Evening star., 1947-11-22

into unemployment and relief. He
became a sharp critic Of practices
in the Works Progress Administra-
ton, one of his primary points in
his campaign for reelection that
year.
His committee assignments in
cluded Finance, Interstate Com
merce, Naval Affairs. Mines and
Mining, Education and Labor.
Mr.. Davis became Secretary of
Labor under Harding in 1921, and
was retained in that capacity by the
two succeeding Republican Presi-
dents.
Helped Draft Immigration Law.
AS Labor Secretary in the Harding
administration he dealt with the
1921 period of unemployment, rail-
road service readjustments in 1922
and continued unrest in the coal
fields, as we'll as wave Of indus
trial strikes. He aided the Hoover
cabinet in the formulation and ap-
plication of the quota immigration
law.
Mr.. Davis interest in this question
stemmed from his childhood. He was
an immigrant himself at the age
of seven, when he and his brothers
and sisters were brought to America
from Wales by their mother.
Mr. Davis was born in Tredegar
Wales, October 81, 1873. -Four years
later his father emigrated to Amer
lea, and after the elder Davis found
a steady job in a steel mill at
Sharon, Pa, he sent for his wife
and children in 1880.
A month after his arrival young
Jim got a job from a hotel keeper
to drive a herd of COWS to and from
pasture.
Tended Steel Furnace.
Thereafter he worked at odd jobs
until he ended his formal education
at the age Of II to earn so cents
day in a nail factory.
Later he entered the steel mill,
worked up to a place as his fathers
helper and eventually was given
furnace of his own to tend. The
nickname, "Puddler jim" had its
origin from this period in his life.
The young steel worker joined the
Amalgamated Association Of Iron,
Tin and Steel Workers, member
ship he maintained until his death.
When production became slack in
the mills young Jim drifted West,
and in Elwood, Ind. joined the
Loyal Order of Moose, became active
in the union there and entered mu-
nicipal politics. He was elected city
clerk and later county recorder.
Studied at Night.
In the early 1900s Mr.. Davis began
to give more and more time to the
Moose organization, which then had
a membership of about 800. In 1907
he was elected director-general, a
position he held until his death, and
under his guidance lodges were es-
tablished in virtually every Amer
lean city.
AS Secretary of Labor, Mr.. Davis
published a book, "Selective Imml-
grafton" He also wrote an auto
The Iron Puddler," and
joined with a Federal official In
You and Your Job" on the
subject of vocational education.
Wife Died in 1910.
He was a member of the Masons
and Odd Fellows, the Pittsburgh
Athletic Club, the Chevy Chase Club,
the American Republic, the Press
Club and the Congressional Club
of Washington.
In 1914, when he was Al. Mr. Davis
Miss jeanette Rodenbaugh
Of Pittsburgh. They had five chill
dren, all OF whom received given
names beginning with ~
Mrs. Davis, who became the first
grand regent of the Women of the
Moose, and was the only woman to
sit as a member of the Supreme Ex-
ecutive Committee of the order and
on the board of the Mooseheart
governors, died in July, 1910, at At
lantic City.
In addition to the two daughters
who made their home with him, Mr..
Davis is survived by two other
daughters, Jane Davis Of New York
City, and Mrs. Joan Davis Hurt of
Gaithersburg. Md, and a son, James
J. Davis, jr, an attorney, Of Phila-
delphia.