Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-05

Pittsburgh, Pa, today as he was
sworn into the Office of Secretary
of Labor for his third successive term.
With the beginning of his ninth year as
Labor Secretary, Mr.. Davis has now
served under three Presidents as a men,
Der OF the cabinet.
His appointment in 1921 by President
Harding was distinct surprise, for
the country at large knew little of this
Welsh-born American, whose life up
to that time had been made UP largely
OF heavy physical work in the steel
mills of Pennsylvania and Ohio. and
in his later years of masterful organiza-
ton work as director general of the
Loyal Order Of Moose. Early in his
first term as Secretary of Labor, Mr..
Davis was faced with situation fraught
with possible national peril and ons
which called for all his skill as
mediator and all the resources of the
Harding administration as nearly 100000
striking coal miners were joined in
sympathetic strike by about 100000
railroad employees. The strike began in
April, 1922. and from that time until
late September the services of the
Department of Labor were constantly
at work toward mediation. Mr.. Davis
was the center of numerous conferences,
which also involved President Harding,
as labor leaders gathered in Washington
throughout the Summer to work toward
settlement of the strike. which threat
ened disruption of business on a large
scale and threw the transportation
facilities of the East into serious dis
order. The strike was finally settled in
September.
Settled Many Disputes.
Since that time Mr.. Davis has PLAYED
prominent role in the settlement of
literally hundreds of industrial disputes,
some of them Nationwide in addition
to his important duties as administra-
tor Of the immigration laws. Early in
his first term he announced he favored
Selective immigration based on the ma
tional origins scheme and also favored
a registration system by which each
alien arriving in this country would be
required to register Not the least of the
difficulties he faced was that of patrol
ling the far-fung borders of the United
States to guard against steady stream
OF aliens wishing to pass Illegally into
this country
Throughout his term of service as
Secretary of Labor he has maintained
an attitude of optimism in the welfare
of the working man. and has been con-
stantly on guard against aggression on
the prerogatives of the man who works
with his hands.
Mr.. Davis was born in Tredegar,
Wales, october 81. 1873. His parents
and the six children emigrated to
Pittsburgh in 1881 There the young
Jimmie" Davis went TO work at the
age OF IL and began learning the trade
OF iron puddler in the iron and steel
mills of Sharon. He was employed in
~ l1A iy,
In 1893 he accepted a job in the steel
and tin plate mills at Elwood, Ind. and
was elected city clerk of Elwood in 1898.
Elected recorder of Madison County.
Ind, in 1902, he served until 1906.
Secretary Davis joined the Loyal
Order of Moose at Charlottesville. Ind,
in October. 1906, enrolling as the path
member OF an organization that had
been described as slowly dying on its
feet" at the time. He saw the situation.
declared he thought he could breathe |
life into the corpse. and was told to 60 |
ahead and try, at the same time being |
made supreme organizer, and later |
director general. The membership of |
the Moose increased under his leader !
ship until it now has about $50 900 !
persons on its rolls. The fraternity |
operates at Mooseheart, in Illinois, a !
school educating through high school !
and teaching about 20 different trades |
more than 1.400 dependent orphan !
children of the fraternity and their /
It also cares for 200 aged |
persons in its home at Moosehaven,
Fla. spending nearly $4,000, 600 in both /
Mr.. Davis was chairman
Of the Moose war relief commission in !
1916. visiting the battlefields of France.
Belgium and Italy.
He married Jean Rodenbaugh of
Pittsburgh, Pa. in Los Angeles, Calf.
November 26. 1914. The couple have
i've children and take a prominent part
N Washington social life. Their home
here is at 30l2 Massachusetts, avenue,
Mr.. Davis is a member of the ANAL
Association Of Iron. Steel and
Tin Workers and has held various Of
ices in this association. He is member
IF the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. the
Ouquesne Club of Pittsburgh. the Chevy
Chase Club and Congressional Country
Club OF Washington. the National Press
Club. Delta Sigma Phi, and is a member
u many fraternal organizations, among
hem the following: Masons, Shrine,
Odd Fellows. Elks. Pythians and Eagles.
lie has received the honorary degree of
loctor of laws from the following in
titutiOnS: Bucknell. PENNSYLVANIA Mill
AIRY College. University of Pittsburgh,
Drake University and st. Bonaventure
College.