The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-06
CRAY MAY Be
ASPIRANT AGAIN
FOR CONGRESS
ConnerSyiIIe Man Who 0p-
posed Gift to Eride,
Makes Inquiries.
BIZ Times Special

BIZ Times Special
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Word
has reachsd Washington that for
mer Representative Gray of Con-
nersville may seek the Democratic
nomination for congress in the new
Tenth Indiana district this summer.
Gray, a tall, colorful figure OF
the old spell-binder school, possess
ing long white name and a glib
tongue, served in congress as rep
resentative from the old Sixth dis
trict during the Wilson admin
istration.
The report that he may attempt
to return to Washington started a
few days ago when several Indiana
Democratic representatives received
letters from Gray seeking informa-
ton of a political nature. In his
letters Gray asked about the in
come, from outside sources, of
President Hoover and of Secretary
Mellon, and also about the extent
of the Mellon-controlled interests.
Very obviously Gray was seeking
material for an anti-Repubhcan
speech.
More Inquiries
Inquiries of the same nature have
been received from Walter R. Myers,
attorney and World war veteran.
Although neither Gray nor Myers
has announced his intentions. it
is believed here that they will toss
their hats into the ring beside that
of Clarence A. Jackson, Newcastle,
former state commander of the
American Legion. Jackson an
nounced his candidacy several days
ago. HOLSTERS here also expect
Claude Ball, Muncie, to enter the
race. Ball was the Democratic nom
inee in the old Eighth district in
1880. He lost by nine votes to Al
bert H. Vestal, Republican, filed
notice that he would contest Yes
tails election and later dropped the
contest much to the disgust of the
Democratic leaders in the house.
An abundance Of candidates in
the new Tenth district is to be
expected in view of the circum-
stances. The redistricting left the
Tenth the only district without a
seated representative. 1t was carved
out of portions of the old Eighth
and the old Sixth districts. 1t is
almost a universal rule that more
candidates are lured into an open
field than into fight to Dust an in
cumbent.
Although the names Of four pros
pective Democratic candidates are
mentioned. there have been no sug-
gestion as to aSpirants for the Re-
publican nomination. This is Pc
culiar in light of the fact that the
new district is preponderantly Re-
publican.
Opposed Bridal Gift
= Gray is the only one of the four
prospective candidates mentioned
who is known in Washington. He
is remembered particularly and none
too favorably for a speech he made
in the house. Invitations had been
senC for an elaborate White House
wedding. One of Woodrow Wilson's
daughters was the prospective bride.
A committee of Democratic rep
resentatives had been collecting
contributions for a wedding gift.
Gray arose on the house floor, said
that he had been approached by
the committee, denounced the pro-
cedure as an attempt on the part
of the chief executive to intimidate
congress, and with a grandiose ges-
ture waved a SIS bill in the air de-
claring he would contribute it to
Washington charity, but would give
mot one red cent" for a Presidents
daughter. Nevertheless, the COM
mittee went ahead and bought a
tea service for the bride. Whether
Gray ever donated the IS to Wash
ington charity is not remembered.