The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-03-28
HISTORY OF GENERAL
CHARLES H. GROSvENOR
Written for the Ohio Magazine by Senator
Charles Dick.

er to being the real leader Of the
House than any other member, all
though the title of leadership us
ually goes with the chairmanship
of the Ways and Means Commit
tee. General Grosvenor has been
member of this most important
, committee, was chairman of the
Committee on Merchant Marine
end Fisheries, and was member
of the all.important Committee on
Rules, which shapes the policies
of the House and determines what
measures ehall be reported for con-
sideration and action. He is a
man of tireless activity and has
been most industrious and atten-
tive to his public duties. No
member has been more SO. Much
of his power in debate is due to
the fact that he is very we'll read
mar and is most thoroughly famil
lar with the public happenings of
the period covering his public SER
vice. The wonder is that he has
found time for the varied and ex-
tensive reading he has been able
to accomplish. Combined with
this is most remarkable memory.
He seems to be familiar with every
new court decision and important
decisions on constitutional law,
and all-portant facts in connection
with the history of the United
States are apparently at his dis
posal for immediate use, whenever
required. Being so equipped, he
has been an antagonist with whom
very few men in Congress cared to
cross swords.
Not being a specialist in matters
of legislation, as so many members
of Congress are, but devoting his
attention to great many subjects,
he debated them all equally we'll.
Thus it occurs that General Gros-
venor's name is not specially iden.
titled with any Of the constructive
Legislative enaetments passed by
Congress during his service. The
Merchant Marine bill, with which
his name has been so closely iden-
tilted, has never been enacted into
law. The same statement, how
ever, is true of some of the great
est of American statesmen. 1t
was true of Webster, and also of
Blaine. General Grosvenor might
have added to his reputation, had
he confined his interest and activ-
tiles to fewer subjects, but the
Congress and the people generally
would have been the losers, had
he done so. Senator Hanna once
said "Grosvenor does so many
great things as to make them all
seem common"
General Grosvenor, though not
assuming to be leader in politics,
has invariably been one of the few
men in the front rank, and his
Judgment and counsel have always
been sought and greatly relied up
on. He has never been a reformer
nor an independent, but is by ma
ture conservative, and has al
ways been stalwart of stalwarts
IN the Republican party. He has
always been man of strong con
victions and of we'll balanced
JuuH nCut-hCfCl u plihihoi HoI o
straddler-but has always felt
that this government is govern
ment by parties; that two strong
welldisciplined, evenly balanced
parties are essential to its welfare
and he has never believed that hi
was better or stronger than hii
party or that he could accomplish
good by opposing the declaration
of his party conventions. He hal
never fought outside the breast
works set up in the national plat
forms of his own party. If h
has had convictions which raj
counter to party declarations, h,
has subordinated them to what h'
has considered the greater wisdom
of the greater number of his part.
associates. He has never sough
applause as party insurgent o
by standing out against the deci
sion of a party caucus. Som
men attain brief reputation i
that way, but destroy their use
fulness, because such a course i