The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1906-02-08
General Charles Henry Grosvenor.
Recently the Washington Post con-
tanned this remarkable news item:

tameu tnlS relndrkaDle news item'
For the first time In the history OF the
congress OF the United States the officers
and leaders of that body have interceded
in behalf of member who Is threatened
with defeat. The unique spectacle was
witnessed yesterday OF the circulation OF
q petition appeal to the voters of the
Eleventh Ohio district, urging them to
stand fast and send Charles II. Grosvenor
back to congress.
This petition recites the great services
General Grosvenor has performed in be-
half of the Republican party not only I'm
his district and his state. but the nation
at large. 1t calls attention to his influence
in the house, position won after years
OF experience and service. and declares
that 10 defeat him would be to impose
national loss upon the Republican party.
This appeal to the voters will be circu-
lated in General Grosvenor's district,
where the primaries are to be held this
year earlier than usual 1t is an unusual
procedure and indicates the popularity OF
tho old Ohio Republican wheel morse with
his associates In the house.
That bit OF news is not only remark
able because of the unprecedented ac-
ton of the officers and leaders of COIL
gress. but still more remarkable be-
cause there should be any necessity for
1t. or course General Grosvenor is
Republican, and some folks may say
that inasmuch as 1t Is Republican
fight 1t is none of my business, but new
ertheless | am going to have my say,
and here 1t Is; That district is over
whelmingly Republican. There is no
earthly chance for a Democrat to be
elected from IT, For these reasons 1t
Is to its credit and for the country's
credit that the ablest Republican with
In It's borders should be elected. OF
course my acquaintance in that baili-
wick is limited, but think 1t thou
sand to one shot that General Grosye-
nor Is the ablest man In 1t. If there Is
an ADLER one he Is wonder worth q
journey across the continent to see and
hear. This Is not fulsome hattery. 1t
is the plain, sober, unvarnlshed truth.
Taken all in all, the good gray general
IL the most dangerous debater on the
Republican side to tackle. | am not
saying that he is the ablest man. That
might appear invidious, and, then, ev-
cry person has his own standards and
ideals as to the sum total of ability,
but there is only one standard by which
to judge debater, and that Is what
Bob FitzsimmOns calls ''the punch" and
what Tom SharIkey denominates "the
wallop." General Grosyenor has more
punches" and "wallops" In stock than
any OF the parliamentary Republican
heavyweights. know by both OBJ
| servation and experience. for first and
last have tried them all. Sometimes
Colonel Hepburn Of Iowa or Mr. Da.-
zell OF Pennsylvania or Uncle Joe Can
non, when lie was on the floor. or per-
haps some other has hit as hard as Gen
eral Grosvenor ever hit. but nobody else
on that side enters the arena OF debate
so frequently and runs so many risks.
1t would constitute a most interesting
and Instructive chapter In parllamen-
tary literature to c0llate all the fierce
debate episodes In which hs has en-
gagged with Democrats, Republicans
Fopuiigts ezad what not and TO caieu-