The Irish standard., 1898-11-05
REFORM CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.

In recent issue we gave a cut of MIR.
James Gray, Democratic candidate for
mayor, and the speech he delivered on
municipal corruption in the Exposition
building on Oct. 10. before an assemblage
! that filled the spacious auditorium to
overlooking At this time we will give
brief biography of him. in order that our
readers may know who he is and why
they should vote for him on Nov. 8. in
preference to Edward T.. Webster for
chief magistrate Of this grand metropolis
of which all citizens are justly proud.
James Gray is an American by adop-
ton, and Scotchman by birth, being
born in 1862 in the picturesque and his
toric town of Falkrk, in the vicinity of
Edinburgh His father was miller, and
his mother farmers daughter When
he was I years old his parents emgrated
to America. first settling in Iowa and
subsequently in Wisconsin. After
| brief residence there they returned to
Bellevue Ia. where his father became a
finished his education in the public
schools. After teaching two terms he
accompanied his father to Minneapolis in
1880. and went to work in sash and
door factory. carrying his dinner pail to
and from the shop for several months.
But he was ambitious to rise higher In
| life. and realized the Importance of q
good education. He determined to take
a course in the State University, and
work his way through by supporting
| himself in various kinds of employment,
| like other students, and for a. time he
carried newspapers every morning to
subscribers. Mr.. Gray distinguished
himself at the ~" and took prizes at
oratorical contests. He was connected
with the Ariel, both as editor and bust
ness manager. and was president of his
class for one year. Five years after en-
tcring the institution he was graduated
with honors as valedictoran of the
class.
Immediately upon leaving the Univcr
sity he went into newspaper work. and
has been connected with the papers of
the city from that time until the 18th of
last September. when he resigned from
the position of city editor of the Times.
During the first three years he was en-
gagged in general reporting. but for the
last 10 years he has held executive posi-
tions. having the charge and direction of
other men. He was one year city editor
of the Tribune. and nine years managing
editor and city editor of the Times.
| During the IL years of his newspaper
work Mr.. Gray has written many notable
articles. Perhaps the most memorable
and striking was his article on Blaine,
written at the time of the Republican ma
tional convention of 80. 1t was copied
widely throughout the country, and made
SO great an impression that when Mr..
Gray visited Washington last spring
many newspaper correspondents remem'
bered him as the author of that famous
article.
Mr.. Gray is a genial gentleman. and
enjoys unusual popularity. He pos
sesscs Scotch wit IN abundance. and is a
favorite after-dinner speaker. He las
been a Democrat all his life. and his SYM
pathies go with the toiling masses. The
writer has known him for over i2'years
and has always found him broad and
liberal man, and "a good fellow in every
way,
If elected mayor he will give the city
an honest and economical alministra-
ton, and be just to all interests. The
only drawback with which he is charged
is his youth and ineXperience i'll public
affairs But he is old enough to be
president of the United States If the ac-
cident OF birth did not render him in
eligible for that exalted position, and as
for inexperience. there is no man IN the
city better acquainted with municipal az
fairs He reported the proceedings of
the council for several years, and knows
the requirements of a reform admins
tration far better than his opponent. who
has sat in the municipal chamber and
remained eloquently silent when corrup-
ton and dishonesty reigned supreme In
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