The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-21
New Congressman from the
Sixth Indiana District An
nounces thar He Is a Pros
gressive Democrat
DETAILED VIEWS ON
IMPORTANT MATTERS
Is Against Continuation Of
"Cannonism in the Lower
House and Stands for Re-
vision of Tariff.
tStaff Correspondent

tetha NpitSSpoHuChN.y
Connersville. Ind. Dec. 2l.---ln =
signed statement prepared by Finley
NJ. Gray. congressman-elect from the
Sixth Indiana district. he pledges him
self to support progressive legislation
during his term of ONCE. which be-
gins March 4, 1911. and to contend
vigorously in an effort to deprive the
next speaker Of autocratic powers
Il am progressive Democrat and
believe that If the progressive element
OF both parties unite on important
questions the result will be progress
i've legislation such as the country de.
mands.' Mr. Gray stated,
The Sixth Indiana district under
normal conditions is strongly Repuh-
lican. Mr. Gray is the first Democrat
to represent the district, as 1t is now
constituted in congress.
Why Barnard Lost.
The'reason why Judge w. o. Barn
ard OF New Castle. the Republican
congressional nominee, was defeated
for reelection last fall-why the usual
overwhelming Republican majority
was wiped out of existence and a
Democrat elected congressman by
1900 majoritylis easily explained
politicians say. TO be brief. the re
publican voters of the district wero,
as a whole. strongly In favor of the
progressive movement, 1t is pointed
out. They were dissatisfied with
Judge Barnard's support OF Cannon
ism, until the eleventh hour. his fall
ure to show enthusiasm over proposed
legislation and his support OF the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill.
For these reasons hordes OF Repub-
licans deserted Barnard and either
voted for Gray or did not go to the
polls. II is no secret that Gray could
not have been elected without the sup
port OF the progressive Republican ele.
ment
Hence, when Mr.. Gray stated. II am
a progressive Democrat" and said
that he was an admirer of Senator La
toilette. producing a large file of cop.
les Of Lafollette's weekly publication
to show he had. been studying the
Wisconsin insurgents policies, the
Palladium representative was not
greatly surprised.
Is Called . Fighter.
Gray has the reputation in Conners-
vile of being first class 1ghting
man. He has been leader ia the
water works war in his native city.
which was hotly contested and OF
long duration, and last August the
Republican city OF Connersville, by a
vote Of five to one, adopted the water
works policy Of its Democratic mayor.
Gray has also relished frequent skir-
mishes and battles with a Republican
city council.
/ Congressman-elect Gray has, in his
signed statement prepared for the Pal.
ladium, placed himself on record on
nearly all the important national dues-
tons he will be called to act on. This
is done 30 the voters Of the Sixth In
diana congressional district may, IL
they SO desire, follow his congression-
al career and see, by comparison OF
his platform here published. II he has
kept the pledges he has made to them.
The list of questions asked the con-
gressman-elect and his replies to them
| follow.
Platform Of Gray.
What was the cause OF the Repub-
lican party's defeat last fall?" Mr..
Gray was asked.
The causes generally responsible
for the elections, Independent Of is
sues raised locally by the candidates
themselves, in my opinion. were the
! promotion of BaIIinger and the dis
charge OF Pinchot and CLAWS in the
matter of the Cunningham claims con-
troyersy; the arbitrary position cf
Speaker Cannon towards progressive
Legislation and the enactment of the
| IPayne-Aidrich tariff law. Many Repub-
licans left their party to accomplish
outside what they had failed to secure
recognition for within their own ~
ganization." he replied.
Duty Of Congressman.
| "What do you believe is the duty Of
| a congressman? he was asked.
Il do not believe that congress
man owes such allegiance to every
interest in his district that he should
burden the whole country and the ma
iority in his own Congressional Dis
trict to give Government faroritism to
some single institution. believe
Continued On Page Twol