The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-01-12

dlQaJe Tor secretary Oh SLdJe III CHS
Roosevelt cabinet and his elder
brother Ewin tells that story to il
lustrate some of the traits he be-
lieves caused Brother Norman to
attain his present eminence.
For some years now, Davis has
been a sort of American ambassa-
dor to Europe without portfolio;
and his knowledge of European men
and affairs is highly regarded.
The DaviSes have been Tennessee
ans for generations. The father, a
farmer and a business man, died
when the six children were young
and a large share of the burden OF
supporting the family was shifted
to the shoulders of young EWin
then in Vanderbilt university Nor
man was there, too.
Began Life as Lawyer
Norman decided he would go to
Leland Stanford university in Cali
fornia to complete his courses. Be
fore he went he was married to Miss
Mamie PaSchall of Atlanta, and to-
gether they went west, where from
1899 to 1900 he worked his way
through college as a business man
ager of the school paper.
Brother Ewin began his life as a
lawyer, borrowing enough money to
buy his law books; and brother Paul,
now president of the American Ma
tional bank at Nashville, Tenn,
known as the second largest in the
south, started his business career as
a $35-a-month clerk. All three OF
these brothers now are in Who's
Who"
When Norman returned to Ten
nessee, Ewin tells, he found little to
interest him, and so he accepted the
invitation of a relative to go to Cuba
to start in business.
Fortune Started in Cuba
There he helped organize the
Trust Company of Cuba, and later
a construction company which got
some large building contracts. Ewin
says that is where his brother S
fortune started. During his many
years in Cuba, Norman retained his
American citizenship.
In 1917 he was called upon by
President Wilson to advise in con-
nection with foreign loans; and this
led to important financial and dip
lomatic Jobs; he was an assistant
secretary of the treasury and UNI
dersecretary of state.
He later became connected with
an important New York bank
which, according to Ewin, did only
a local business.
$4,000 to AIS Campaign
In 1927 he was made member
of the American delegation to the
Geneva economic conference: in
1882 he was appointed by President
Hoover as a member of our delega-
ton to the disarmament conference
The honorS given this Tennesseean
by the Republican President appar-
emily have caused some to wonder
whether Davis had Republican lean
ing. But Brother Ewin SCOTS at
this. pointing out that Norman gave
$4,000 to Al Smiths campaign.
Norman and Ex-Governor. Smith
have been intimate friends fol-
years" Representative Davis said.
Norman Davis also is an OLD
friend of President Elect Roosevelt
and they were in consultation
several times before and after the
Democratic national convention.
Has Eight Children
Davis, indeed, is reported by some
to have had no small part in getting
Al Smith to take part in the Roose-
Welt campaign; but Brother Ewin
won't discuss this.
Norman has eight children. and
Brother Ewin tells how when asked
after his children, in the presence
of his wife, there's a twinkle in Nor
mans eyes, and he answers they
have eleven, or some larger num-
Der"
And this is always followed by a
correction by his wife. Ewin says.