Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-01-09
JEFF DAVIS LAYS
DOWN HIS BURDEN
U. S. Senator From Arkansas
Dies of Heart Failure-Fun-
= eral Sunday.

Little Rock, Ark. Jan. 6.-Simple
services Sunday characterized the fun
eral Of the late United States Senator
JEFF Davis. Besides the congressional
delegation and men prominent in the
affairs of the state, several thousand
persons attended
The body was accompanied from the
Davis home to the First Baptist church,
of which the senator was member.
by battalion of United States troops
and two companies of state militia
At the church. the pastor, the Rev.
Benjamin Cox. assisted by DR.. r. J.
Bowers. president of Ouchita college.
oficiated.
At the grave in local cemetery
Judge Joptha Evans, of Brownsville, q
lifelong friend, delivered a brief eulogy.
Senator Davis died suddenly
Friday morning of heart failure, the
elimination of an Illness of several
months.
The death of Senator Davis on the
eve of the ratification of his reelection
by the legislature creates a peculiar
political situation in Arkansas and,
while All authoritative statement has
not been made 1t Is possible a special
primary will be called to select q sue
cessor for the full term beginning
March 4 next. AS an alternative. it
is suggested that the legislature would
have power to name the new senator
Gov. George w. Donaghy, who will
retire from office January 10, and
Congressman w. A Oldfleld had ten
tatively announced that they would be
candidates for the United States SEN
ate two Years hence to succeed Senator
James p Clark.
Made Light Of Attacks.
On one or two occasions, his friends
say. he had suffered from attacks of
dizziness. On recovering from these
attacks he invariably made light Of
them.
Since taking his seat in the Senate
in 1907, Senator Davis had grown stead
lily In the esteem of his fellow mem
bers. AT first he was regarded as ex-
trenely radical in his views. When
death overlook him he was chairman
Of the Senate committee on the Missis-
sippi river and its tributaries and 8
member of the committees on claims
partment expenditures. immigration.
Indian depredations, private land
claims and public lands.
Senator Davis is survived by a wild
ow and seven children. The oldest son,
Wallace, aged "a, has been associated
WIN lllc SelldIOI III Ills law OIllCe. Els
eldest daughter, Miss Bessie, acted as
his private secretary. His other chill
dren, jamie, jeff jr.. Ina, Lucille and
Lewis, are students In local schools
Senator Davis mother, who is "a
years old, lives at Russellvile. Senator
Davis was twice married.
Governor Three Terms.
United States Senator Jeff Davis was
the only man enjoying the distinction
of having been governor of Arkansas
for three terms. He was first elected
to the office in 1900 and held it until
1906 when he was elected to the SEN
ate for the term beginning the next
year. He was renominated at the re-
cent primary over Congressman Ste
phen Brundge. AS the legislature is
overwhelmingly democratic. he would
have been reelected at the session Of
the legislature which will convene this
month. He once held the office of at
torney general of Arkansas
MIR. Davis was born in Little River
county, Arkansas, in 1862, and was
educated at Russellville Ark, and at
Vanderbilt university. He was admit
ted to the bar at the age of 49,