The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-07

DrOCner, NOrman DaVlS.
 Norman Davis at that time was committing across the Atlantic in feverish attempts to disarm the world and negotiate debt agree ments. He was ambassado dor-at- large for both Hoover and Roose- welt, and Q very much lime lighted man.
 His older brother, on the other hand, was known to his colleagues in congress, the people of Ten nessee, and that was all. Just at that particular moment, moreover, he was so indifferently known to the people of Tennessee that they failed to re-elect him to Con- gress. Ewin Davis, at the time Roosevelt rescued him, was out of luck, out of job.
 But in the years that have passed, the see-saw of fate has somewhat reversed the status of the two Davis brothers. Nor man, although quite prosperous, thanks to large fees as re- organizer of the Kreuger match properties, no longer is in the limelight. Disarmament, through no fault of his, is out of style.
 On the other hand, Ewin, as a member of the Federal Trade Commission, has become a real power in the world of American business, and one of the most fortnight crusaders against mon- opoly in the game.
 Three Davis Brothers
 Tt is unique that one small cor- fer of Tennessee should have turned out three brothers, all of whom were to make their mark on the nation. They were born in Bedford County, the third and youngest brother being Paul Davis, now a Nashville bank president and director of the Federal Re- serve Bank.
 Ewin, the eldest, soon dipped into Tennessee politics, and when only 34 years old became judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Tennessee, a job which he performed with deadly and pains- taking seriousness. He decided 12,- 900 cases in eight years, and was reversed only 18 times by the State Supreme Court.
 It was as a judge that Davis let drop the first tell-tale indi- cations of his budding liberalism. Anti-Lynch Law
 He dared to jail two wealthy violators of the prohibition act, at a time when it was said through out the state that no judge would dare imprison them. Awakened by a lynch mob on another oc- casion, Judge Davis tucked his night-gown into a pair of pants and ran down to the jail, where a crowd had gathered before the cell of a Negro accused of speak ing indecently to a white woman.
 'T can recognize the faces of everyone here," he shouted to the crowd, "and if you don't get out I'll jail every mothers son of you for contempt of cOurt!"
 The crowd dispersed. Another time, Judge Davis had to arrest the ring-leader of mob for con- ' tempt, in order to break 1t up. Throughout Tennessee, Davis was known as the judge who despised lynch law. Mobs ave his district wide berth.
 Pitiless Publicity
 Ewin Davis does not possess a personality which radiates fire and enthusiasm. He is methodical, slow, and careful. His speech is a slow, southern drawl, almost tam talizingly slow. ..
 But perhaps because of Its slowness, the barb which Davis frequently puts on the end, stings all the harder.
 When the Federal Trade Com mission investigated the milk in. dustry to see why so little cash went into the farmers jeans, Da- wis insisted thatt he lush sal- aries paid by the milk companies be included in the report. Later a president of one of these com panies called on Davis and com plained bitterly because the ETC had revealed his salary-$88,- 900.
 My dear sir" was Davis re-
 ply, "if I were paid $SS,O0O 2
 year and really earned 1t, l
 would be very proud to tell the
 world about it,"
 Merchant Marine
 Judge Davis probably developed his crusading instincts against monopoly during the IA years he was in Congress. There he wa; chairman of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, although AwMwA Ru4wwwa wAa0OnN