The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-28
JUDGE GEORGE GRAY
THE DELAwAREAN NOW FIG- F UREs AS A POSSIBILITY.
Thought He Would Receive the Support of Ex-President's Followers for the
 Nomination.

Special to the Baltimore Sun.
 l Washiugtoo. Indications developing in Democratic circles In Washington the last few weeks seem to point to strong probability that Judge George Gray, of Delaware, will receive the support of the Cleveland wing of the Democrats for the presidential nomination of the party next year.
 Recently d uecided boom has been un- der way in Judge Gray's behalf from sources not yet clearly identified, ai- though the opinion here Is that some of Mir. Cieveland's strongest supporters and closest personal friends. are behind the movement. Judge Gray, when question: ed as to whether he will make the race before the convention. has steadfastly declined to commit himself on the sub iect the meaning of his remarks being. of course, taken to be that he will ac- cept if the nomination be offered him. Friends of Judge Gray argue that there are two points in his favor which should tend to promote his chances for the nom- ination. The first is that he, as is sup posed could command the undivided sup port of the Cleveland Democrats and win every party vote which was lost to the party in 1896 and in 1900. The second is that the Bryan following could not req sonably withhold it's support. because Judge Gray has been regular Demo crat.l
 It is taken for granted, however. that Mir. Bryan and his friends are opposed to the Gray movement. and will dis countenance 1t by every possible means.
 Judge Gray has all along been so closely identified with what the Bryan followers term "Cievelandism' that they cannot by
 any process of reasoning be induced to reconcile themselves to the Delawarean's candidacy. They say that Judge Gray's
 record in Congress on the money issue was in direct contradiction to the views of the majority of the party as outlined in the last two presidential campaigns. It Is recalled that during the fight about
 the repeal of the purchasing clause of the Sherman act in 1893 Judge Gray was in- defatigable in his championship of the attitude taken by President Cleveland that repeal should be effected. He was one of the leading Democratic figures upon the floor of the Senate in that fight against the free silver men. Upon other occasions he acted as the spokesman for the Cleveland administrations upon the floor of the Senate, and during MT. Cleve-
 lands incumbency in the White House the Delawarean was notably recognized as the Presidents mouthpiece upon all that since his retirement from the Sem
 ate Judge Gray has not changed his views on Fundamental questions of party issue, and may still be classed as a
 strong admlrer of Mir. Cleveland. It Is felt here that Judge Gray may
 enter into the presidential nomination
 race in the same rank of candidacy as
 may Senator A. P. German. Although Senator German has long been upon un- friendly terms with Mfr. Cleveland. it is believed that should the issue become tightly drawn the Cleveland followers
 would support MT. German. On the other
 hand, prominent friends of Mr. Bryan
 have asserted that while Mir. German
 might not be entirely satisfactory" he
 might be acceptable" to them. This,
 although Mfr. German himself was align
 ed with Judge Gray in the Senate at l the time of the silver fight of 1ssS In
 this respect. therefore, Mir. German, it
 would appear, has a slight advantage over Judge Gray. Judge Gray, his friends assert. could
 carry Eastern States. like New York.
 New Jersey, Delaware. Connecticut and perhaps Massachusetts. They declare ness element of the country and could
 command great strength in industrial centers.
 As a concluding argument in his be-
 half, his supporters assert that Judge
 Gray has gained a remarkable popular 1 ity with the workingmen all over the
 country through his service upon the An thracite Coal Commission and other com
 missions created for the purpose of set-
 tling labor disputes. His services in this
 respect, 1t Is argued, have placed him
 among the foremost public men from a
 viewpoint of popularity among the labor | ing element. and it Is predicted that if
 nominated he could command the strong
 est labor vote of any man whose name
 has thus far been mentioned in connec- ton with the nomination.