The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-05-10
Visits Colonel Thomas q. Davis.

Chas. O. Clemson, of the Westminster Bar,
who spent Friday and Saturday of last week
at the home of Colonel Thomas B. Davis,
Keyser, West Virginia, at the request of The
ADVOCATE gives US the following for publica.
ton
Every one speaks Familiarity Of Mr.: Davis
as Colonel Tom" or 'Mr. Tom.' The
gallant Colonel is Chesterfield In manners,
a typical Virginia gentleman to the manner
born, with the added benefit of having been
actually born in Howard county, Maryland,
and transplanted to the mountains of West
Virginia. Colonel Davis was born almost 80
wears ago and has lived since about 1858 in
West Virginia.
In the development of the coal, coke and
railroads of West Virginia, Colonel Davis
and his brother, former Senator Henry q.
Davis, candidate for Vice. President on the
Democratic ticket in 1904, have been the chief
factors. They built and developed the West
Virginia Central, which they recently sold to
the Wabash system. Since the sale of the
West Virginia Central the Davis Brothers
have turned their attention to the Coal and
Coke Railroad from the Elkins region to
Charleston, of which road, including branches,
about ITS miles have already been completed.
coal land of from 100000 to $50, 900 acres
they intend to open and develop.
Colonel Davis went to Keyser when it was
but village, and has seen the town grow to
a city of over 5000 people, with extensive car
work shops and manufacturing industries,
pressed brick streets, electric lights, artificial
and natural gas, both for heat and light. The
Colonel owned the greater part of the land on
which the town now stands. He retains for
himself fine residence in the center of the
town, where ample lawns add much to the
beauty of the old mansion. West Virginia
University Preparatory School, the gift OF
Colonel Davis, stands on high hill overlook.
ing the town, and is large and handsome
building of brown stone and brick. On every
hand about Keyser are evidences of the Col.
onel's generosity. He has distributed over
two millions of dollars among his near rea-
tives, and given generously to many of his
acouaintances of early manhood in Howard
county and elsewhere. Above all. Colonel
Davis is a modest and unassuming man, quick
of thought and untiring in action. He rises
before six in the morning aud is busy all day
at his bank, about the farms, keeping appoint.
ments with his secretaries from the mines and
other industries with which he is identified,
and his abstemious habits have apparently
greatly aided the West Virginia atmosphere
and Old Dame Nature in rewarding man for
the loss of comfort to be had by smoking and
drinking. The Colonel does neither.
Colonel Davis last visit 10 Westminster
was made during the time when the County
Fairs were held here. On that occasion he
brought two trotting horses. a good one for
the Big Race and another for any sort OF a
race. His horse won second place in the Big
| Race and first place in the other. The old
| CITY Hotel, at the corner of Court and Main
streets, was then the most popular stopping
place, and the Colonel stayed there while in
| town. He has not given up his love tor trot'
ting horses, and has now in training IN his flne
stables at Keyser a string of a dozen or more
| trotters and PAGERS with records of 2.O6, 2.OS,
21O, 2 20, &C.. and himself drives for pleasure
on the roads q gay youngster that can reel
the miles off at very fast gait.
| DR.. Joshua w. Herring, of whom the Colonel
spoke as 1.-The Former Comptroller" mean
ing Comptroller of the Treasury OF Maryland
and in the Colonels opinion excellent Guber
Material material for the Democrats of Mary
| land this fall, was among those OF whom the
Colonel inquired particularly, as also our
veteran Republican editor of The Sentinel
| Colonel w. l.. w. Seabrook. Many OF those
whom Colonel Davis knew here have long
| since gone from among US, as Granville ..
| Haires, former President of The First Ma
tional Bank, the late Chief Judge Charles B.
Roberts, and others.
In speaking of his experiences in politics
| Colonel Davis recalled his campaign of three
years ago. when he redeemed his own district
in West Virginia, formerly Judge Dayton
| district, and won a Democratic victory BY
nearly 1000 majority in district that is Re
publican by $500 to $500, and the Colonel
merely added swell, you see, the people just
thought they would not like to see me beaten,
and they elected me, but do not want to
serve another term in Congress. There Is
little doubt but that the Colonel could have
been re elected to succeed himself if he had
desired, whereas the Democratic candidate IL
his district to succeed him was beaten BY
nearly 5000 majority. coincidence IN Col
Davis life was that he had never been within
the chamber of the House of Representatives
until he went there member, although during
the time that his brother was Senator, and
during the terms of his cousin, Senator A. T.
German. and of his lifelong friend and lega
advisor. Governor, now Senator Whyte, ht
had often visited the Senate chamber. Hi
advice to young men who have aspirations t6
be Congressman is to 60 early in life.