The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-03-01
Inspector or No Grosvenor.
COLUMBUS o., Feb. IL,

In local paper appeared yester-
day a seemingly innocent paragraph
recounting an almost unnoticed hap
pening.
This was the paragraph.
The republicans of Athens county
have changed the usual time for
holding their primaries from April
to August, the exact date being Aug
ust rs. There ara but three nomina-
tions to be made-Recorder, County
Commissioner and Inflrmary Direct
or.
There is political meat in the news.
1t means that the present anti-Gros-
venor Committe in Athens will Sc
lect the delegates to the Congression-
al Convention.
There are as manv angles in the
politics Of this scholastic town as
there were in that of it's ancient pro-
totype. 1t has been customary in
Athens to select at the April pri-
maries County Committee, which
by suffrance, names tho delegates to
all the conventions Of the year. AS
no new committe is to be selected
before the holding of the Congress-
ional election, the resolution passed
some time ago by the present COM
mittee will remain in force. GEN
eral Grosvenor was quoted in Wash
ington as saying this resolution en-
powered him to select the delegates
to the Congressional Convention.
Perhaps that will be the result, but
1t is not so stated on the face Of the
bond. The resolution authorizes the
Chairman Of the present committee,
General Grosvenor and five republi-
cans, who are to be named by the
Chairman, to select the delegates.
Now, the chairman is Mr.. E. G.
Biddison, whose chief claim to pow
er is that he wrested The control of
the Athens county organization
from General Grosvenor. On the
strength Of this achievement, and al
SO an increased Republican plurali-
ty in Athens last fall, Mr.. Biddison
wants to be State Mine Inspector
That little arrangement by which
General Grosvenor, assisted by Bid
Olson and five Biddison men, Is to
choose the Congressional delegation,
was made In order to produce one of
two results: either Biddison is to be
State Mine Inspector, or General
Grosvenor will cease to be a Con-
gresham.
1t was generally supposed here
for time that this cut-throat game
would succeed. General Grosvenor
did his part. He urged Governor
Nash to appoint Biddison, and
doubtless felt so sure Of his recon-
mendation being followed that he
was justified in saying he would
himself appoint those delegates.
But in fact Mr.. Biddison has never
received message he has been wait
ing for these many weeks. Govern
or Nash told him he would be sum
moned to Columbus when the Gov
ernor cared to talk with him further
about the appointment. Not yet has
the Governor sent that message. In
fact, Mr.. Biddison's prospects are
not the brightest. Gener Grosven-
or has not great standing at the court
Of Columbus, however solid his foot
ing at Washington. And it Is well
known that the Governor is just q
little weary of being urged to give
out all the places at his command tC
the friends of Senators and Congress.
men, leaving nothing to be divide
among the friends of Nash, excep,
janitorships and such. 1t has come
to light also that Mr.. Biddison hasn't
strong following among the min
ere.
Now, State Mine Inspector Hazel.
tine has, He has personal follow
ing among the miners, and also
among the mine operators, and il
satisfactory to both. This Is on,
reason why he has managed to stay
in office for twelve years. Talk tina
Haseltine is to stay 10 now at pre-
MUM in the gossip market.
So there is craning of necks here
to watch Biddison and the five Bid
Olson men "assist" General Grosven
or in selecting anti Grosvenor dele
gates.-Cincinnrti Commercial Tri
bune.