The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-10-01

one at Fergus Falls under Elmer E.
Adams; during his college year he
carried newspaper routes on the Pho
neer Press and Tribune.
Stood High in College Work.
Throughout his course he main
tanned a standing above the average
and excelled in oratory, taking first
place in his Junior year. He was
twice connected with the Ariel, the
college paper. and was president of
his class; taking an active interest in
sports, he was president of the ath-
letic association and helped organize
the first general field day. The eli.
max of his college career was his
speech of welcome on behalf Of the
students at the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Cyrus Northrop.
In June, 1885, he was graduated
with honor as the valedictorian of his
class. Immediately on leaving the
paper work and has ever since been
connected with Minneapolis newspa-
pers excepting the two years service
as mayor of that city. At first he was
engaged in general reporting, and la.
ter in executive and editorial posi-
tons, having been city editor of the
Tribune, managing editor of the Times
and associate editor of the Journal
and had business experience in the
advertising departments of the Times
and Tribune-twenty-five years at the
desk, varied only by short vacation
in the mayors Office
Familiar With Public Affairs.
Mr.. Gray's first work was on the
Tribune, having the city hall and
courthouse runs, which gave him ia
miliarity with the people and fund
of information on public affairs and
matters legal and historical, as we'll
as a working knowledge of municipal
government. At the time of the Re
publican national convention in 1892
he was so impressed with the dramatic
and tragic, the total eclipse of the
Plumed Knight, that he literally tore
off tremendous article on the down
fall of Blaine, prefaced with the lines
from Byron on Napoleon:
"'Tis done. But yesterday King,
And armed with Kings to strive,
And now thou art a nameless thing
So abject yet alive.'
Reputation as Correspondent.
When the article appeared great
Eastern correspondents came in scores
to see the rural genius who had beaten
them all, and the New York Times
man and others telegraphed the entire
article to their papers. The reputa-
ton thus established was heightened
by his correspondence from Washing
ton at the outbreak of the Spanish
American variable, eloquent and Wig
orous letters which attracted great at
tention.
During his term as mayor he won
number of triumphs for the people,
one in refusing to sign a contract or
dered by the city council for the pur-
chase of coal because there was an
evident combine between dealers; I'M
der Mayor Gray's orders wood and
shavings were used as fuel at the wa
ter works until the trust surrendered.
Defeats Traction Company Plan.
Another victory of the people was
the heading off of a scheme of the
street railway company to charge a
lucent fare between the Twin Cities;
the Minneapolis council had granted
this privilege by an ordinance. Mayor
Gray vetoed the ordinance, which was
passed over his veto, whereupon he Sc
cured the support of the Pioneer Press
and the st. Paul city council and the
scheme was defeated.
When the smallpox epidemic broke
out, decisive and sweeping measures
of Mayor Gray stamped out the
plague; and another of his popular
moves was his II have-have your"
to bring home, in a style worthy of
them, the boys of the Thirteenth reg
iment from San Francisco.
Strong Editorial Writer.
James Gray is known, and widely
known, through his strong, fearless,
characteristic editorials, which have a
personality of their own so clearly
marked that people commonly say,
THAT'S Jim Gray's; I can always tell
his articles" His serious articles are
occasionally illumined by flashes of
native humor. 1t is of the grave,
serio-comic literary type. He is I'M
consciously humorous while he de-
tends himself from the charge.
An important side of Mr.. Gray's ca
reer is his public speaking, and he is
perhaps more widely known in this
capacity than any other; as an after
dinner speaker he has made reputa-
ton that has became proverbial, and
he has handled gridiron dinners with
zest, JUNCTION and brilliancy that
have been pronounced incompatible
by President Northrop and other
we'll known men. The late Governor
Johnson at one Of these dinners said,
II have never heard, even at the
Washington gridiron dinners, a fea-
ture that compared with it in original
ity of conception"
Connected With Church Work.