The Ottawa free trader., 1888-02-11

for 100 days. and on the expiration Of tho
time he again retired.
From early youth he had been an ardent
student of politics and had taken an active
| part in tho Local campaigns, espousing the
cause of the Republicans. For many years
| before the var, and during that trying
period, the oil Sixth district OF Indiana had
been represented in the national congress by
Hon. George w. Julian, who was one of tho
earliest and most bitter opponents of slavery.
During his long term bitter opposition had
sprung up against him in his own party, and
| in 1866 Col Gray was chosen AZ the leader
of the faction that tried to wrest the burnt
district" from the grasp Of tho gifted Julian.
| He ran for congress as the candidate of that
| faction, but it was not until some years later
that Julian vas finally retired. In 1865
| Gray was sent to the state senate, and thero
being no lieutenant governor he was elected
president pro TEN. of that body. 1t was ono
| of the most exciting sessions Of the legisla-
| ture that had ever been known. 1t was at a
| time when the question OF ratifying tho
| Fifteenth amendment to the Federal constitu-
! ton was pending. The Democrats were
solidly opposed to the ratification, and tho
| sessions of each house were very turbulent,
! and many times it looked as il the bitterness
of spirit would lead to physical strife
The coolest man in either house, and
the only one who did not lose
his head, was the president pro tenn. Of
the senate 1t was his first legislative ex-
perience, and it was stormy introduction
| into public life. Finally, to prevent the Re-
| publicans from passing the ratifying act, tho
Democratic members resigned in body.
| Writs for a new election were issued, and
special session was called Again the Demo
Gratis sent their designations to the governor,
but before that official notified the senate of
| their reception the act was called up in that
| body for final action. The Democratic mem
| bers arose and attempted to leave the hall for
the purpose of breaking quorum, but tho
presiding officer promptly ordered the doors
locked The recalcitrant senator's then
| claimed that they had sent their designations
to the governor, but Mr.. Gray was ready for
that also, and held that as the senate had not
been officially notified of such action, and as
they were there in their seats the designations
were of no effect 1t was by this means that
a vote was finally taken amid the widest con
fusion and Indiana went on record as having
ratified the Fifteenth amendment
He remained in good fellowship with the
ing been appointed and affirmed as consul to
st. Thomas, which he declined. In 1872,
| having become dissatisfied with his party, no
went as delegate at large to the convention
of the Liberal Republicans, and assisted in
the nomination of Mr. Greeley. He was up
pointed member Of the national committee.
| Shortly after his return from the convention
he identified himself with the Democrats, and
fAr tynf f;,, Af
the congressman at large, but failed. Two
years later he was candidate before the
Democratic convention for attorney general,
| was again unsuccessful, but two years later he
was nominated for lieutenant governor on
the ticket with Mr.. Williams His party
was successful, and in 1877 he again entered
| upon his duties as president Of the senate.
| He at once by the sheer force Of character,
became the leader Of his party. About three
months before the expiration Of his term OF
office Governor Williams died and Mr.. Gray
succeeded to the place. He was at that time
again "a candidate for lieutenant governor,
| having come vepy near receiving the nomi-
nation for the first place on the ticket which
was given to Hon. Franklin Landera
During the campaign Of 1880 Mr.. Gray
made thorough canvass of the state, and
| such was his power of organizing ms iTlehd
| in his own behalf that he was defeated only
| by majority of 4, 200, while the head of the
| ticket went down with n majority against
him of 6,6OO SO greatly had he won the
confidence Of his party, when the Legislature
met in 1881 he was chosen by the party eau
Gus as il candidate for the senate TO succeed
Mr.. Mcdonald. This was considered as re-
markable triumph, Us Senator Mcdonald
was supposed to enjoy the confidence Of his
party associates in a high degree, and was
anxious for the party Endorsement conveyed
by the nomination. The legislature being
Republican, as a matter of0Acurse Governor
Gray was defeated, but he had the compl'
ment In 1884 he was nominated for his
present position and elected by majority
considerably larger than that received by
Mr.. Cleveland on the same day
w II. SMITH.