The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-10

F NEW YORK, July 9.-John Will liam Davis, the democratic nominee for president, was born in Clarksburg, w. Va., in 1873, the only son in family of six children. His father, John l. Davis, also a native of Clarksburg, was an attorney and was constantly active in civic enterprises. He served in the legislature of the state and was twice elected to Congress. Mrs. Anna Ken nedy Davis, the mother of John w. Davis, was native of Baltimore.
 Mir. Davis was an alert student, be- ing graduated from Washington and Lee university at the age of 19. After receiving his bachelor of arts degree, he spent three years studying law and won the law degree at the age ot ZZ in 1895. He was admitted to the bar the same year,
 The following year he returned to the university to become professor of law. He taught one year, then began the practice of law in Clarksburg in partnership with his father.
 Refused Nomination
 When in 1898 the democrats of his town sought to send him to the house of delegates, the lower house of the legislature, he was reluctant to inter rupt his professional practice and re- fused the nomination.. He finally &C., ceded, however, and was elected easily. He was made chairman of the judiciary committee of the house and later floor leader of his party After one term in the legislature he returned to his law office and clung to his determination to escheW politics. Between 1899 and 1910 the only political offices he held were those of county chairman, mem- Der of the state executive committee in his party in 1908 and delegate to the national convention of 1904 and 1908.
 Was Easy Winner
 When in 1910 the democrats of his district chose him for representative in Congress he was again reluctant to ac- cept. A unanimous vote of the con- yention won him over, however, and he conducted a vigorous campaign and was elected in a district that had been republican for 20 years. He was re- elected in 1912. In the national House, as in the legislature, Mir Davis was made chairman of the judiciary com mittee. He took an active part in the impeachment and trial of Judge Robert w. Archibald. As a result of his serv- ice on this committee President Wilson selected him as solicitor general in 1913 and MT. Davis resigned from the House to accept that office.
 In the summer of 1918, Mir. Davis went to Europe as a member of the commission of three Americans to treat with Germany as to the exchange of prisoners of war. He was in Berne on this mission. when, upon the resig- nation of Walter Hines Page. MT. Wilson made Mir. Davis the American ambassador to Great Britain. Mir. Davis returned to this country for a confer ence with the president and took up his work in London in November, just as the war ended.
 In his capacity as ambassador he was present in Versailles during the peace conference. - ..
 r. In 1920
 Mir. Davis's name as a candidate for president was placed before the demo- cratic national convention in San Fran cisco in 1920, by Governor John J. Cornwell of West Virginia. He re- reived a vote which reached maxi mum of 76 on the thirty-ninth ballot. Mir. Davis, at that time was busy as ambassador in London.
 After retiring from the diplomatic seriyce in 1921. he began the practice of law in New York city, in association with the firm of Stetson, Jennings, Russell and Davis,
 Mir. Davis was married in 1899 to Miss Julia T.. Mcdonald of Jefferson county, West Virginia. She died in