Harry L. Davis
Encyclopedia
Harry Lyman Davis was an American
politician
of the Republican Party. He served as the 38th and 44th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio
and as the 49th Governor of Ohio.
Davis was born in Cleveland, Ohio in the Newburgh
area to Evan and Barbara Jones Davis. At age thirteen, he left school to work in the steel mills, studying at home and night school. He became a solicitor for the Cleveland Telephone Co. at age twenty-one and later founded the Davis Rate Adjustment Co., selling telephone securities and the Harry L. Davis Co., selling insurance.
In 1909, Davis was elected Republican city treasurer. David defeated his opponent Peter Witt in the 1915 Cleveland mayoral election. As the city's new mayor, Davis established the Mayor's Advisory War Committee in 1917 to aid the American effort in World War I
. His work gained national recognition. Mayor Davis also had to deal with the communist May Day Riots of 1919
and the bombing of his home by communist agitators; the Red Scare
presented a new set of dilemmas. Davis responded to the outrages by campaigning for the expulsion of all "Bolsheviks" from America. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9804E5DD1F39E13ABC4D53DFB0668382609EDE Since 1919 was an election year, Davis resigned from the mayorship and went on to successfully campaign for governor of Ohio.
Davis won the governor's seat and served one term. While in office, Davis restructured the executive branch to include a cabinet of seven directors to help administer state affairs. Davis did not run again in 1922, but rather 1924, when he was soundly defeated by incumbent A. Victor Donahey
. Davis later returned to Cleveland and became a strong opponent of the city manager
plan. He later served again as mayor from 1934 to 1935.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Republican Party. He served as the 38th and 44th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and as the 49th Governor of Ohio.
Davis was born in Cleveland, Ohio in the Newburgh
Newburgh
-Places:Scotland*Newburgh, Fife, a former royal burgh*Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, a village*Newburgh, Borders, a village*Newburgh, Moray, a village*Newburgh, Orkney, a villageEngland*Newburgh, Lancashire, a village*Newburgh, North Yorkshire, a village...
area to Evan and Barbara Jones Davis. At age thirteen, he left school to work in the steel mills, studying at home and night school. He became a solicitor for the Cleveland Telephone Co. at age twenty-one and later founded the Davis Rate Adjustment Co., selling telephone securities and the Harry L. Davis Co., selling insurance.
In 1909, Davis was elected Republican city treasurer. David defeated his opponent Peter Witt in the 1915 Cleveland mayoral election. As the city's new mayor, Davis established the Mayor's Advisory War Committee in 1917 to aid the American effort in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. His work gained national recognition. Mayor Davis also had to deal with the communist May Day Riots of 1919
May Day Riots of 1919
The May Day Riots of 1919 were a series of violent demonstrations that occurred throughout Cleveland, Ohio on May 1 , 1919. The riots began when Socialist leader, Charles Ruthenberg organized a May Day parade of local trade unionists, socialists, communists, and anarchists to protest the jailing...
and the bombing of his home by communist agitators; the Red Scare
First Red Scare
In American history, the First Red Scare of 1919–1920 was marked by a widespread fear of Bolshevism and anarchism. Concerns over the effects of radical political agitation in American society and alleged spread in the American labor movement fueled the paranoia that defined the period.The First Red...
presented a new set of dilemmas. Davis responded to the outrages by campaigning for the expulsion of all "Bolsheviks" from America. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9804E5DD1F39E13ABC4D53DFB0668382609EDE Since 1919 was an election year, Davis resigned from the mayorship and went on to successfully campaign for governor of Ohio.
Davis won the governor's seat and served one term. While in office, Davis restructured the executive branch to include a cabinet of seven directors to help administer state affairs. Davis did not run again in 1922, but rather 1924, when he was soundly defeated by incumbent A. Victor Donahey
A. Victor Donahey
Alvin Victor Donahey was a Democratic Party politician from Ohio. Donahey was the 50th Governor of Ohio and a United States Senator from Ohio.Donahey was born in Cadwallader, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. His parents were John C...
. Davis later returned to Cleveland and became a strong opponent of the city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
plan. He later served again as mayor from 1934 to 1935.