The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-25
Gray Makes Significant
 Statement. NO OPPOSITION TO THE
 SIXTH DISTRICT MAN Lieutenant Governor Thought to Voice Chiefs Ideas. Declares That Legislature will Proba- bIy By Unanimous Vote Choose s Veteran Congressman To
 Succeed The Late John
 T. Morgan.

Bankhead has again won his fight for United States Senator.
 He will be elected by the Alabama Legislature to succeed Honorable John T. Morgan and elected without oppo- sition. This was made clear when Lieutenant Governor Henry B. Gray, the first lieutenant of the Conner ad- mfnistration forces in the Legislature, announced last night at the Exchange Hotel his firm belief that there would be no opposition to Captain Bankhead and that he would be unanimously elected by both branches of the Leg islature.
 Colonel Gray returned only yesterday from New York and Boston where he has been on important personal busi- ness. Alter spending few hours at his home in Birmingham, he came to Montgomery on an afternoon train.
 In his room at the Exchange Hotel last night the Lieutenant Governor gave out the following statement:
 T regretted exceedingly that impor- tant business kept me in New York and Boston at the time of Senator Morgan's funeral While in the North I was proud that I was an Alabamian when read the hundreds of columns published in the Northern papers in which tri- bute was paid to Senator Morgan which compared him to Clay and oth- CTS of the greatest Senators that the country has produced.
 Comers statement Interesting.
 T read with no little interest the statement Governor Conner made with reference to >the qualifications of the United States Senator, who should rep resent Alabama, prior to the appoint ment of MT. Bankhead. I was sur prised that 1t was construed by some to mean that Governor Conner would oppose the election of MT. Bankhead by the Legislature. I think his only intention was to impress upon the peo- pie that the fight for railroad control had only. begun, and that they had a right to expect of their representative loyal support along these lines.
 T am certain myself that Governor Conner has too high a regard for the Constitution which he has sworn to support to consider for one moment, either being Sa candidate or accepting the office of Senator were it unani- mously rendered him. I am further sure that there can be no serious op position to MT. Bankhead's candidacy believing and personally believe that he will be nominated and elected unani- . mously."
 The Lieutenant Governor did not speak directly or indirectly for the Governor. But no man who knows po- litical conditions in Alabama believes that the statement would have been made if all purposes of opposing Cap tain Bankhead before the Legislature had not been abandoned
 If fight was to be made before the Legislature the Lieutenant Governor would have been one of the chosen lieutenants to lead 1t. In the Senate every fight on the floor was in measure conf1ded to his care He was regarded as the chief leader of the administration forces, not only in the Senate but in the entire Legislature as well.
 In. all that the administration has done the Lieutenant Governor has been leader and a supporter of the admin istration. If Governor Conner intended to carry further his fight against the election of Captain Bankhead by the Legislature as his statement indicated he would. the Lieutenant Governor would have been pressed into service to lead the administration forces and to have charge of the campaign in the Senate If that call had been made upon him and it had been refused it would have been the first call made by the administration which he did not heed.
 Sure of Position.
 No man who knows Alabama politics believes that he would have made the statement if he was not absolutely certain that the fight against Captain Bankhead was to be carried no further The declaration by the Lieutenant Gov eTnor is only less significant than declaration made by the Governor him self. A statement by the Governor that there would be no opposition to Bankhead would have settled the ques- tion forcibly and positively A simi- lar statement by the Lieutenant Gov ernor Is almost as certain that the question is settled and that the direc- tion of the primary will be carried out
 The statement. therefore, means nothing more or less than the aban- donment of any fight planned against the candidacy of Captain Bankhead.
 In this connection two recent poIiti- cal incidents are significant. The first was the announcement of Colonel Gray that he was a candidate for Gov ernor. The second was the statement by Captain Bankhead that if beaten for Senator he would be a candidate for Governor
 Governor Conner returned to the Capi- tol yesterday after a weeks absence. On the Senatorial situation, he had nothing to say, positively and abso- lutely nothing.S
 senator JoHn II. bdnhHedu 4edCHSu the city last night from Selma, where he spent yesterday. He came to Mont gomery to get his commission as United States Senator and his business at the Capitol this morning will be that errand.
 Captain Bankhead was seen last night at the Exchange Hotel lounging fin a big leather-covered chair enjoying the pleasure of an afternoon cigar and to all appearances contented with and at peace with the whole world.
 You may say that I am satisfied with the situation" said Captain Bank head when asked for a statement 'There is nothing else for me to say, because my position has been made clear in my first statement. It Is not necessary to repeat 1t. I may say however. that l am more than pleased at the assurances and the kindly eX-