The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1914-10-16
CONGRESSMAN BATHRICK
(Akron T;mes)

NSAAAAOAA 4AAAVS/
Four years ago, Ellsworth r. Bath
rick, respected citizen, business man
and student of good government a
Democrat, essayed the task of elect
ing himself to Congress in the strong
est Republican district in Ohio. 1t
was the famous old Ninteenth, the
! Western Reserve, carrying the trad
ition and party glamour of Garfield,
Giddings and Wade, whose names are
linked with the honor of Ohio. Even
there was the aureo'e of Mckinley,
whose home was in this district. It
had never sent Democrat to, Con-
gress, and it had been substantially
the same, politically and geograph-
ically, since1852. 3
Most of the Democratic leaders
thought his candidacy a perfunctory
performance to fill in the ticket. The
Republican politicians laughed. In
his most optimistic moment Congress-
man Bathrick reckoned his chances
poor, but said: Anyway, there ought
to be change in the control Of gov
ernment, once in a while, aside from
party considerations. may not do
much else, but I can go about and
talk to the people in spirit of fair
ness and good will. Perhaps | can do
some good, if not for myself" I
| That was the spirit with which he
entered the campaign. 1t is not
worth while to speak Of the surprise
of those who scoffed at this earnest
man. He won. .,a, T..
He was reelected in 1912. A
glance at his scrapbook reveals that
before his first term was finished,
metropolitan newspapers of the West
and populous East, had written edit
orials commencing his work. 1t was
all on the line of effort to right
human wrongs and correct the evils
of government. There was no eternal
glory about it. The editorials were
more an acknowledgement of the ef-
forts of one who had no particular
prominence in Congress but who was
working without fear.
| No legitimate demand by his con-
| stituents has passed without prompt
and effective consideration. He never
lodged vote nor failed to frankly
declare his position on a question with
which he had to deal officially. Those
who write him get reasons" not
evas;ons. He says he can't agree
with everybody and believes that one
who does is neither studious nor
honest. .
| While it does not appear that Con-
gresham Bathrick is party leader
in our National Legislative body,
seniority and long service being nec-
essary to this ascendency, that in one
particular, at least, he appears as a
leader of national thought, is essen
tally true.
| "A great measure, dealing funda-s
mentally with the production and cost
of our food supply, has been agitated.
1t is Farm Credit; a problem of how
to place the finances of the farm on a
basis suitable to farm needs. Leaders
of the great farm organizations place
Bathrick in the front rank of the
pioneers of this movement. His
speeches on this subject have been
printed million times and read from
coast to coast. Not long ago the
official organ, of the National Grange
stated that he was undoubtedly one of
the best posted men on that subject
IN the country. 1t is a subject nearer
to- the high-cost-of-living problem
than any other. 1t is for the town
people as well as the country people;
for producers as we'll as consumers.
A man who has a great cause, and
has the knowledge and courage to
fight best for it, is worth more to the
people in Congress than one who sim
ply wants the job.
By voting to continue Mr.. Bathrick
in the service of representing them
at Washington the people of the Ak
ron district will be protecting and
promoting their own ip+arae+s