated by
proper ambition.
1t was while living in Malad and
editing The Enterprise that R. H.
Davis first came into universal
prominence throughout this state
by sacrificing the interests of his
party for those of the people by ex-
posing the corruption existing at
the capital during the first Re-
publican legislature, Since such
men as Jerome, Folk and La
Toilette have made themselves
famous by denouncing the wrong
doors of their own parties this
course has become somewhat pop
ular, but when r. H. Davis wrote
his caustic and vitrolic articles
exposing the disreputable condition
of affairs at the Idaho state prison
he was almost universally con.
demned by the members of his
party and such epithets as Judas,
traitor" etc. were applied to him
One of the distinguished charact'
eristics of his personality was his
independence of thought and the
courage to express that though
regardless of consequences. HI
stood unswervingly for what HI
believed was right no matter wha
interest it might endanger. Hi
whole career exemplified honesty
integrity and unqualified adherence
to principle. Several times was b
offered the editorship of differen
papers of the Inter-mountain states
but always declined them for tn
reason that the management
those papers insisted on dictatin
their policy.
He stood by his convictions {
duty without hesitation. He par
ed with his political friends whe
he felt they were wrong, regardless
OF results. He owed no allegianc
to any master, and no clique locke
to him to do its bidding, He b
lieved implicitly in the cardinal an
automatic principles of Republican
ism and has always been true
those principles. He was public
spirited. He had the conception I
a broad minded man as to h
duties and responsibilities. H
was one of those who conscientiou
ly assume the burdens and face tt
duties of citizenship.
He was thoroughly acquainte
with every phase of Idaho's polite
he had studied carefully ever
question which has come beio
the people of this great commo
wealth during the past TWEEN
years. and with his keen intelle
had thoroughly analysed eve
movement in the states progre: