The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-15
{ BY THE OUT EASTER


 time politician Monday when John J. Coughlin, (Bathhouse John) as they called him, was laid to rest. His .1ife's career is so readable and interesting that we print it for the story it reveals, not only to persons interested in the way municipalities used to do things years ago, but also for his famous exclamation that whenever he saw 8 reformer, he put his hand on his watch. Reference is made to ''Connelly's Patch" where John was born. If you witnessed the motion picture presented 8 short time ago of "Old Chicago" you will recall that 'The Patch" was portrayed in the picture.
 Years ago, representatives of some good old Out East families went to Chicago and located there. They met "Bathhouse John" and often referred to him in their after Z years visit ''back home"
 But think of 8 man; who made it possible for himself to contin- uRlly be elected an alderman or councilman from 1892 up to the present time. It makes us revive the days of old when the late John Hurley served in our own board of aldermen for many years, and also as state senator from the 18th district. Senator Hurley had the united support of thousands ]: of the old Fifth ward, who were just as faithful in their support of. him as were :tbe friends of the Chicago man. And yet Senator Hurley didn't have the money or i, the opportunities afforded Bath house John
 But read 1t. yourself. No more timely story of any one person has been written in years. It is full of data that affords much pleasure to people who like to read now and then of such rare individuals we ind in public life. s Here it is:
 :, : ,, ;, John's Career
 Bathhouse John, was a link be- tween the old Chicago and the new. His political career, forty ' five consecutive years at First Ward alderman, covered the era in which Chicago emerged from an overgrewn village with a some what frontier tang into the sec Foad metropolis of America.
 < He started as 8 rubber in the old Palmer House turkish bath rooms, whence his soubriquet, of which he was proud. In his later years, with 8 silver pompadour, he .biossomed out as a patron of the : turf With,ia stable. of sixty horses ' and occasionally. won race.
 Once. asi lover of nature and the primitive life, he owned ZOO nsar Pikes Peak, Colo. His sar- torial esfulgence as Beau Brumrlel of the city council and his poetic flights, in which he rode Pegasus as a bucking bronco, gained him wide. reputation as 8 picturesqu and flanbovant figure. ,4,
 For forty years and more, re- form waves, political cataclysms, factiopal earthquakes periodically swept over Chicago. But Bath house John proved iinpervious.
 Through all the upheavals he and his team mate, Michael (Hin- ky Dink) Kenna, kept control of the First Ward, the richest in the world, and delivered its votes as they willed. They trimmed their sails with each administration.
 As almost the last survivor of a roaring, rOistering bygone age in local politics, MT. Coughlin be- came a tradition at the City Hall. X < Connelly's Patch
 "In "ConneIly's Patch," an Irish settlement east of the Chicago River, MT. Coughlan was born Aug. 15, 1860. As 8 young man he became a bath masseur. Later he opened his own Turkish baths in . the old Mccoy Hotel and in the s old Brevoort Hotel. General Philip Sheridan was one of the many no- tables who patronized the baths.
 It was in 1892 that MT. Cough lin went into politics and stepped from the bathhouse into the City Council. He became politically as- sociat6d with MT. Kenna, whose "Workingmen's Exchange" known for the .'coolest and largest" schooner of beer in town and its free lunch, was 8 place sought by sociological visitors to Chicago.
 When prohibition closed the place in 1el9, after 1t had sold l75, 900 barrels of beer. one of the etubS'' as the schooners were 5 known, went as q relic to w. 0. T. u. head adquarters in Evanston.
 The year after 'sThe Bath" be- ,casne Alderman. William T. Stead, CTS have reCommended, 1t would en able every eligible employe to mak 1s3a n,-hse va evassn n11ft ff4r . Snu