The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-03-28

reacneu the Hraue OF captain IN 2
Pennsylvania regiment. Both
were lawyers of high standing.
The Legislature elected In 1889 was
Democratic, and it proceeded as
one Of its first acts to redistrict
the state. Grosvenor and Thomp-
son were thrown into the same dis
trict, which lay along the Ohio
river in shoe.string form. A CON
vention which met to select can
didate developed into battle roy
al between three candidates, for
many weary days. The deadlock
remained unbroken and over five
thousand ballots were cast. On
the last ballot enough votes were
cast for each of the three candi
dates in turn to nominate him, but
before the result could be an
nounced changes were made and
the adherents of both Glosyenor
and Thompson, rather than see
the other nominated, cast their
ballots for the third candidate,
and in scene of unparalleled up
roar and confusion named VIM, III.
Enochs, of Ironton, himself law
yer of ability and u brave soldier,
who had risen from the ranks to
command regiment, and was
brevetted n Brigadier General.
General Enochs died about four
months after his single term in
Congress expired. 1t was this
same Democratic apportionment
that gave the late Governor Patti
son his one term in Congress. The
next General Assembly was Re
publican and redistricted the
state, placing Athens in the EIev-
enth district, and General Gros-
venor has represented that district
ever since. ] said at the begin
ming of this article that General
Grosvenor had retired, for n time,
at least, to private life. 1t would
be considered by many to be a
rash prediction that he will remain
there. Though nearly seventy four
years of age, his figure is as erect
as ever, his step as firm, his eye
as flashing, and his intellectual
faculties undiminished. He seems
still in the very prime of physical
and mental power, with promise of
many years of usefulness ahead.
With the rank and file of his dis
trict he is probably as popular as
ever, and no one can fortell what
changes the whirligig of time may
bring about. Whoever represents
that district in the future, it will
be many years before any success
sor can do as much for his dis
trict, or be as useful in the Con
gress.
Ability alone does not give pre-
cedence and influence on the floor
of the House. The leaders are all
men of long service, who have
been in Congress ten years ol
more. Ohio is fortunate in hay
ing in the House several young
men Of ability and strength, whC
have been reelected for two, three
or more terms, and will become
real leaders in that body, if per
mltted to remain there decade
1t is narrow view to take of {
Congressman functions, to say
that he represents his distric
alone or even primarily, In re
ality he represents his state, ant
he need not even be resident o
the district he represents. Th'
state and the district would b,
much better served by congress
men who are reelected time ant
time again. Even mediocrity
combined with long service, cal
accomplish more than the mos
able man who has served only on
or two terms. Another advantage
is that the promise of long service
is more apt to attract abler mel
than is the case where the two
term rule prevails.
Thus it is that hs Congresslon
al district, our state and the coun
try at large, through the long
faithful and able service of tn
Sage of Athens, have received
need of credit and manifold benC
fits far beyond the lou of but fe'
to bestow in the course of publ
career. Always aG his post, h