The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-03-12
HENRY eassAHAY DAVIS
Passed Away Friday Night - Known
as The ol5-Fashiored Gentleman"

Il 60 - Dah-- G-sL Lt-e last ll=-f. Gtte
a eveutfui life.
Senator Henry GasSzway Davis wir
messed and participated in the tgrea
political epochs Of American progres
for more than threequarters Of
century He vas the ~old-fashionet
gentleman" in the senate. His utter
aHces were those OF the old Jafer
sonian days
/ Liberty and free government hay,
great Sacrifices" he said on one oc
I casion- ~Bv- history teaches Us thai
both can be easily lost w.thou, tn,
knowledge 0: the people"
Il is significant that he was bor1
|! in the same year. ls33, at Woodstock
Nd, that the Monroe Doctrine be
] came q fundamental principle in Am
erican politics. During his disting
u-shed career he fought 10 maintain
H. He later represented the United
States al two Pan-American confer
ences, at which, by his personality
and speeches. he strove to strengthen
the bonds Of friendship between north
and south America.
Senator Davis active political car.
eer began the year after the civil
war. He was elected a member of
the house Of delegates of the new
state Of West Virginia, and next serv.
ed as state senator.
West Virginia sent him to the Uni.
ted States senate as its first demo.
cratic representative in 1871. He
served two terms with distinction.
/ He ceaselessly urged congress TO
[ help the farmers by establishing an
, agricultural department. His own
bills failed in passing. but he lived
TO see the day when his far.sighted-
ness was recognized.
A familiar figure in presidential
conventions, Senator Davis led his
delegates from West Virginia to the
nomination hall on seven occasions,
probably record for such service.
A year after he had retired vol.
unfairly from the senate, he was urg.
ed to become a candidate for vice
president on the ticket with Grover |
Cleveland, He declined. He accent.
ed the nomination, however, as run.
ming mate with Alton B. Parker, and
thus became the Oldest candidate.
aged 81, ever selected for the office.
The venerable senator was not only
democrat in politics, but he was
democrat in nature. He was the
champion of liberty
imperialism is hurtful and abhor
rent in free government" he de.
clared when accepting the nomination
for vice-presdent in the st. Louis con.
yention Of 1904. THE policy of i'm.
perialism is always dangerous TO
liberty"
The great wealth of Senator Davis. {
estimated at s3O,000,O0O was acquired (
by his far-sightedness and his ability
o take advantage of opportunities. 9
He was the eldest of five children. ,
and at an early age, on his fathers ,
ieath, became the bread-winner for +
he family. At 10 years of age he q
vas farm hand on a Maryland plant. y
Ition, having relinquished opportuni- c
les for an education in favor of his i
'ounger brothers and sisters. +
His great business career began +
when he became brakeman on a -
reight train. His rise was rapid. q
1t that time railroad trains did not Il
un at night-it was too dangerous :,
It the approach of dusk they made h
or the nearest stations and waited r
Or sunrise. :,
at is a waste of time" insisted .,
oung Davis, who was then master of si
-,
He startled the veteran operators ii
y sending out the first night train
etween Baltimore and Cumberland.
marked new epoch in railroading. .,
Davis increased his wealth and :,
me rapidly AS a merchant, he
ade a small fortune. Then as =
nd owner in West Virginia, he =
me into possession of coal lands
hich were destined to make him a
'ince of wealth
Two towns in West Virginia owe
cir existence and prosperity to the
ulti millionaire statesman One
ars his name. Davis, and the other
e name of his son-in-law and politi.
! opponent, Senator Elkins. In the
ter city stand many memorials, hos.
ais, schools, childrens homes and
urches, commemorative of his gen.
1sty.
Baby chick feed at Brady & Bradys.
Meet me at Madden's New Store,