The Washington herald., 1915-09-24
HISTORY BUILDERS.
When Judge David Davis Was Presi,
dent Pro Tenn of the Senate.
lwritten e.rressly for Tine washingtou Herald!
BY DR.. L. J. EDWARDS.

by DIR. L. J. EDWARDS.
One of the first of the acts performed
by Gen. Arthur after he became Presi-
dent, in September OF 1881, was to sum-
mon the Senate into special session.
chiefly for the purpose OF electing a
president pro TEN. AT that time the
law provided that in case of the death
or resignation of the President and
the Vice President the president pro
TEN. of the Senate should succeed to
the Presidential office, and if there
were no president pro tenn. of the Sen
ate then the Speaker of the House was
to become President.
When Gen. Arthur as Vice President
succeeded, on the death of President
Garfield, TO the Presidency, there was
no president pro TEN. of the Senate.
That body had adjourned at the spring
session without having elected any
pI esident pro TEN. Nor was there any
Speaker of the House, for the new
Speaker would not be elected until
Congress met on the first Monday of
December, 1881. President Arthur re-
garded it as vital that a successor be
provided for as soon as the Senate
could be got together.
The Senate did meet in October, and
the Republicans were determined to
prevent If possible the election OF a
Democratic president pro tenn. The
Democratic ma ajority in the Senate was
very small, SO that it was easy for the
Republican Senators to maneuver to
prevent the election of a Democrat. At
last, by general agreement, decision
was reached to elect David Davis, who
was classed as an Independent. He
was elected and would have been Pres
ident had Gen. Arthur died.
In the spring of 1883 / chatted for
two or three hours with Judge Davis.
We were Seatmates in railway car.
Judge Davis was going to Fayetteville,
n. c., to meet the charming young
woman whom he expected to make his
bride, as he did two or three days
later.
mentiored to Judge Davis that
President Arthur was greatly pleased
for he told me--that the Senate had
elected Judge Davis president pro tenn,
and / ventured to ask the judge If he
found his service of yeac and n nall
in that office congenial His term as
Senator expired in March, 1888.
TT was very agreeable. he replied.
Il was too old a man when I entered
the Senate, and perhaps had been too
long upon the bench of the Supreme
Court from which 7 went to the Sem
ate to be able 20 take up in any very
active way Senatorial responsibility. l
became IA Senator with the intention of
making no speeches, but faithfully TO
attend to my ccmmittee duties. If had
any and then try to vote right upon
every question.
When | became president pro tenn.
was relieved of all my Senatorial re-
sponsibiiities. / had no committee work
to do, and all that was required OF me
was tc attend the sessions and rule
upon points of order. ! had no trouble
some rulings to make. therefore,
was able to sit quietly in my CHAIR.
listen to debates. take things easy. ana
on the whole my. service as president
pro tenn. was really period OF rest
after 2 long and very busy life. had
been Informed before you told me that
President Arthur was greatly pieaseo
at nv election as president pro tenn
Copyright ISIS. by .. J. Edwards Al hsh's ~
sevedD
Tomorrow Dr. Edwards VIII tell OF
Lincoln as a Great Military Genius.