The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1919-09-05

largely Republican. He was one of
the few Democrats who had defeated
Republican for reelection. He de-
feated Judge Smyser by 4S5 plurality.
He had been publishing paper since
he was II years of age. He had been
postmaster He had been aggressive
and had accomplished things in pri-
vate business and banking. He was
1t seemed to him, Democrat in
the minority, that the best avenue
was to follow a line in which he had
always been interested, and to, fight
for pensions for old soldiers. He was
strongly in favor of liberal pension
laws. So he interested himself, took
the best care he could of old soldiers,
and introduced some special bills.
Then came the incident of Cathar.
inc Graves-and today Representa-.
tive Ashbrook is best known in con-
gress and throughout the country as
the father of the Ashbrook widows
pension law. He has done much else
in the way of constructive legislation.
He has made some speeches that at
tracted national attention-but he
likes best to be known for what he
did for the soldiers widows. Here,
briefly, is what his bill provided: An
increase of widows pensions from
$12 to $40, and extended the marriage
Limitation to Is years, from June 81,
$780, to June 27, 1905. 1t also under
took to give a pension to widows who
had contracted more than one mar
riage, and the pension bureau so con-
strued it and put about 600 on the
rolls before it reversed itself So
Representative Ashbrook now has a
new bill on the house calendar to spe-
officially include 1900 others in the
government bounty who are now dis
criminated against.
ITO care for him who has borne
the heat and burdens of the battle
and for his widow and orphan that
is the motto of the Grand Army of
the Republic which quotes -LincQln's,
inspiring words, and that has been
the motto by which Representative
Ashbrook guided his public career,
flor he never held public Office until
he ran for congress in 1905, and he
has been coming back habitually ever
since and with mounting pluralities.
How the Ashbrook, widows pension
bill was passed is one of the most in
spring stories of congressional legis-
lation. 1t went through in congress
that passed 252 out of 1890 meas
ures proposed. 1t was passed under
the handicap that the Gath congress
had already done unusually we'll by
the old soldiers. Four Ohio men were
responsible for this grist of pension
Legislation. Congressman. John A.
Key got through Spanish war vet
erans' pension bill. Gen. Isaac R.
Sherwood got the dollar-a-day pen
sion law, and Congressman Brum-
baugh snatched from defeat, by his
."lest we forget" speech, the volunteer
officers retired list pension bill by
getting, it out of committee in the
closing days and putting it through
under unanimous consent.
~. The Ashbrook> Bill
The Ashbrook bill was selected by
the committee as the most meritor-
oius of more than % submitted. II
! provided benefits for something like
10000 needy women. Gen. Sher
wood .graciously delegated Represent
ative Ashbrook to write the report
i and handle the bill on the floor. In
\ his report he paid the following sym
pathetic tribute:
"All patriotic men will enlist more
: freely in the defense of their countr.
when they have the assurance that i
death overtaken them their widows
will be generously cared for by ;
grateful government. 1t is the wifi
i dHu AuOlucT WIZ oCIS luc ll6uL III III
, window and patiently and anxiousl
awaits the return of her weary an
, broken-in-health> husband who, lea,
ing all that is dear behind, went fort
: to- defend the Old Flag and the ne
4 tion's honor with his lifes blood.
: is the wife who gives birth to all tn
} soldiers of the past, the present an
8 the future. 1t is the wife who gentl
r ministers in loving tenderness to tn
t old comrade when the dread messel
9 ger stalks into the humble home an
Q bears away her companion and SUI
e port, leaving her grief-stricken, des
late, and alone. She then has non
q to turn to for succor and relief excel
i the great government her loved or
seryed most faithfully and loyal
This bill seeks in a small degree I
r attest the gratitude of rich al
;. mighty nation for the frail old woma
4 left behind"
l. 1t was the most -liebral measu