The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-08-17
IDAHO GOVERNOR
REACHED PLACE
THROUGH LABOR
Career of d. w. Davis,
Who Seeks Reelection
Typical of American
Land of Opportunity.

future and indefatigable energy are
the qualities which have enabled him
to MAKE his successful struggle up
ward from appalling poverty to the
RICHEST official position within the gift
of the people of the state.
D. w. Davis was born in Wales, but
his parents mace to the United States
when he was only few months old
and his boyhood was spent in the
Angus coal mining district Of Iowa.
1t was there that he received the
rudimentary education which fell 70
his lot.
After having completed the tasks of
the fourth grade, he went to work in
the Eagle coal mine, which at that
time was owned by the Chicago, Mil
waukee and St. Paul railroad COM
pany. Three years were spent in the
mine before an opportunity to move
came in the form of the offer of a
clerkship of company store at Daw-
son, Iowa.
Not Much Remuneration
Wages paid in Iowa at that time
were not extraordinarily high. Young
Davis received $50 per month for his
services as coal miner and his
monthly stipend in the Dawson store
was SIS. When after three and one
half years in the store at Dawson. he
was offered the head clerkship of a
general store in Rippey, neighbor-
ing agricultural community, he did
not hesitate to accept.
Davis arrived at his majority in
1894, in that year becoming manager
Of the store he had entered as head
clerk. Unusual success as director of
this establishment enabled him, four
years later, to purchase an interest in
a local bank.
Receiving the title of cashier, he so
strengthened his institution that in il
short time he effected a consolidation
with the lone rival bank in Rappey,
which, it so happened, had as its
cashier the future Mrs. Davis. His
small farm near the town was sub
tsantiallly productive and he was we'll
on the way to prosperity when his
health failed completely.
Open Air Cures
Told by his thoroughly candid
physician that he was suffering from
tuberculosis and must either get out
into the open or die, Davis at once
severed all his Iowa business connec,
tions and spent an entire year in diff
ferent parts of the west. his travels
even taking him into New Mexico for
six interesting weeks.
The Rippey doctors prescription,
stay in the open," was followed de-
voutedly. Long journeys on foot
were followed by extended trips in a
blackboard and the invalid soon found
himself able to CONSIDER the selection
of new location.
The choice made was Dayton,
Wash, but Dayton's climate proved
unfavorable and in 1896 last move was
made to American Falls. Here the
governor organized the bank of which
he is now president obtaining first a
state and then national charter.
This miner-storekeeper-b a ker's
complete devotion to the welfare of
the then struggling American Falls
districe made it almost inevitable that
he should be drawn into politics. He
finally was induced to accept the Re-
publican nomination for state senate
and was elected by substantial ma
jority.
Easily Leads Ticket
The remainder of the governors
career is too well known to need de-
tailed narration. Most Idahoans re-
call that in 1916 he literally ran away
from his opponents in the Republican
primary and most 1dahoans also re-
member that in the November gen.
eral election he received more votes
than any other man on the Republican
ticket only succumbing to a landslide
which swept Idaho to Wilson by more
than 10000 votes. Many persons will
always have their doubts with regard
to Alexander's majority of s87 bal.
lots.
In 1918. Governor Davis received
one OF the most convincing majorities
ever granted-to an Idaho chief execu-
tive. utterly crushing a Nonaprtisan
league opponent who had been placed
in the lists by means of the theft of
the Democratic state organization.
Governor Exhibits Courage
Since taking his oath of office,
Idaho's chief executive has amplv