Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-11-03
REPUBLICANS LOSE
sTAlWART LEADER
IN GR0SVEN0R
DEFEAT OF VETERAN
~ HANDICAP TO PARTY
Acknowledged the Best Debat-
er in Congress, His Services
in Warding Off Democratic
Attacks Were Invaluable.
Iss.cia, Correspondence Morning Journal,

IN the Sixtieth congress-, the repub-
licans viii enter upon the coming ses-
sion In the house Of representatives
with a serious handicap placed upon
them. II is no secret thai "Uncle
Joe Cannon and the party leaders
have been looking about them, anx-
iously and ~zealously, but looking In
vain, for some man equipped to step
into the vacancy caused by the en-.
forced retirement Of General Charles
", ~Grosvenor. of Ohio. II rarely hap
pehs that the retirement of one menu
Der entails q loss upon the party that
Is seriously difficult to fill, but pre-
cisely that thing happened when the
heOple of the Eleventh Ohio district
refused to give this veteran repub-
ltcan wheel-horse a denomination and
sent Albert Douglas to congress in
stead.
General GrosvenOr was the bull
warn against which fell all the at
taeks of the opposition. Upon his
broad and capable shoulders deVolved
the meeting of all the shafts hurled at
the republicans from the minority
side of the chamber; meeting them as
they fell and protecting his party
from the effectiveness that would re-
suit from their delivery IL not an
swered Immediately. General Grosve-
nor was the best debater 'off the bat"
IN congress. His repartee was keen
and inclsive and he never SHE'D when
a democrat began to launch his invec-
tive at the party in power or hurl his
epithets at the administration. If
General Grosvenor happened to be
out of the chamber on such occasions,
he hurriedly precipitated himself Into
the arena Of debate. He thrived
upon 1t. loved II and never was seen
to better advantage Than in these inn
promptu discussions. Particularly
was this true when he and Champ
CLARK, of Missouri, the ablest and at
the same time the most sarcastic DEM
ocrat in the house. had the floor.
Through years Of service General
Grosvenor had simply absorbed in
formation on public subjects. He
Knew the history Of his country, was
well up in the policies of his party.
and was recognized as the mouth
piece of the administration on the
loo OF the house. Today there is
not a man to take his place. True,
there are good and able republicans
In the house, but none with the Pc
culiar temperament and characteristic
ability OF the famous Ohioan. Henry
S. Boutell, of Illinois. Is a brilliant
man and something Of a wit, some Of
his speeches being noted for scintilla-
E1h ~ AoAh1 ~ 1aRNAA
that made Grosvenor a natural leader
and liked by everybody. James r.
Mann, also of Illinois. Is a forceful
speaker, but too prone to scolding to
assume the place of leader in debate.
Colonel pete" Hepburn, OF Iowa. has
proved his title TO the commanding
position he holds in the house, but
the old man is too irascible and tart
in his speech to make, a good foil for
democratic shafts. He easily loses his
temper, a fatal mistake for public
men. Charley Lands. of Indiana, is
a brilliant young man with a future
before him, and makes some excel
lent speeches. but they are carefully
thought out before hand. In the
rough and tumble OF debate II will not
do to make answer tomorrow to the
note OF defiance of today.
Mr.. Llttlefield. of Maine-and no
one would think Of calling this man
anything but "Mr."-is the personifi-
cation of dignity. able in discussion
and possessing a voice Of penetrating
power. but he lacks that personal
magnetism SO essential to a leader.
The same must be said of Mr.. Burton.
of Ohio. although the name Of Mr..
Burton should go ahead OF that Of
the Maine statesman; In fact, II should
rank ahead OF the entire house when
ability is concerned. for Mr.. Burton Is
a tOp-notcher, admitted as such by
everybody. J. Adam Bede, Of Minne-
sofa. probably. will come as near as
any one TO filling the bill. He is
quick OF reply. apt in expressing him
self and can dull the point OF an ar
gument with a story that Will con-
vulse the house and cause the mem
bers TO forget the wisdom Of an OPP
posing speaker. His experience in
the house. however, is Of much short
er duration and the process OF alb
sorption has not made him, as yet. the
possessor Of such a remarkable fund
Of knowledge -as that with which
General Grosvenor Is blessed. Taw-
ney. of Minnesota. is a rough and
tumble debater, but his duties as
chairman Of the committee on appro-
priations max II impossible Tor him
TO keep the run Of things on the floor
Of the house.
Some people think Serene +. Payne.
OF New York. chairman of the ways
and means committee. will fall heir
10 the post flled by the retiring
Ohioan. Mr.. PAYNE Is the floor lead
en- by virtue Of his chairmanship,
which has to do with all matters Of
finance and Of tariff. but Mr. Payne
Is one Of those ponderous individuals
fun of intellectually and all that sort
- AnANAs NuA NHNNN a. -NNA+ 80 -
iceberg. General Grosvenor would
stop an impending row with his gem
iality: Mr.. Payne would precipitate II
By simply trying TO abate H. Jim
sherman. OF New York. who perhaps
viii succeed GrOsvenor on the COM
mittee on rules. Is one Of the best
parliamcntarians ~ the body. Ills
words fall from his lips with an in
cisive c%iearness that Is delightful 10
listen 10. but MI. sherman is not al
ways in his seat and does notseek the
thick Of oratorical fray. He would
make a good administrator defender
II he we're so minded. and II his heart
were in the work. Their are some
republicans who say Il l. not
Pennsylvania presents two members
Of distinguished ability along their re-
spective lines. John Dalzell and Mar
lin r. Olmsted. Dalzell. the great
apostle Of high protection. never would
be able to rank IN the Grosvenor
class Not that he is not capable. IL
Neuid be physically an impossible
task. Mr. Dalzell u Irritating In de-
bate 10 the last degree. II the re-
publicans have anything they want to
put through without precipltating a
nasty struggle they are able o. ac-
cemplish that result FAR more eNpe-
~ditiousiy N Mr.. Dalzeli can be kept
cut 81 the discussion This b. usually
possible unless he matter under con
sideration pertains % the tarin ques-