The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-03-11

tangible ILLUSTRATION OF the regard he
held for her.
A large portion of MIR. Davis's saw
ings from his salary had been spent in
buying up hundreds OF acres OF timber
and coal lands lying in close proximity
to the courses OF Cheat river and its
tributaries. These lands were bought
for trihing sums from their owners.
who did not realize the ultimate value
that must some day be attached to the
properties.
The Prices OF These Lands
often ranged from fifty and seventy
FIVE cents to dollar and a half per
acre.
Rapidly the Davis Bros. built UP
thriving trade. the outbreak OF the
civil war helped them materially in a
financial way. Because OF their acces-
sible location they obtained large army
contracts for supplying the soruiers
with food stuffs and other supplies.
Their business continued to prosper
until It reached enormous proportions.
Having accumulated sufficient
wealth TO insure his independence and
position. his ambitions turned into po-
litical channels. In 1866 he was elect
ed 60 the lower branch of the West
Virginia legislature.
He Served One Year.
In the lower house and his career in
that body was a noteworthy one and
was largely occupied with legislation
concerning the financial system OF the
new born state.
Two years later he was elected to
the state senate and took a still more
prominent part in financial legislation.
Again in 1870 he was a candidate to
II + -
His opponent this time was a foe
worthy OF his steel, the Hon. w. III. II.
Flick OF Pendleton county, one of the
new states leading Republicans. max
ing the fight against him. The cam
paign was a memorable one, the two
candidates travelling together and dis
cussing the issues at joint debates in
country stores and school houses. Mr..
Davis won by small majority, and
because OF his victory over so re-
nowned a Republican as Mr.. Flick, he
became the leader OF his party in the
state senate; at the same time serving
as chairman of the finance committee.
In 1870. when the duty OF electing
a successor to United States Senator
Waitman T. Wiley devolved upon the
legislature. Mr.. Davis. then the Demo
cratic leader of the state senate. was
chosen by an almost unanimous vote
Representatives of both parties voted
for him over such distinguished men
as Hon. Daniel Lamb and Colonel b.
II. Smith. who were candidates. He
was also elected TO a second term, his
twelve years OF service in the national
senate expiring March 4. 1888.
Mr.. Davis could never be regarded
in the light OF a partisan. He was
pre-eminently a conservative. His
ideas were far from the political views
entertained by leading Democrats to- )
day. and he was always what might be
termed a protection" Democrat Hel
believed in incidental protection.
His Antagonism
toward the lamented William L. Will
son is we'll known by his intimates.
and 1t is no secret that he preferred
Federal Judge Aston G. Dayton, an
uncompromising Republican congress-
man from the "old Second to VIII !
son. whose tariff views were widely at
variance with those entertained by
Senator Davis.
Judge Dayton has often made the re. |
mark that Senator Davis was the
maker of his career. Dayton being the
man who finally reclaimed the district
for the Republicans in the memorable I
campaign of 1894, when William l..
Virginia's greatest Democrat, went
down TO defeat. only to become post
master general in President Cleve-
lands cabinet.
His Becoming Modesty.
and his desire for doing unostenta-
tious work made him a power in the
committee rooms. In fact, Senator
Davis's work OF greatest usefulness
was done in committee. He early &C
quired a place on the transportation !
committee, which was at that time
one OF the most important OF the up
per house committees. II was here that
his vast and unlimited knowledge OF
transportation problems began 10 show
itself and within a short while HIS col |
leagues on the committee became &C
customed TO seek his advice and rely
on his judgment on every important
question that arose
Few are aware that our present ma
tional department OF agriculture is
largely indebted for its creation
through Mr.. Davis's untiring work on
the agricultural committee. Two OF
his best speeches. during his entire
career IN the senate. were devoted 20
the advantages that the people would
reap from the maintenance OF such a ]
national department
Mr.. Davis might have remained in |
the senate for many years longer for |
his party continued in power in West !
virginia for a number OF years after
His Voluntary Retirement.
During the two terms which he
served his business interests had been /
constantly expanding and developing
until they required his immediate and .
personal attention. He therefore de- /
clined reelection for a third term 1
when there was no opposition to him |
In his own party. and only his con- I
sent was required 10 insure his con-
tinuance I'm the senate for AZ least SIX |
years longer
AZ a Developer.
A. young man At Piedmont. Mr. /
Davis had frequently made explOr-
ing and investigating trips southeast