Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-06-29

principal reason why the Democracy
OF Deleware has presented the name
OF George GRAY for the Democratic
presidential nominations that II be-
Iieves he has been right on all
the burning questions of the day ever
since the beginning of his public ca
Teer.
The contention is made, too, that
he Is fright" as TO age, robust phys
ical health, and training and has all
those endowments Of mintB of educa-
tion, of experience, and of human
sympathy that should be possessed
by the man who aspires to become
the, head of the nation. Judge Gray
IS six-footer, deep and broad of
chest, straight of stature, and has
kindly brown eyes. He loves chill
dren and children love him. Every
forenoon, when he starts from home
for the courthouse he is accompanied
by half a dozen of the neighborlng
youngsters who think he is Just the
jollIest friend on earth. When he
emerges from the courthouse in the
afternoon the boys and girls are
waiting to escort him home.
Gray Is no mollycoddle, even II he
is a Judge. He has never killed
wolves or broken broncos, but he
can run a steamboat or locomotive
and. IL II we're necessary, he could
construct either. His father, Andrew
Q. Gray. was the leading railroad
and canal promoter of the state
years ago, and. In his youth, George
gained an intimate knowledge of
boats and engines. Thus II happen
ed" relates one OF his biographers,
that those among whom he was
born and bred, we're accustomed 10
see him eiter in the cab OF an engine
with his hand on the throttle, or in
the stern OF boat grasping the TIL
ler, while his keen glance watched
the rail or swept the river,
Long before some OF the men who
have gained regulations as octopus
chasers ever thought OF pursuing the
rascaIly creature to its lair, George
Gray had followed the trail, had
bagged the game, and had brought
home its pelt in triumph. The oc-
topus was the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and, according to the men
who say they know, II was the first
time IN the hi-tory OF n state that a
corporation was indicted. Not only
was the b. & o. indicted through
Gray's efforts. but n was fined as
well. The charge was obstructing the
public highway In the outskirts OF
Wilmington.
He accomplished this while he was
attorney general OF the states, and
he filled the job SO successfully that
he was given another term. Before
his second term was completed he
was elected 10 the United States SEN
ate to succeed Bayard and remained
In the senate IA years. Since that
time his activities have been almost
as well known as those of President
Roosevelt. He has been OF great
assistance TO more than one Pres
ident and has helped him 20 shine
In the office. He was a member OF
the High Joint commission and OF
the Spanish Peace Commission In
1893; was appointed U. S. circuit
juge the following year; and In 1909
and 1903 served as member and as
chairman OF the Anthracite Coal
Strike Commission, which settled the
mining troubles in Pennsylvania and
put a large feather In President
Roosevelt's cap. After serving on
the Anthracite Commission, Judge
Gray was made chairman OF the Ala
bama Coal Strike Commission, aad
In that capacity acquitted himself
with equal distinction.
IL was Senator Gray's splendid
fight aginst the ."force bill" in 1892
that established his fame as an or
ator and statesman. The three-day
speech he made against the measure
is conceded TO have given IL the
Knockout drops that put II to sleep
forever. Before Gray started his
speech II was admitted by even IT'S
bitterest opponents that the bill
would pass and the Republican sena-
tors were gathering in the chamber
for the final vote that would make |
the South vassal OF the North.
After the Force Bill was killed, |
The whole South rang with praises |
Df Gray, and the hope was expressed
hat the day would come when the |
grateful people south of Mason and |
Dixon's line might show their ap-t
probation OF his services in some |
substantial manner Now, Judge |
sray's friends say, that golden op-
has come. -l ...t
During his Ia years In the senate,
bray took a leading part In all the
of important public
questions, and from the start to the
Inish OF his service the he never
ost an opportunity of attacking the
xisting laws. He claimed then and
till asserts that our tariff wall con-
ers special privileges upon a small
lass OF beneflciariss and fosters
His friends, the farm
re, Judge Gray Gays, are the chief
ufferers by the tariff as II is now
ritten upon the books, for they
forced nv the law hut re-
siye none OF the benefits enjoyed
' the more fortunate classes of cit
ems. Here are a few thoughtsi
Iat Gray has contributed TO the tar
discussion;
What right has the government
on into narfnarebfn with nQ0DlQ