The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-11
PASSING OF DAVIS
REMOVES AN OLD
SCHOOL DEMOCRAT
Former West Virginia Senator
! viii Be Buried in Town He
Established.
LONG IN POLITICAL SERVICE

Funeral services for Henry Sassa
way Davis, who died earlv today VIII
be held at the residence of Mrs. Ste
phen e. Eikins.' 1927 X street northwest
at o'clock on Monday afternoon.
The Rev. DIR. Charles Wood. rector OF
the Church of the Covenent. OF which
Mr.. Davis was member. will orlciate.
Monday niRht the body of the d'stin-
guishcd legislator, capitalist ara publ
cist will be taken to Elkins. w. Va.
n town founded by Mr.. Davis. for in
termont on Wednesday.
II Is Understood the body Will lie in
state in Elkins to allow Mr.. DAVIS
many friends and acquaintances there
to pay honor to his memory.
FORMER Senator Davis. who was the
Vice Presidential candidate on the DEM
ocratic ticket In 1904. was ninety three
years old.
The direct cause of his death was a
severe attack of grippe. with which he
was stricken several weeks ago. OWING
to his advanced years he gradually
grew weaker. Death occurred at 10y
o'clock this morning; Mrs. EIklns anu
were present at their fathers bedside
when the end came.
Senator Davis death marks the pass
ing Of another Of the old school Demo-
long years of political activity and serv-
| itnde. his utterances were those OF inc
statesmen who held forth during the
early days of the Republic.
Long Political Service.
One of the most widely known men in
Washington, owing to his long political
residence here, he could be seen fire.
quently stopping In the street to hobnob
| with persons of more humble state.
lie was unusually active for his years
and possessed a vigor OF mind not
boasted by many of his advanced years.
| lie remembered casual acquaintance of
his days in the Senate. and always ex-
pressed an interest in discussions OF tn,
| politics of the past and their bearins
| on the present.
Liberty and free government have
always been. secured at the cost OF
great sacrifice" he said. on one occa-
sion; but history teaches US that both
can be easily lost without the knowl-
edge OF the people"
Born in baltimore in 1873, the year tho
Monroe doctrine became a fundamental
principle. he never missed an opportun ty
to further the aims and purposes of the
! policy embodied therein. He fought for
its maintenance throughout his career.
He served as representative of the
United States at two Pan-American
conferences. and. by his personality and
speeches, strove to cement the friendly
relations between the republics Of the
Western Hemisphere.
Ante Bellum Politics.
II was shortly after the civil war that
/ the distinguished West Virginian's ac-
tive political career started. He was
first elected member OF the house of
delegates of his State and later became
| a State senator.
lie had come from his native city Bal.
timore with only meager public school
IL cd a
| became a merchant, then coal land
| operator, his ventures in this field pros
! pering in such manner that In snort
4 time his lands were of fabulous value.
| Then he entered the field of railroad
| building. lie sold two of the lines he
| constructed. the West Virginia Central
| and the Pittsburgh railway, to the
| Wabash in 1902. He was also the prin-
cipal owner of the Coal and Coke rail-
| way OF West Virginia.
He entered the United States Senate
as the first Democratic representative OF
| West Virginia to that body, In 1871. He
| served two terms.
Cause of the Farmer.
While he did not introduce the bill
which created the Department of Agri-
culture, he might justly be called tho
father OF the movement which resulted
in the establishment OF that department.
| Throughout his Senatorial career, he
pleaded the cause OF the farmer and
urged an institution of the same scope
as the present agricultural department:
His own bills for this department failed
in passing. but he finally saw his dreW.i
realized. ~ ,,,,-
Senator Davis led the West virginia
delegation to Presidential conventions
ON seven occasions. A year AFTER ne
had retired voluntarily from the sen
ate he was urged to become candidate
for Vice President on the ticket with
Grover Cleveland. lie declined. When
he was eighty-one years old, however
he accepted the nomination as the run
ming mate OF Alton b. Parker.
Built Two Towns.
West Virginia's upbuilding In large
measure Is due to the enterprise OF
Senator Davis. lie built two towns. one
of which. Davis. bears his own name.
and the other, Elkins. that OF his SON
in-law
Besides his daughters, Mrs. Elkins
and Mrs. Arthur Lee, of this city, SEN
ator Davis Is survived by a son, John
T. Davis of Elkins, and by a number
OF grandchildren, among whom are for
MGR United States Senator Davis Elkins
who succeeded his father In the Senate,
and Mrs. William Hit, formerly Miss
Katherine ElkinS,