Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-11


for 100 days, and on the expiration Of tho
time he again retired.
From early youth he had been an arden.
student Of politics and had taken an active
part in the local campaigns, espousing tho
cause OF the Republicans. For many years
before the war. and during that trying
period, the old Sixth district Of Indiana had
been represented in tho 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 parts, and
in 1866 Col Gray was chosen as the leader
OF the faction that tried to wrest the burnt
district from the grasp of the gifted Julian
He ran for congress n the candidate Of tha.
faction, but it was not until some years later
that Julian vas finally retired In 1865
Gray was sent TO the state SENATE and there
being no lieutenant governor he was elected
president pro TEN. OF that body. II was one
Of the most exciting sessions Of the legisla-
ture that had ever been known 1t was at a
time when the question Of ratifying the
Fifteenth amendment to the Federal constitu-
ton Was pending. The Democrats were
solidly opposed to the ratification, and the
sessions Of each house were very turbulent,
anu nahy Nhies IL iooheu as ii the bitteFnesSs
Oh spirit would ieed 10 physicai strife
lhe coolest man In ei'her house, and
the oniy one VINO did not Iose
ms nead' was the president pro tenn OF
tne senate. IL was MS nrst legislative ex-
per1ence, ana II was stormy Introduction
INTO puoic me. Finaiiy, 70 prevent the he
Puoiicahs from passing tne ratiiyinS act, the
Denocratic memosrs resigned IN BODY
wits for new election were issued, and o
speciA session was Called Again the Demo-
crats sent theiF reSisnations 10 tue governor.
Du. oeiore tnat oineiai notined the senate of
tneir reception the act was called up IN that
oody Tor maj action- Inc democratic MEN,
oers arose and attempted TO leave the hal! for
the purpose OF oreaSins quorum but the
presidnag on,eer promptly oraereu the dooS
iocAu. Inc recaici''ahs senators tnesi
Claimed that tney haa sent their designations
70 sne governor OUT Mr uray was ready Tor
tnat aiso' ana neid that Is tne senate had not
oeen olnciahs hotineu od sach aclion- ana Us
toey were 'nere IN 'neir seais tne reSiSnations
"efe u u" elev@ vas W .a1> means tna'
Sote was nhaLy TAKEN ainia the w'idest con-
fusion. ana Indiana went on record as having
fa.,ieu 'he rhueh'h a,nenahien'.
nc Teihaiheo III soou aeio"ship Win the
Nepuohcan' uh.n i''-, IN .he iiiea'''''iie nav
ing Oeeh appoihteu ana a!hrihed as tonsui 10
St. ihohas' "nich ne aechied- In Ie.:,
having become oisSatisned Win ms party, ne
went Us u deiesas al iarse u the convention
OF 'he Lioerai nePuohcahs, ana assisted In
tue ho'hiiia''on Vi Mr, "reeies' lie was aP-
Poih'eo ihenioer Vi Tue hationai committee.
onortiy aler us returh from me convention
ne ioen''hed himself win tue Denocrats' and
was can'i'ua'e ior nomination as one OF
tue eoneress,neh at iarse' nut iaied- Two
year, nter NC was eahaidaee oeiore tne
peinoera'ic convention ,or attorney general
was again unSuee.ssiui' oue Two years ia'er no
was nominated tor heu.shaht governor on
tne TICKET Win MT Nlniains' MS party
"as sucSfssS'ui' aha III io.' ne again ehterea
upon ms uuties as p'esioeh' OF .he senate.
ne nj once, by tne sneer force OF character,
became the leader OF MS party About three