The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-06-16
fINLY CRAY'S
PROPOSAL TO
CUT oRAT0RY
DISRECARDED
Wayne County Republicans
See Weakness Behind
Move of Nominee to Keep
Speakers Out of District.
RALLY TO Be BIG

The proposal made by Finly Gray.
Democratic congressional candidate,
to Richard N. Elliott, the Republican
nominee. that each candidate conduct
a personal campaign, and have q
series Of debates, neither party send
ing other speakers into the district
was not taken seriously by Republi'
can leaders in Wayne county today.
ii was pointed out that the G. o.
y. speaking campaign was entirely IN
the hands of the Republican state
committee and that Mr.. Elliott was
confining all his efforts to making a
personal canvass.
The intimation in Mr. Gray's letter
to Mr. Elliott that the Republican
speakers who are to be sent into the
district are going to confine their ad'
dresses to discussion OF partisan
issues, is Indignantly resented.
On Persona, Grounds.
These speakers will appeal to the
voters for their support OF Mr. Eillott
on the ground that he Is the man pest
fitted to serve the district ! con-
gross, and they will point out that
GRAY was one of a number of Dem
ocrats who opposed preparedness lot
war and who Frequently refused 10
supnort the president.
Republican leaders here suggest
that perhaps Mr.. Gray seeks to avoid
a discussion of his congressional re-
cord by making a move to prevent
the proposed Republican campaign
throughout the district
II was impossible to get into COM
munication with Mr.. Elliott today to
secure his views on the Gray letter.
Big Meeting Seen.
Senator Hiram Johnson of CalifOr-
MIA, who is to speak in Richmond on
next Friday night, may have the big
gest political meeting ever held in
this city, and it is this fact, Republi-
can leaders say, that has caused the
Democrats TO cancel plans to bring
outside speakers into the district.
Senator johnson is a popular idol
with the great majority of WAYNE
county Republicans and his speeches
here, party leaders believe, VIII 40
more than any other one thing to
bring about an overwhelming RepuD-
lican victory in this district.
Johnson, it is said. intends to lay
bare the congressional record of Gray.
and the Gray followers are decidedly
uneasy.
Text of Letter.
Gray's letter to Elliott follows:
Hon r. N. Elliott, Republican cam
didate for Congress-:
Dear Sir--It has been announced
from Republican headquarters that
this congressional district, between
now and the date of the pending spec
ial congressional election, June s, 1917
is to be filled with Republican cam
raign speakers. United States sena-
tors and representatives from various
parts OF the United States, to make
partisan appeals for the election OF
2 Republican.
"To meet this program OF the Re-
puhlicans. my friends and supporters
are planning to make the same char
acter Of campaign in opposition. This
course upon the part of the campaign
managers OF both political parties can
oulv tend to involve our district in
mere artisan clamor and bitter contro-
versy, to divide and weaken us with
in our own ranks and at time when
our common country is confronted
with supreme crisis in our national
history, and involved in war with a
formidable foreign foe
This proposed and contemplated
partisan program upon the part of the
managers of both political parties
greatly deprecate, disapprove OF and
sincerely desire to avoid. II citizen
of the United States is called upon to
place his earnings in Liberty Bond,
he is not hrst asked il he is Repub-
ican or a Democrat If a patriot vol
unteers to take his place in the
bloody trenches he is not asked what
political ticket he may have previous
IL voted.
II therefore. propose to you that
you join with me in eliminating this
contemplated partisan campaign in
our district, and that we, as patriotic
citizens and opposing congressional
cadidates. go before the voters OF our
district by personal speeches. and by
personal canvass, and each submit
his cause as candidate. to the voters
of the whole district for their decision.
IF the course have proposed shall
be approved and accepted by you and
your party managers, l must be noti-
fed Immediately that the plans OF our
canvass may be so arranged. Yours
respectfully.