Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-14
DELAWARE BACKS GRAY
Despite His Positive Refusal to
Be Named.
AT DOVER CONVENTION
His Friends in Absolute Control OF
the Meeting.
SIX DELEGATES INSTRUCTED
Bryan Regarded as the Second
Choice - Platform Adopted
Speaks Out on the Tariff
DELEGATES INSTRUCTED

DOVER Del. April "i.-rror 10 the
afternoon session of thu convention 2 LEFT
ter written by Judge Gray tn Thomas r.
Bayard chairman Of the state committee.
was shown the leaders. in which tho Judge
requested emphaticaly that The conven-
ton refrain from indorsing him for the
presidential nomination.
The letter in part is rs follows:
cit would indeed he proud distinction
to be the standardhearer OF the demo-
cratic party at this time and for such a
cause. There arc many reasons. how
ever. why such a distinction i< outside
the range of my ambition. and these rca-
sons compel me To say that 7 am unwill-
ing that the delegates from this state 10
the Denver convention be instructed for
me. as I cannot under any circumstances
consent thereto.
You will therefore convey my wishes
in this respect to the convention which
is to assemble a Dover April - and eX-
press to il my most positive and emphatic
request that delegates to he elected shall
not be instructed to present my name to
the Denver convention
I'm saying this I am not unmindful. as
have already assured you. of the long
continued kindness and Partially Of my
friends in the democratic party of this
state. but owe 1t to myself and 10 them
to speak with perfect frankness. AS | have
done"
1t is unders,oo that in spite of Judge
Grays declination the convention will in
dorse him and instruct the delegates to
vote for him.
Agreeing Upon Endorsement.
Last nights action of the democratic
state committee in agreeing upon form
Of Endorsement Cor Judge George Gray as
nomination removes all doubt regarding
the outcome of today's convention meet
ing. The delegates gather at noon and
the friends of Judge Gray will be in abso-
lutte control.
The six delegates will be instructed 10
vote and work for Gray, but the conclud-
ing portion of the plank in the platform
indCrsing the candidate which had been
prepared by the Gray managers, and
which excluded considerat ton Of any other
candidate. has been stricken out. This is
construed by the friends OF Bryan to mean
that that gentleman is to be the second
choice Of the delegation.
The entire forenoon was taken up with
the caucuses of the three county delega-
tons over the choice of the national dele
gates. The rule in Delaware is for each
county TO select two of the six delegates
whose selection is later ratified by the
state convention. OF the three county
caucuses The most interesting was that OF
Kent county, because the delegates In this
county We're divided between the adher-
ents of Bryan and Judge Gray, the former
having ma jority.
Matters ran smoothly until the nomina.
tions for nstionaI delegates came up.
When the name of former United States
Senator Kenny the national commit tee.
man from Delaware. was placed In nomi-
nation. Mr.. Kenny Immediately declined
because he said he would be in Denver
anyway member of the national cor,-
mittee. He then launched into a speech
upon the respective merits of Bryan and
Gray.
Thinks Bryan Will Be Nominated.
He said there was little doubt that
Bry an would be nominated by the national
convention. but he believed it was the
duty of Delaware democrats TO name
Judge Gray as an available candidate for
the nomination. If anything should hap
pen to Mr.. Bryan, he said, the democracy
would then have another good man who
could sweep the country in November. \
delegate reminded Mr.. Kenny that Judge
Gray did not support Mr.. Bryan in 1896.
and Mr.. Kenny came to the defense OF the
Judge by saying that it was true that the
judge had made mistake in 1885, but
that it should be overlooked.
After considerable confuSitn over the
method of voting. the first ballot was
bury Of Dover, Bryan man. had received
a majority OF the votes Three more bal
lots were taken without result. and then
Caleb F. Pennewel Of Dover. a Gray man.
was nominated by reclamation. The al
ternates are Frank M. Soper and William
Hoey.
The other county caucuses were unani-
nous. The total delegates selected by
New Castle county are Peter J. Ford and
l.. Irving Handy. The alternates are
Matthew B. Murphy and Charles III. Sal
mon. Mr.. Handy nominated Judge Gray
in the last national convention. and he
may be again selected for that agreeable
duty
The Sussex county national delegates
are Landreth Layton of Georgetown and
William L. Records of Laurel. The alter
mates are William II. Stevens and l.. w.
Mustard.
The convention was delayed on account
Of the caucuses and was not called To
order until after | o'clock.
After naming the committees a recess
was taken for an hour.
SCOURGE AT LA GUAIRA.