Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-11-21
The Story of John W. Davis.


tain telegram, altered it and sent il
on its way, and the Franco-Prussian
war was the result. In 1910 lgnatius
Brennan, insurance man OF Wheeling
w. Va, and prominent in Democratic
State politics, intercepted two kilograms
and stuck them in his pocket, with the
result that eight years later John W.
Davis, Solicitor General Of the United
States, was appointed American Ambas-
sador to the Court of ST. James, sue
ceeding Walter Hines Page. One diff
ference in the two instances is that Bis
marck knew what result his action would
have Mr.. Brannan didn't.
The story of the intercepted tele'
grams was told by members of the new
Ambassadors immediate family, who
declared that had the message been al
lowed to 60 on their way John W. Davis,
in all probability, would be practising
law in Clarksburg today.
1t was in the summer of 1910 that
Democrats of the first West Virginia
congressional district met in Wheeling
to select candidate for Congress. AS
delegates began arriving for the conven-
ton, it was seen that John w. Davis,
then Clarksburg lawyer, was virtual
ly the unanimous choice for the nomina
ton. He was among those attending
the convention.
News that Mr.. Davis was almost GER
tain to be nominated trickled back TO
Clarksburg and reached the ears OF his
father, John ]. Davis, formerly mem
Der of Congress, who for years had been
recognized as the Democratic leader of
the State, but who had retired from
politics. He Immediately telegraphed
his son not to accept the nomination in
any circumstances. Fearing that the
message might 60 astray, he sent an
other one an hour or so later. Both
messages fell into the hands of Ignatius
Brennan, who signed for them and then
put them in his pocket. He feared that
if John w. Davis saw the message he
would obey his fathers Instructions
and that is just what he would have
done, say members of the family. In
Mr.. Davis Mr.. Brennan and the other
Democratic leaders saw the only hope
Of winning the district that year ano
they were determined to have him in
the race.
Not knowing of the kilograms, young
Davis accepted the nomination for Con-
gress and was elected by big majority
in what was generally conceded to be
Republican district.
The elder Davis was, to quote him
"sick of politics" and was determined
to keep his son in law Office.
John w. Davis was reelected to Con
gress in 1912, but had scarcely taken his
seat when President Wilson appointed
him Solicitor General of the United
States.
The new Ambassador is man OF
scholarly attainments, and while he is
not what one might call an orator he IS
public speaker of the type that COM
mands the rapt attention of any class
of audience. This is in line with the
teachings of his late mother, who gave
him the education usually supplied BY
the public schools and whose favorlte
phrase was" Never use a word not
necessary to the meaning of sentence
Mr.. Davis has long been regarded
among West Virginians as an intellec-
tual prodigy. At the age OF twelve he
was urged by school officials and 9th
ers to take the examination for teacher
in the public schools of Clarksburg. On
advice Of his father, he declined. The
elder Davis said at that time he feared
his son would develop case of "swel'
head" Noted for his studiousness and
bashfulness, young Davis devoted
practically all his time to his books
Members of the family tell how, when
mere child, he used to roll on the hooi
at night, reciting his lessons to his
mother as he rolled. After "graduat'
ing," from his mothers school, young
Davis entered Richard Craig's board
ing house. At the latter place he wa:
one of two male students in large
class of girls. Here he was cured o.
his bashfulness. Members of the family
say that he used to tell them that h'
would rather walk three blocks out o
his way than meet girl OF his acqualnt
ance.
When only thirteen years old younl
Davis entered Fartops Academy, a pre-
paratory school at Charlottesville, Va
Graduated from this institution whei
sixteen, he entered Washington AM
Lee University, where he was noted To-
his studiousness.
Young Davis was graduated from
Washington and Lee University in l09.
with the degree Of bachelor of arts, ant
in 1905 the degree of bachelor Of Law
was conferred upon him al the institu
ton. He returned at once TO his hom
and was admitted to the bar. The fol
lowing year, however, he was callet
back TO Washington and Lee TO serv
as an assistant professor of law, posi-
ton he filled only one year.
Returning to Clarksburg he forme
law partnership with his father an
practiced his chosen profession TO
some years, when he was elected to tn
State Legislature on the Democrat
ticket. Immediate recognition wa
given his scholarly attainments an
legal knowledge in the Legislature an
| he was made chairman OF the judiciar
committee, an honor that is seldom
conferred upon novice at law-mahnt
| Retiring from the Legislature after on
term, Mr.. Davis refused to again entc
public life, despite the fact that he wa
importuned to do so by party leader!
Il -,