The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-12
Henry GdSSdWay Davis
Had a Notable Career
Former Senator Led in Development of Resources of
West Vrginia--Neteran Statesman Was Railroad
Builder Fnancier, and Party Leader.
By JUDsoN c. wELLIvER.


political parties. twice elected United
States Senator, builder Of one of the
great American fortunes. absolutely a
self-made man, and always true to the
ideals AMI instincts Of his origin as a
man OF the people, Henry Gassaway
Davis was unique figure among the
Americans of his time.
IL il difficult for Americans OF the
present generation who think Of him
as man who "A dozen years ago re-
'ceived new call to public service to
realize that almost Il half century ago
Mr.. Davis was elected Senator from
West Virginia, He served two terms
and I'm the last two years was chairman
lions.
Important as was his leadership in
the Senate, MIR. Davis believed u was
still more important for him to devote
of upbuilding the State of West Vir-
giniu. Ha retired from public life, as
he supposed forever, declined a third
term In tho Senate, and went back to
his real life work.
not the great fortune which he founded
not tho record OF public service AS a
Senate leader and candidate of his
party for the Vice Presidency. but the
present industrial and economic splen-
dor OF the State of West Virginia.
Westward the course OF empire takes
its way" occasionally overlooking
good thing en- route.
West Virginia Set Aside.
The almost unbelievable riches OF the
West Virginia mountains and valleys
were overlooked In the earlier marches
OF civilization toward the great Middle
West
II is one OF the strange common
taries of the development OF this
continent that tho mid-Appalachian
treasure house of metal and mineral
wealth which ultimately became the
state OF West Virginia shonld have
been passed over AS IL was.
Splendid States were built far to
the West out of vastly less Promls
ing material, while the riches OF West
Virginia still lay fallow. inviting, bat
seeming never TO tempt. the enterprise
OF tho empire builders. BY curious
irony of fate, 10 seems. West Ntr-
ginia had been deliberately set aside
to await the Alladin's touch OF one
mans genius. That man was Henry
Gasaaway Davis.
Almost q Centenarian.
II he had lived sever years longer
Senator Davis would hayS been a
centenarian. He was born In 1898.
and OF all the remarkable things
about his career none In more stril<
ing than the seeming endowment OF
perpetual youth which he possessed.
Il might almost be said that he
came into the world with the judy
ment, tho discretion. the wisdom and
foresight OF a veteran, and LETT II
still possessed of all these qualities
together with tho buoyancy, tbs
energy, the confidence and eNdber-
4 few brief weeks before his death
at the age of ninety-three, no was
still in active and personal charge Of
his great affairs. Railroad magnate
manufacturer. merchant miner. hnan-
among men, he directed his great ar
| fairs down to the very end with NJ
more diversion of authority than thu
delegation OF detail to his private
secretary.
Began at the Bottom.
A great organizer. he was Away
able to direct the thing he had ere
ated, to dominate and control 1t alb
soluteIy. The story of Senator Davis
life Is the story Of the development
OF tho American continent through
the building of it's railroad System.
| tom of the ladder. a brakeman on tn
oldest railroad system in the coun
| try, the Baltimore and Ohio. Hi
! father had been one OF the builder
of that road, but had lost most o
his fortune I'm the enterprise.
The Davis family was of hne oil
revolutionary stock. and Caleb Davis
| father of Henry Gassaway. had peel
a soldier in the war of 1917. Tn
elder Davis founded the town o
4 n lat n
of Baltimore, and there Henry CASA
way Davis was born in November
1923.
Farm Boy in Early Life.
His early life was that OF a farm
boy, and II implanted in him a tast
for tho country that he never lost II
remained a farmer and patron o
farming to the end.
Caleb Davis accumulated. for M
generation. q considerable fortune
a merchant in Baltimore. Most of
was swept away as result OF ms AZ
ISOLATION with the construction OF IN
original Baltimore and Ohio. In hi
later years the elder DAVIS hNed
caleb Davis married Miss Louis
Brown. One OF her sisters became III
mother Of Senator Arthnr Ple Col
J man of Maryland. who. therefore wa
a ItTSl COUSIN OI s'tihhlOL Lava. ASN'
men inherited many OF the traits of I'll
} Brown family and throughout th''
public and business careers they wei
intimate friends.
Friend of Henry Clay.
Probably one Of the great dominatiu
t influences in Senator Davis life. re-
kaps second only to that OF his mothe
was that OF Henry Clay.
1NnrIpO the latar yoara of Mr. CLAW
3 public service he was frequent trave
a err on the Baltimore and Ohio. RoinR /
train as far as its Western terminl
: and thence 10 his Kentucky home
stage. Young Davis, who had present
risen from brakeman to conductor. b
came first the casunl acquaintance, thu
D tho intimate friend and finally the a
= dent political supporter of the gre
Kentucki Ian, for whose Presidential ca
| didacy he cast his firSt vote.
Mr.. Clay not only inspired his your
n friend with the interest In public 2
fairs which continued through his III
h hut, vet more important, impressed up
his youthful lima gination a concepti'
OF the assured greatness of the Amel
can nation.
=. A Bull on America.
e This inspiration received from I
i great conlmoner made the youns
man, from the BEGINNING OF his bu
ness life, a bull or America, lie new
q, saw tie day wher he lost confidence
tho Ouccaas OF this nation. OF this %