Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-27

and prominent it was; they recall how he
opposed until the last moment the taking
over of the Philippines. contending that
the United States should if it were possi-
BILE withdraw from the archipelago just
as IT would withdraw after the war from
temporary lodgment on the coast of
Spain. But they also know that Senator
Gray at that time realized that in the cir
cumstances the United States was com
PEELED 20 take over the islands
II Senator Gray had insisted upon his
contention against taking them refused to
sign the treaty and made public his rea-
sons, there would be no Philippine problem
today, in all probability. But he held at
that time that the problem was Inevitable
He did not agree with the anti-imperialists
in this country, headed by the late Senator
Hoar OF Massachusetts who insisted thar
Spain should be driven out of the PbiIin-
pines, the Spanish military power crushed
and that then We should withdraw, Sem
ator Gray held at that time that TO do so
would leave tie islands derelict, the prey
OF the first ambitious nation that might
board them. He concluded, then, that
America must take the Islands and face the
problem of their future disposition. working
1t out as best We might and after our own
fashion, unaided by any other nation and
uihampered also by foreign intervention.
An Unsolved Problem.
l am convinced that he is of opinion to-
at IL
IL sun remains for the United States to
u OUT ana that this country and no
other viii have to do it,
Nh"n ! called upon Judge GRAY I'm bis
Chambers in The Federal building in this
ely ! found him unwilling to talk for nuh-
Lrdiiou. Since he has held a place ON tho
Judiciary he has made this a rule il, regard
l" an public affairs. For a man who has
inquired IN the important affairs Of the ma
non 10 the extent which has fallen to his
LOT since lie entered public life Judge C;ray
Is sensitive to degree about publicity.
Some OF h!s friends think that he carries
his shyness TO point that operates 10 his
disadvantage but he tells them that that is
his own lookout. When he is approached
for Ai expression OF opinion upon public
affairs he wraps himself In the eruine Of
bis Office as in u shield. and bids the inter
N4tN'I "NdIHt ana 10 point not the sharp
encd pencil at him They jocularly saw in
Wilmington that the intcrviewers who seek
to talh presidential politics to him are likelv
10 be sent up for contempt of court.
But he is the same courtly gentleman
whom We knew in the Senate. and received
The stars correspondent most graciously
Let no one imagine for a moment that
Judge Gray Is oblivous to the great prob
lem Of the Philippines. even though he will
not go into print over II. H" with the other
members of the Paris commission foresaw
some Of the trouble that was coming and
when they signed the instrument which
brought US the Philippines were aware of
something Of the task that was before this
country lie did not hesitate t. take his
share Of responsibility in the undertaking
then, and his friends will tell YOU that he
Will not be the one 10 advocate shirking any
part Of il now or in the future
Spoke From Full Heart
Only once since he returned from nego-
tiating the treaty has Judge Gray given
public utterance 10 his views on the Philip