The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-05-26
Fayette County Man Nominat-
ed for Congress by Sixth
District Bourbons Will Be
Backed by Party Leaders.
CONVENTION SCENES
RECALLED OLD DAYS
More Democrats Attend Dis
trict Gathering That Ever
Before-Wild Disorder Fol-
lowed Stampede to Gray.

Although the nomination Of Finly
Gray of Connersville by the democratic
district convention here yesterday was
unexpected. and amounted to the same
democrats OF the district with the ex-
ception OF the most loyal OF the Kuhn
and Null adherents have expressed
their satisfaction in the conventions
choice, and promise to rally to the sup
port of the rooster" which WAS again
adopted as the party emblem in this
district. Gray won out only after the
kuhn boom had lost its initiation and
the votes must either be thrown to the
Connersville man or else Lon Null OF
Manila, would carry away the houOrs.
In many respects the convention was
most extraordinary. For many years
the democrats Of the Sixth district, In
spite of the .rock-ribbed" counties Of
the southwest. have named congress
sional candidates predestined to sacri-
fice on the party. altar. There was
rarely any competition for the place.
SO when five candidates, each with an
enthusiastic following, submitted their
names to the convention yesterday, the
enthusiasm that ensued recalled the
days of democratic power and party
arrogance.
Even the most sanguine supporter Of
Gray had slight hopes OF victory be-
FORE the convention. The Null f0rces
had come from Rush county and Shell
by county over four hundred strong.
and Kuhn seemed to have an equal
backing here in Wayne. The first bal.
lots. in fact, increased their uneasinese.
but when dozen and more tests had
been made without any apparent ap-
proach to nomination, it was seen
that Wayne was ready to swing toward.
any candidate who could stampede the
convention. and Kuhn was thrown
over for Gray only when Hancock and
Henry had started the avalanch.
Just what objections the Wayne
county delegates had to the name OF
Lon Null is a matter OF conjecture.
but their strength was never doubted
and it remained for them to cast the
deciding vote. Had the twenty-five
Wayne county votes which went to-
Gray on the last ballot been thrown to
Null. the Rush county man would have
won with a total OF 73.
The balloting was the most stubborn
ever seen in q convention here, and
along about the tenth test. when the
name of Henry U. johnson was sug-
gested and received twelve votes. It
looked easy to stampede the conven-
tion for anyone except the three prin-
cipals. Johnson's fraik withdrawal.
followed by similar action on the part
Of John NJ Lontx. seemed to put . stop
to all efforts in that direction and the
only course was the one followed,
namely, the sacrifice of Kuhn In ordee
to prevent Null from winning the Vic
tory
When the final vote was announced
giving Gray a total Of II. the success
full candidate was escorted TO the plat
form and amid the cheers Of his fran
tic following spoke the pledges q his
party and of his candidacy. The con-
vention was In an uproar after the re-
suit became known. but the defeakod
candidates accepted their fate without
demur and finally Joined in the general
accIamation.
Nominee Gray expressed himself last
evening as thankful to the c0nventton
for the honor they had bestowed upon
him and declared that he would make
an effort to visit every voter I'm the
district before the election next No
yemher.