New Britain herald., 1924-07-10
JOHN W. DAVIS IS . CAPABLE LEADER
Prominent as Lawyer and Also as
 Statesman

New York, July ie,-IahR William Davis, ihe democratic nominee Tor president, was horn in ciaTkshuTg, ", | Va, in ISIS, the RnlK son in q family of siA children, His father Jnhn ], Davis, also a native 0f clarksbuTe, ' vas a lawyer and constantly active l In civic enterprises, He served iR the state legislature, and was laiee elected to congress, Mrs Anna Ken nedy Davis, the mother Ni John W, Davis, Nas RatiAe of Baltimore,
 College Graduate At la Mir Davis was an alert student, her ing graduated from Washington and Lee university al the age Of la, After receiving his bachelor Of arts degree, he spent three years studying law and won the law degree at the age of sa in 1893, He was admitted 10 the har the same year,
 The following year he returned to the university 10 become professor Af | law, He taught one year, then began the practice Of law in clarkshurg in partnership with his father.
 Eaters Legislature When in 1898 ths democrats in his town sought 10 send him 10 the house of delegates, the lower house of the legislature. he WAS reluctant to in- terrupt his professional practice and refused the nomination. He finally aeceded. however. and was elected easily. He was made chairman of The judiciary committee of the house .f aaa After one term in the legislature he returned to his law office.
 Between 1899 and 1910. the only political offices he held were those Of county chairman member Of the state executive committee of his party in 1908. and delegate to the national conventions Of ia0i and 1908.
 Elected to Congress
 When in 1910 the democrats of his district chose him for representative in congress. he was again reluctant to accept. A unanimous vote of the convention won him over, however, anC he conducted a vigorous cam paign and was elected in a district that had been republican for twenty years He was reelected in 1912.
 In the house of representatives as in the legislature. MT. Davis was made chairman of the judiciary com- mittee. He took an active part in the impeachment and trial of Judge Robert w. Archibald.
 4 Solicitor General in 1913
 tAs result of his services on this committee President Wilson selected him as solicitor general in 1913, and Mir Davis resigned from the house to accept that office.
 In the summer of 1918 Mir. Davis went to Europe as member of the commission of three Americans to treat with Germany as to the ex- change of prisoners of war. He was in Berne on this mission when, upon the resignation of Walter Hines Page, MT. Wilson made Mir. Davis the American ambassador to Great Brit ain.
 Named Ambassador
 Mir. Davis returned to this country for conference with the president
  November, just as the war came to an end. In his capacity of ambassador he was present in Versailles during the peace conference.
 MT. Davis name as a candidate for president was placed before the democratic national convention in San Francisco in 1920 by Governor JNl ,,1I ,,- He received a vote which reached a of 76 on the 39th ballot. | Mir. Davis at that time was busy as am bassador in London.
 After retiring from the diplomatic ! service in 1921, he began the practice | of law in New York city, in associa- ion with the firm of Stetson, Jen- lings, Russell and Davis.
 Mir. Davis was married in 1899 to Miss Julia T. Mcdonald of Jefferson City, West Virginia. After her death le married Miss Ellen c. Rassel, daughter of John Bassel, a West Nir- ,inia lawyer. He has one child. Mrs William MacAIillan Adams, who lives n Copenhagen.
 Has Long Island Home
 Three years ago M". Davis bought rom A. C. Bedford, chairman of the ,oard of the Standard Oil company of New York, a country home near Lo- ust Valley, L, l., where he now lives. '1rs, Davis votes in Locust Valley but Ir. Davis still casts his ballot in 
 Episcopalian and Mason
 The democratic nominee is mem- 'er and vestryman of the Episcopal hurch of St. John in Iattingt own. He s a S2nd degree Mason and a member f the Metropolitan and University lubs in New York as well as the 'hevy Chase, Lawyers and National 'ress clubs of Washington. He was resident of the West Virginia Bar ssociation in 1906 and of the Ameri- an Bar association in 1922,
 MT. Davis was not an active cand- ate for the deomcratic nomination