Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-06-15
PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS
Many Names Considered for the
High Office

The Baltimore Sun discusses the
political situation as follows:
Since the Presidential election
in 1860 the people Of the United
States have had as chief magis-
trates d President who in his
youth was "rail splitter, Abra-
ham Lincoln ;one who was tailor,
Andrew johnson, who succeeded
to the Presidency from the Vice
Presidency after the death of Mr..
Lincoln; a tanner, " General
Grant; a "mule driver" General
Garfield; a sheriff, mayor and
governor, Hon. Grover Cleveland
and last of all, Mr.. Roosevelt, who
in the West is haired as a "cow-
boy" and in the East is acclaimed
as the exponent of the strenuous
life." Mr.. Roosevelt, so far as
anything can be regarded rs GER
tain in this life, is assured of the
nomination by the Republican
National Convention, which meets
in Chicago on June 81. Strenu-
osity is apparently at premium
among our Republican friends.
They want a standard-bearer who
las warm blood. sturdy muscles
AMI no lack of that impetuosity
which is characteristic of youth.
While the lists are closed SO far
as the Republican race for the
nomination is concerned and Presi-
dent Roosevelt is considered a
"sure winner" the Democratic
situation is entirely different. The
conditions of the contest are such
that no candidate for the nomina-
ton at St. Louis can be considered
winner "on form" The man
who has more instructed delegates
than any other aspirant for the
honor is Hon. A. B. Parker, Chief
Justice of the Court of Appeals
of New York. Justice Parker
made an early appearance in the
field-an appearance by proxy, as
it were-for to this day he has
said or written nothing which
would indicate that be is candi-
date for four years residence in
the White House. The Judge is
the Silent One of Politics. In the
vern acular he is the Democratic
clam, and his political opponents
have, with more or less felicitous-
ness of language, given him this
nickname, although some who are
more fastidious in their choice of
words designate him "the Sphinx. .
Mr.. Bryan, according to his own
statement, is out of the race. The
Hon. Grover Cleveland thrusts
aside the laurel crown. There are
some "favorite sons" whose names
are occasionally heard-Mr. Olney,
of Massachusetts; Mr.. German, OF
Maryland; Mr.. Francis, of Mis-
souri,; Mr.. Hearst, of New York.
who has captured 70 delegates in
six Western States and Hawaii
and may receive the support of 3s
more delegates representing six
other States. Last, but not least,
is Judge George Gray, of Delaware
If the Republicans are to nomi-
nate strenuous" candidate, it
is conceivable that our Democratic
friends IL ay conclude that it would
be the part of political wisdom to
select standard-bearer whose
State is suggestive of the fighting
spirit. Little Delaware's reputa-
ton for grit and dash dates back
to the Revolutionary period. Della
ware has for century and a
quarter been known as the "Blue
Hen" State. Judge Gray is 9
worthy son of the "Blue Hen
Without disparagement of the
merits of any other asplrants fol-
the nomination, or belittling the
candidacy of Senator German, il
NAV be said in all fairness that
little Delaware has in this distin
guished jurist and statesman sor
who measures fully up to the
Presidential standard. If the st
Louis Convention should bestow
the nomination upon him it would
make no mistake. The 'gamecocl
of Delaware" would be a slogan
that would stir the Democratic
heart from Maine to Louisiana
from New York to California.
Delaware isn't II big State, bu
that consideration is of little i'm
portance in view of the fact tina
its favorite son is big man in
tellectually, who served the Demo
cratic party and the country will
distinction as a member OF the
United States Senate and later a.
"a member of the Peace Commits
sion which conducted the negotia
tions with Spain after the war Of
1898. The appointment to th'
Federal bench, which the lat
President Mckinley bestowed up
, On him, was recognition of hi
: eminent fitness to serve the ..ntloT
} in judicial position. AS presi
dent of the Anthracite Coal SlriE'
: Commission Judge Gray acquitted
: hims If in manner that won f.
him the respect and confluence O
: all the parties TO that controversy
including the public.
D.,IIat Drnnf