Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-09
Mr. DAVIS, LOVED
BY ALL, DEAD
Continued from First Pase.)

City Hall and other city buildings were
ordered at half-mast.
While Mr.. Davis had figured
prominently in ward and city
politics, 1t was not until he was
elected sheriff that his influence ex-
tended throughout the county. The
late Hugh Dugan, to whose daughter
Davis vas married some years later,
was a power in Democratic politics in
those days, and it was through his eff
forts hat Davis obtained his nomina-
ton for sheriff. At that time Davis
had plenty OF influential friends, but
very little money. He had no difficulty,
however. In getting together sufficient
funds to conduct the campaign. o
mer County Clerk Dennis Mclaughlin,
who In recent years has taken little
interest in the political game, was the
Democratic leader at the time. He and
Davis had been friends for years. They
had worked side by side when thu late
William McAvoy was the county clerk.
Mr.. Davis began to attract attention
In county affairs Ia 1882 when, with Nc
Laughlin, he aided MoAvoy in bringing
about the nomination OF William Nc
Adoo, now president OF the Board of
Magistrates of Greater New York Tor
Congress. McAdoo served several
terms and afterward became assistant
secretary OF the navy under President
Cleveland. The late Allan L. McDer-
mott was Mr.. McAdoo's opponent for
the Congressional nomination. The con-
ventton was held In Hoboken. n II
was noted for It's turbulence. II
was several years before McDermott
forgave Davis for the part he played
In this convention.
McAvoy's reign as leader was brief.
He died In 1885, soon after he had been
elected surrogate. Mclaughlin took
McAvoy's place at the head of he
Democratic organization.
When He Was sheriff.
After MIR. Davis had assumed the
office of sheriff his influence grew to
sucn al extent hat he divioed the
leadership with Mclaughlin. The late
Leon Albeit, twice Governor of the
State, was the power behind the Demo-
cratic hrone He and Allan l. Nc
Dermott were in close touch with Nc
Laughlin. who was guioed to a great
extent by their advice. Davis at that
time was not over-triendly to either.
Elis. principal advisor was William d.
Edwards, who served as State Senator
and corporation counsel OF Jersey CITY,
and who is stu active in party affairs.
The late Orestes Cleveland. who was
three times Mayor of Jersey City and
who MADE several Intellectual attempts
to obtain a nomination for Governor,
was also an admirer and advisor of
Davis The dual leadership continued
for several years. Mclaughlin and
Davis were arrayed against each other
On several occasions. This was notably
the case In the contest for United
States senator at the legislative session
of 1889, when Albeit was a candidate
against the lato Senator John n. Mo
Pherson.
Mr.. Davis exerted his influence for
Mcpherson, while Mclaughlin worked
hard 10 bring about h election of
Albeit. Mcpherson, who had had two
terms, was elected for the third time.
In the fall of that same year Albeit
was the candidate for Governor. Mr..
IA vas one of his most loyal sup
porters and Hudson rolled up an I'M
precedented majority. Albeit showed
his appreciation a veal later, when he
named Davis as one of the police
justices for Jersey City.
In the fall of 1892 Mclaughlin and
Davis stood together against Albeit
and McDermott for the nomination Of
the late e. f. C. Young for. Governor.
The Hudson delegation was practi-
cally unanimous for Young, but Albeit
and McDermott and other State leaders
brought about the nomination of the
late George T.. Werts. who was then q
Supreme Court Justice, and who was
reluctant to stand as a candidate. This
was one of the most exciting State
conventions In the history of the party.
The late Charles H. Winfield, who was
then district attorney Of Hudson Coun-
ty, acting as a proxy for an elected
Young delegate, made a speech advo-
eating the nomination of Werts. His
attack on the Hudson leaders threw
the convention into an uproar. Werts
was elected Governor and he appointed
Albeit his successor on the Supreme
court bench. Mr.. Davis was q strong
supporter of former United States SEN
ator James Smith, jr., when the latter
was elected in 1893.
In Full Control.
A year later Mclaughlin practically
withdrew from active politics, leaving
Davis In absolute control. Two sue
cessive defeats had ~disheartened Nc
Laughlin. In 1892 he advocated the
nomination of Allan L. McDermott
for Mayor. Mr.. McDermott was Will
ing to take the nomination, but he did
not think q two-year term was long
enough for a Mayor to accomplish re-
suits. Spring elections for municipal
offices were In vogue and as the Legis-
lature was in session McDermott had
a law enacted making the term Of
Mayor five years instead of two. With
this law in effect McDermott tool the
nomination.
His reform ideas alienated a
Democrats and the result vas that
P. F. Wanser, the Republican candi-
date. vas elected. This defeat stag
gered Mclaughlin. In the following
year his candidate for sheriff. Edward
Stanton, was defeated by Colonel John
]. Toffey, Republican. Mclaughlin
concluded he had had enough OF party
leadership.
The very first year he assumed the
leadership Davis encountered opposi-
ton from a faction led by George l..
Record, who at that time was a Demo-
crat. Record ran for the nomination
for Congress, but was beaten at the
primaries. At the election the Repub-
lican candidates won. so that Davis's
leadership did not begin very auspi-
ciously. In 1895 Davis vas more suo-
cessful. electinn the county ticket.