Evening journal., 1908-04-15
Wednesday, April IS, 1908.
pEMocRATIc CONVENTION.

II HOSE familiar with the matter have known
i all along that Judge Gray has not been a
candidate Tor the Democratic presidential nomi-
nation in the usual acceptance of the word In
fact II has been believed that the entire agitation
connecting his name with the nomination mas
been distasteful to him. Perhaps it was a tear
that throughout the country he might be regard
ed as seeking the nomination, and directing the
affairs of the convention Of his own State, that
impelled him to repeat 10 the convention yester-
day the letter which he sent to a similar Demo
cratic convention of this State four years ago.
If there is any doubt outside of Delaware that
Judge GRAY is seeking the nomination or is
party to the use of his name even, by the Della
ware Democrats that doubt should be dspelled
1t is unusual for a noted American to avoid the
employment OF his name for the highest honor
within the Gift of the people, but that seems 20
be the status of the Judge Gray candidacy.
Ii may be said that the question could have
been settled had the Judge announced that he
would not accept the nomination If offered. But
such an announcement is hardly to be expected.
Men do not care to say that they will not take
thing when there is no positive evidence that the
thing is to be offered them. And there is long
path between the mention of Judge Grays name
for the presidency and his nomination at Denver
AS the matter now stands, it seems that Judge
Gray will await the action of the Denver conven-
tion before making further expression. At least
his Democratic friends hope so.
compished their object The Delaware delegates
are TO go to Denver TO work for Judge Gray. We
believe that most of them will honestly and cour-
ageously support him. Any lingering doubt that
there might have been about Mr. Handy is shat
tered by his absolute pledge given to the New
Castle county caucus.
The election of Mr.. William Salisbury is pc
culiar. He was the leader of the Bryan forces IL
Kent county that warred against the Gray men
at the primaries But the unit rule is to be ap-
piled TO the delegates and, therefore, they must
all be for Gray, even were one or two OF them
disposed to jump out of the harness. To whom
the delegates will 90, il il is that Judge Gray
cannot be nominated, is question. Under the
Instructions they are free to 60 anywhere, held
only BY the unit rule, when in their judgment
they see that Judge Gray cannot be named.
There was some pretty strong Bryan talk
about, but not in the convention. But drawing
the curtain aside it seems to us that the spirit
which developed at Dover, and which enabled
William Salisbury to be elected by the Kent
county caucus. reveals the old Democratic fight
OF the factions, prior to the appearance of Bryan
as a national leader The opponents of Judge
Gray looked upon his friends as those of the old
anti-Saulsbury faction that made war upon the
Saulsburys years ago. The latter took advantage
Of the dry sentiment, and they have taken adj
vantage OF the Bryan sentiment, using both as a
club with which to hit the old Wolcott faction.
Both sentiments brought grist to the Salisbury
mill.
The convention. too. disclosed the deep feeling
that still exists among the Delaware Democrats,
which feeling has never been buried. How
under these circumstances, the Democrats "a the
State can expect to gather themselves together
for fight in Delaware next fall in which they
may even hope to win is as riddle of the sphynx
Delaware Democrats, however, have declared
for Judge Gray, after convention of compro-
mises, and there will be no disposition to wish
them i'll luck on what seems to be their fruitless
journey to Denver.