Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-10-12
Lee Gravely Still
Saying He Will Run
Continued From Page One)

[ a y
OF 1910
At least Lloyd Lee Gravely said
so, and said SO quite fatty and with
out reservation, not more than four
or five days ago He didn't make this
statement to your correspondent, but
he did make it in the presence OF
five reputable persons whose reputa-
ton for truth and veracity is excel
lent and information Of the state
ment comes to this bureau on au-
thority which can be classified under
the hackneyed, but still meaningful,
head Of 'unimpeachable."
The Rocky Mount tobacco man
was told by one Of his witnesses, "Im
going to tell folks about what you
say, and received the answer Go
right ahead, III back up my state
ment when the time comes.
All Of which confirms previous
GraVely statements. So far as this
correspondent is aware, the many
times senator from Nash has cOnsls-
tently maintained for at least the
last two years that he will be a can
didate next year.
Despite this consistency, however,
practically all political commentators
and observers have almost as con-
sistently refused to take the Grave
ly declarations seriously and have
.studiously refrained from listing him
with the most likely candidates.
In view Of the latest developments
it now appears that Gravely is a
certain entry in the gubernatOrial
sweepstakes, and it is going to be-
hoOVe the other five suspects to pre-
pare themselves for his participation.
AS q matter Of fact, a Gravely
candidacy now appears much more
likely than payment Of the official
500 filing fee by either Tom Cooper
or Willis Smith.
The Wilmington mayor has time
and again expressed complete indif-
ference to the detection of Ralph w.
Mcdonald from his list Of probable
supporters, but there are many cases
on record where really scared folks
Whistled as they passed through
graveyards, and Toms simulated
confidence Of getting anywhere with
out the Mcdonald blessing is much
in the same classification. Under
meath the surface he must know, be-
ing no part of lackwit, that open
refusal Of Mcdonald to support him
lust about wrote ''finis" to any
! chance he may have had.
AS for Smith, there seems to be a
wide variance Of opinion and the Ra-
leigh barrister is giving a fine imita-
ton Of Uncle Remus' Tar Baby who
''aint Sayin nOthin' y. There are
those who see Smiths activities as
much more Of bid for place on
the board Of trustees Of the Duke
Foundation than for a four-year
lease on the Governors Mansion.
Which would leave, Of the five
| listed as almost certain candidates,
! Lieutenant Governor w. P. Horton,
| Commissioner of Revenue Allen J.
Maxwell and Raleigh Attorney J. NJ.
Broughton, in addition to Senator
Gravely.
In that field the Gravely chances
should by no means be dismissed as
negligible With Cooper out Of the
race, as is being assumed for the pur-
poses of this analysis, the Rocky
Mountaineer could count on the So,
900 votes ordinarily and custOmarily
cast for the anti-administration can
didate Everybody agrees there are
approximately that many "agin the
ins'' to start with.
With that much of a head start,
Gravely might we'll prove hard to
catch, particularly with the sO-called
administration support split Gas it is
logically bound to beg between Hor-
ton and Maxwell and with even
| \, toy, dc
that category of voters.
The tobacconist will have this ad-
vantage, too, over Cooper as the
'anti' candidate is ''anti' enough
to get that vote in toto while at the
same time he has never gone as far
as Tom in castigating the "Raleigh
gang" and therefore will not face
the same bitter opposition from the
regulars
On the contrary, Gravely has some
very close friends very close to the
governor. What he would do about
voting for Lloyd Lee is something
nobody knows, but the governors
secretary, Bob Thompson, is gen
orally regarded as an extremely close
personal friend Of the former senator
from Nash. Under such circuno-
| stances, 1t is certain that Bob, Tor
one, wouldn't shell the woods against
| Grave1y with the same vigor with
which he would lay down a barrage
against Cooper.
Gravely would appeal strongly to
the anti-sales takers. His legislative
record is consistently against the
three per cent levy, though in the
famous 1885 session his plan and that
of Dr. Mcdonald were not one and
the same.
Gravely is colorful, hard fighter,
logical and persuasive in debate. He
has done as much in the fight against
tuberculosis as any man in North
Carolina, and that's an asset not to
be overlooked.
On the debt side, he is not dry,
either personally or politically He
is not the choice Of the presently pre-
dominant Democratic faction. His ap-
peal to the labor vote is doubtful,