Evening star., 1947-11-22

James J. Davis,
In |n3Cobinets,E E
Former SteeIworker
| Was Immigrant Boy,
| Made Home Here
Former Senator James J. Davis,
who came to America as an immi-
grant boy and rose to be Secretary
of Labor under three Presidents
and win three elections to the Sen
ate from Pennsylvania, died early
today at Washington Sanitarium,
Takoma Park. Md. He was "a.
Mr.. Davis died of kidney all
ment which had confined him to
the hospital since September. Ply
sicians said he lost consciousness
about noon yesterday and during
his final hours was unable to recog-
nize members of his family. The
end came at 1910 am.
The body of Mr.. Davis was to be
taken to Pittsburgh this afternoon.
On Monday the body will be at the
chapel of the Beinhauer funeral
home at Pittsburgh, which will be
open to the public, and a private
funeral service will be held at 10:3o
o'clock Tuesday morning. Interment
will be in a Pittsburgh cemetery.
Mr.. Davis had been in failing
health for several months.
Like many of his colleagues, "Pud-
dler Jim" Davis became so accus-
toned to Washington during his
service in the cabinet and Senate
that he remained here after he left
public life.
Although his official residence was
Pittsburgh, he had lived for years
in Georgetown, at 36lS Prospect av-
enue NV, with two of his daugh-
ters, Jewel and Jean Davis.
Devoted Himself to Moose Home.
| He made occasional visits to the
Senate in recent years, but devoted
most of his time to the work near
est his heart, raising funds for the
Moose home for children at Moose
heart, lila $10,000,00o project he
helped to found.
Mr.. Davis as late as 1914 demon
strated he was still politically po-
tent by polling 1,S40,938 votes in a
hot senatorial race against Francis
J. Myers OF Philadelphia, former
Representative, who won by the
narrow margin Of some $4,000 votes
Known as "Puddler jim" to his
followers in Pennsylvania, Mr.. Davis
was largely self educated. A steel
worker in early life. he became Sec
retary Of Labor under Presidents
Harding. Coolidge and Hoover.
Despite his success in politics,
however, he often said his greatest
achievement was the founding. while
he was director general of the Loyal
Order Of Moose, of model Chill
dren's village" at Mooseheart for Or
phars of members of the fraternity
He also was instrumental in having
the order establish home for the
aged at Moosehaven, Fla.
Indicted on Lottery Charge.
Mr.. Davis fraternal activities
brought dark chapter into his life
when q Federal grand jury in New
York indicted him in August, 1882,
along with seven others, on charges
of conspiracy and participation in a
lottery to raise funds for the Moose
order.
A candidate for the Senate at the
time, Mr.. Davis obtained a severance
and a quick hearing, which ended
In a nnistrial.
His second trial opened in Sep
tember, 1888, after he had won the
election despite the charges against
him. Three other officials Of the
Moose. however, had been convicted.
During October of 1888 Mr.. Davis
and another co-defendant were ac-
quilted under eight counts of the
indictments and the following
month the remaining counts were
nolle pressed. He always stoutly
maintained his innocence.
Won Without State COP Aid.
Mr.. Davis enjoyed huge personal
following In fraternal and labor
circles. Three times he won pri-
mary nominations without the aid
of the Pennsylvania State Repub-
lican organization.
In 1880, while Secretary OF Labor,
he defeated Senator Joseph Grundy
in the primary and carried the No
vember election by 100000 votes.
His first election for a full term
Of six years came in 1882 despite
the fact he had been indicted on the
lottery charges and despite the
Democratic landslide of that year.
Again in 1888, despite lack of sup
port from the State Committee, he
won the nomination. The State or
ganization backed him in the gen.
eral election and he defeated George
H. Earle, Pennsylvania's Demo-
cratic Governor, by 100000 votes
The Republican Senator support
ed many of the New Deals economic
and social proposals, including social
security legislation.
Served as iva Prober.
He was co-sponsor of the Davis
Bacon bill of 1880. which proved a
forerunner of the Walsh -Healey Act,
fixing minimum wages of contrac-
tors on Federal jobs.
Mr.. Davis was appointed by Vice
President Garner in 1885 to serve
on the special Senate committee
which investigated the Tennessee
Valley Authority power project. He
also served in 1888 on the special
Senate committee which inquired
u g.