Evening star., 1924-07-09
Move to Kill IaUo- Thirds and Unit Rules Is Growing
Davis Noted for His Ability
As Lawyer and Statesman
Hailed as One of Greatest to Haze Han.
died Cases Before Supreme Court.
Services in Britain Commended.

Va. and New York City. former am
bassador to the Court of St. James
and before the solicitor general
gress and chairman of the House
judiciary committee: recognized as
one of the worlds best orators and
one of the ablest men in the Demo-
cratic party in tits generation; a
lawyer of international reknown and
president of the American Bar Asso-
citation, never has been a candidate
for the presidency. yet he came close
to being the compromise nominee of
the Democratic convention in San
Francisco in 1920.
1t is still fresh in the minds of
Democratic leaders how Gov. Corn
wall of West Virginia arose from his
seat in the convention at San Fran
cisco on July l, 1920, and at the con-
rlusion of his speech said: IF you
want a man of character; if you want
a man of ability; if you want man
of experience in public life. man
trusted by President Wilson. who is
without a blemish and who is great
in every sense of the word. | want
you to nominate the man | have
named. John w. Davis. now in Lon
don. but a typical citizen Of the
United States"
Palmer withdrew.
There were long hours when Will
liam G. McAdoo and A. Mitchell
Palmer were deadlocked in the last
Democratic convention, when a little
Welding by the followers of the Sc
two candidates would have meant the
nomination by the convention OF the
then ambassador to London. Attor-
ney General Palmer. however. with
drew suddenly on the thirty eighth
ballot and thus permitted the nomi-
nation Of Gov. Cox of Ohio.
1t was recognized that the Demo
cratic convention this year with Nc
Adoo and AL Smith as close rival con-
tenders. and with the two-thirds rule
in operation, offered probability of
another deadlock and an unusual op-
portunity for the dark horse or
"favorite SON."
Hailed as Lawyer.
While he had virtually retired
from politics and, in fact, felt that he
was giving up all opportunity in
politics when he took up the prac-
tice of law in New York couple OF
years ago, yet the Democratic state
executive committee of West Nlr-
einia formally called the attention of
ali the voters in this Union to the
availability of Mr.. Davis as a can
didate, by acclaiming him their
nominee.
II is as lawyer that John w
Davis has made his best record HIS
record before the Supreme Court OF
the United States, while sohc1tol
general, was brilliant. The late
Chief Justice Edward White paid
Mr.. Davis the tribute of saying that
he had never seen a better lawyer
John G. Johnson, a leader OF the par
until he died two years ago, palo
somewhat similar tribute IN IRE
ouently stating that John w. DAVIS
was the best solicitor general to ap-
near before the Supreme Court in the
last fifty years. Still more practical
testimony is given by the Associated
Press. probably the greatest non :
partisan organization with the most
intimate knowledge of men ana al
fairs, in selecting Mr.. Davis as lts
general counsel
Davis Appeal Stronger.
The action of the Democratic con-
yention in San Francisco in consider
ing Mr. Davis as the most likely com
fact that he had no organization
working for him. 1t was due entirely
to his record as a lawyer, to the very
able service he had rendered the VIII
son administration as solicitor gen
eral and at the Court of ST James:
While he himself had DISCOURAGE
every kind of activity which his
friends have sought in his behalf. and
with a good record for upholding the
doctrine of the Democratic party rel
atiye to cooperation with Europe
Mr.. Davis went before the New YORK
with an even stronger ap-
peal to the delegates and voters than
four years ago.
He is the type that either great po-
litical party, Republican or Demo
cratic, would naturally cling to as
compromise when facing a bitter con-
test between party extremes.
The Wilson following in the Demo
friendly to Mr.. Davis in the event of
a deadlock.
Native State Doubtful
West Virginia, the native state OF
Mr. Davis, and which he has always
classed as doubtful state" and this
makes Mr.. Davis politically suitable
His neighbors in the little city OF
harrisburg, w. Va, who have called
the attention of the country to his
availa bility as a candidate and to his
capability in the event of election
while proud of the position that he has
taken in national and world affairs
know him best as kindly and pleas
ant neighbor, taking an interest al
all times in the affairs of the home
community.
Mr.. Davis was born in Clarksburg
April 13, 1873. His father before him
was a native of the town. eminent as
a lawyer, who took an active interest
in the affairs of church and state, and
who himself twice represented his
district in Congress. Mr.. Davis
mother was a native of Baltimore
and his superior education today has
been built on the careful foundation
which his mother laid in conducting
his studies in early youth.
Took Up Law Practice.
Mr.. Davis graduated from Wash.
ington and Lee University in 1892
and received his LII. B. degree from the
same university in 1895. He was
at once elected to the faculty
of the law school. but served only
one year, as he preferred active work
in his profession. He then entered
his fathers law Office in Clarksburg
From earliest manhood Mr.. Davis
took an active interest in politics. Ir
1898. while delegate to a state con-
Democratic candidate for the House
of Representatives, having previously
declined the honor three times. While
in the legislature, he was chairman
of the judiciary committee. which
carried with it the distinction and
responsibility of floor leadership. II
was due to the successful perform.
ance Of his duties as floor leader that
personal and political friends i'm
portuned him to make politics his
life work.
He was a presidential elector ir
1900.
He was a delegate to the Demo.
cratic national convention in 1904
and 1908.
Mr.. Davis was elected to Congress
by the Democrats in the first West
Virginia district in 1910 by more thar
5000 votes, although for more thar
twenty years this had been a Re-
publican stronghold. He was re.
elected two years later and 1t was
he accepted appointment by Presiden,