The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-05
WANT GRAY TO LEAD THEM
Democrats Arranging to Have the Ex-
Governor Head Their Committee.
A Fine Scheme to Advance His Candidacy for
Voorhees, Seat in the Senate-Plot and
Counterpart Among the Faithful.

Democrats throughout the State In favor OF
calling Ex-Governor Gray to the chairman
ship of the State central committee and as
soon as he returns to the city there will
be a formal discussion of the matter be-
tween him and his friends. He is regarded
by many of his party as the shrewdest poll
tician in their camp. and they are anxious
to have his leadership in the coming con-
test. which they cOncede will be one of the
most closely contested political battles that
has ever occurred in Indiana. But some
opposition has arisen to Gray among
the Mcdonald following, and many
of the best informed local Demo-
Gratis think his selection will be
grave mistake. The ex-CIcyernor's friends,
however, say that there is little of the bel
licose spirit in Mcdonald. and, while he
might enter protest against Gray's selec-
ton as chairman, he would not carry his
opposition to the extent of attempting to
cripple his party. They refer to his open
letter at the time of the assembling of the
last national convention, and recall prom
Use he made to friends that his opposition
would not be carried beyond his own party.
1t is also claimed that Mcdonald declared.
support the ticket if Gray was nominated
for the vice-presidency at st. Louis. For
these reasons the friends Of the latter are
inclined to think that McDonalds opposi-
tion would end with the selection of Gray
by the committee, and that the party
would profit by his counsels.
The real object of Gray's friends as ex-
pressed by one of them yesterday, is to
forward his senatorial ambition, and this,
they think, can best be done by putting
him in position where he would have all
the lines of direction in his own hands He
is already an avowed candidate to succeed
Voorhees,, and all the calculations of his
supporters are in the line of reaching this
coveted place. The enemies of j ohm E. Lamb
in the Terre Haute district are assisting
Gray's friends in the matter of filling the
craftsmanship of the committee, and,
strange as it may seem, 1T is claimed that
some of Gray's warmest supporters, come
from Vigo and the counties Immediately
surrounding it. They say that Voorhees,
disrupted the party three years ago. by al
lowing the patronage Of the district to be
distributed by Lamb. and the fierce Opposi-
ton which resulted in the defeat, of the
latter for Congress is now being directed,
it is said, to the defeat of Voorhees, Tor the
Senate.
But it is not such easy sailing with the
Ex-Governor in the counties that compose
this congressional district, as he has as
many opponents, possibly, here as he has
friends in Voorhees, territory. Coy and
his following are, it is asserted, opposing
Gray's selection for chairman, and some of
them have gone so far as to declare that
his selection will destroy every vestige of
hope for carrying this county. COy's OPP
position, the story goes. dates back to the
time the Coy element was trying to have
John w. Murphy removed from the
Board of Metropolitan Police Com
missioners. During the controversy
the State officers held meeting in
the Governors office and Coy was present.
The subject of the opposition of the liquor
sellers to Murphy came up and the litfc
the board. Bringing. his hand violently
down upon the table, he declared if some
thing was not done he would have the
State officers denounced in every town in
Indiana before a week elapsed. Gray's
face redeemed in an instant. and turning
to Coy, he said: go and have it done at
once. Now. get out of here and have us de-
nOunced. But remember that do not pro-
flee, sir. and the sooner you start out to
have me denounced the better / will like
it, Coy saw that he had aroused Tartar,
and tried to reply, but State Treasurer
Cooper took him by the arm and led him
shy of Gray. and at no time has the latter
considered him among his friends.
1t is not believed that the committeeman
from Madison county is for Gray, and here
ex-Secretary of State Myers is paying off an
old score. When he and MatsOn were can
didates for the gubernatorial nomination
last year, Gray promised to keep his hands
out of the fight. and he kept the promise, or
at least appeared TO keep it, till the dele
gates began to assemble. 1t is now claimed
by Myerss friends that Gray then turned
his influence towards MatsOn, and through
him the Congressman nominated
Shelby county is also at war with Gray, and
it is now impossible for him TO secure the
influence of the Ray element, even
in q fight against voorhees,. Ray
believes the Ex-Governor could have
controlled the Senate last session if he had
tried when Carpenter was thrown out. A
word from Gray would have been sufficient
it is claimed, to have seated Ray. The
word was not spoken, though the friends
of the latter were with the Ex-Governor for
two hours just before the vote was taken
on the resolution. Ray says he made the
fight that unseated Carpenter, and the
fruits of the victory were denied him be-
cause men who were under obligation to
him stood by and said nothing in his favor.
One of these was the Ex-Governor. and the
Shelby county editor is nursing his re-
yenge.