Evening star., 1958-05-09

Velt ana truman, Mr., Davies
served as Ambassador 10 Bel
gium and Minister 10 Luxem-
bourg for two years after his
Moscow assignment.
Three years ago, Mr.. Davies
indicated he would will his
mansion OF more than 20
rooms, situated high on a hill
overlooking sumptuous gar
denS on Klingle road. 10 the
Government, His proposal was
10 use the beautiful estate as
a school for graduate students
In International affairs.
Today relatives said there
had been nothing conclusive
about acceptance Of the offer
and that final determination
must await probate OF the will.
Was Self-Made Man
A self-made man who worked
his way 10 a place OF affiuence
and influence. Mr.. Davies was
OF that breed which felt a debt
10 his Welsh forebears. He
named Tregaron for the birth
place OF his Welsh ancestors.
and hoped the name would be
perpetuated after his death.
There he lived in a style of
elegance he never dreamed Of
as a boy in his native Water
town, Wis. where his father
was a wheelwright and his
mother an evangelist. Small of
stature. but very agile, he
worked his way through the
University of Wisconsin as a
gymnasium instructor and won
Phi Beta Kappa key on
graduation in 1898.
Mr.. Davies eventual success
as an international and cor
poration attorney began mod
estly enough in 1902 with his
election as Wisconsin States
attorney. The same year he
married Miss Emlen Knight.
daughter of a wealthy Wis
consin lumberman.
His climb along the political
path also propsered when he
caught the eye Of Woodrow
Wilson in 1912. Mr.. Davies
eloquence helped put the chair
mans gavel in the hand that
would do Wilson the most good
at the Baltimore national con-
vention. Later Mr.. Davies
handled the Wilson election
campaign.
Became Commissioner
For a plum. Mr.. Davies asked
for a place in the cabinet. Mr.
Wilson thought him too young
and offered him an ambas-
sadorship. Mr.. Davies said he
was too poor for that, and
became commissioner of cor
porationS. He drafted legis-
lation for the Federal Trade
Commission and became its
first chairman.
Mr.. Davies first foreign mis-
sion was to the Versailles Peace
Conference as an economic ex-
pert on Wilson's staff. Later
he organized a Washington law
firm and settled in a large
house at 2941 Massachusetts,
avenue, beginning the tradition
for big entertaining and gra-
cious living, which became a
hallmark.
On the Chevy Chase golf
links he broke into the Con
greSsional foursome" which in
cluded Senators Warren Har-
ding, James w. Wadsworth and
Fred Hale. They used to get
held up on the course, so they
started the Burning Tree club
later to be the favorite Wash
ington links of President Eisen-
hover.
! Mr.. Davies flair for writing
was first exercised in a book or
his Federal trade experience
His recognition grew and his
law firm prospered with
million-dollar fees. At the time
OF his death he was a member
of the firm of Davies, Richberg
Tydings e. Landa.
Wed Cereal HeireSS
In 1885 the social world was
stirred by the news that Mr.
Davies soon was to wed Mrs
Edward Hutton, both of whom
had been recently divorced
Mrs. Hutton was the daughter
of Charles w. Post of cereal
fame, and as largest stock
holder in General Foods. was
recognized as one of the coun-
trys richest women.
The ceremony took place in
the brides 70-room New York
apartment (two stories and a
penthouse. Two weeks after
the Roosevelt election of 1886,
I Mr.. Davies was named ambas-
Sador to Russia. This time he
was not too poor to accept.
The mission to Moscow was
done in seldom duplicated
capitslistic style. Mr.. Davies
went aboard the Sea Cloud
largest privately owned yacht
in the world. The Davies con-
| tinued to entertain lavishly in
the Russian capital. When
they departed Stain had an
unprecedented 2l2-hour con-
verSation with him.