Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-09


Davis fought the giving away OF the
streets and he made such a good record
that the suggestion that he be made
the Democratic candidate for sheriff
was generally approved. This was IN
1887. In that year the Democrats were
divided
Won When siek.
Cornelius J. Cronin. who had been
un~der-sherin for several years n =
man of excellent reputation. was pre-
vailed upon to take an Independent
nomination. He was given the indorse-
ment Of the Republican convention and
1t looked as If Davis would have a hard
task defeating him.
Republicans who wanted q straight
out Republican candidate refused to
support Cronin and they put David w.
Lawrence, then prominent in Repub-
lican politics, In the field. Toward the
end of b campaign Davis vas taken
Ill. His friends looked after his inter
ests. however, and the balloting Was
in his favor. He was on a sick bed
when todd he had been triumphantly
elected This was the last elective Of
fee he held.
At the expiration of his term as
sheriff In 1890. MI. Davis found hun
self practically without a dollar. In
vest1nents he had made proved unprofit-
able. While he had lost his money he
had not lost his will power on courage
and only a few OF his intimate friends
knew of tho financial rcverses he had
met with. He kept = stin upper Lip
and II was not long before he was ON
his feet again.
AZ tho Legislative session of 1901 a
law was enacted taking from tina Lc-
stsiature In Joint meeting b power Of
appointing police Justices in Jersey
City and Newark. The Governor wal
authorised to make the appointments.
There were two police justices In Jer-
sey City al tina Tina. The new law
provided for the appointment Of three
and Governor Albeit named Davis for
ono Of the places.
Appointed Jail Warden.
In 1892 the Board Of Freeholders ap-@
pointed Davis warden of the county
jail. This Office was one of the most
lucrative In the county, the warden
receiving q certain sum per day for the
feeding Of the prisoners. Davis on az
Stunning the Office resigned the police
j~usticeshtp and he was succeeded by
the late Charles Birdsal.
In 1893, having elected q shertf and
having obtained control OF h Legis-
lature which convened In 1894, Davis
wac legtslated out Of Office. A law was
enacted giving the sheriff control of
the county Jail and authorizing him to
appoint a, warden at q fixed salary.
For the two years following Mr.. Da-
Wis devoted his attention to his business
enterprises. and in 1897 when the DEM
oorats regained control of Jersey City.
Edward Hoos, who had been elected
Mayor to succeed P. r. Wanser, ap-
pointed him city collector. This is the
most important ONCE in h gift Of the
Mayor. The term was three years.
Mayor Hoos, who was reelected In 1893,
~reappointed MI. Davis for another term
of three years. This carried him through
TO the 1rst term of Mayor Mark M.
Pagan. Edward Fry succeeded Davis
as collector, and, Mr.. Pagan having
been twice reelected. there was no
change in the political complexion OF
the municipal departments until 1907.
In that year Mayor H. Otto Wittpenn
defeated Pagan and his first official act
was to appoint Davis to his old ofdcs
Of city collector. Upon hts reelection
in 1903 Mayor Wittpenn gave Mr.. Davis
a reappointment, and he held the ONCE
at the time of his death.
To his fndomitable pluck and the fact
that his word was as good as his bond.
Mr.. Davis owed his SUCCESS both in
business and politics. He Was never
known to break a promise. When he
gave his word on any proposition the
person to whom he gave 1t would feel
assured that the promise would DO
made good