The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-05-19
A SCHEME THAT KICKED BOTH FOR
WARD AND BACKWARD
columbus Times, May 1871

The schemes conceived by the politi-
clan to confuse and befuddle the Ameri-
can voter are many and as peculiar as
| they are numerous. The line some OF
] them follow are unknown and so perpleX-
! ing as to cause the most expert geo.
metriclan to scratch his head in utter be-
/ wlderment. Occasionally one of them
works out as intended, to the benit OF
the schemer but by far the greater
number prove to be boomerangs and re-
suit in irreparable damage to tie cause
they are supposed to advance
| One of the most striking Illustrations
Of the latter type was staged in the
Fourth Ohio Congressional District in the
campaign Of 1914. That is a rural dis
trict and its voters as in most of the
rural districts of the Buckeye Sta,e, cling
tenaciously to what is known as the two
term rule--that Is after serving two con-
secutive terms, the Office holder steps
down and out This rule has become
part of their political creed and is most
zealously observed. Consequently a third
term candidate has little hope OF sue
cess in the primaries. The congressman
serving the dear peepul" of the Fourth
District in 1914 was in his second term
and by the unwTitten law of the district
the twO-term rule--was ineligible Tor
another. He wanted twas almost in
sane i'm his desire to get it--but realized
it could not be obtained without in some
manner removing or ObSCuring the two
times-a and out issue How to accomplish
! this was the perpleNing question.
The strategy board, comprised of the
pOstmasters, present and prospective, was
convened All the old manuevers, all the
old games, the shrapnel and artillery,
were scanned and resCanned and only to
be thrown in the discard.
Finally one Of the postmasters or pros
pective postmasters hit upon an original
scheme. There was some little A. p. A.
sentiment in the district and wIv not use
it to their own advantage? Indeed, why
not! The Great Idea was born. The
strategy board elaborated and as the most
brilliant product of their combined intel
lects it was agreed to have their own can
didate attacked and then charge the at
tacks to the opposing candidate fastening
upon an innocent man the opprobTium
that should and usually does attach to
one who tries to mix religion with poll
tics.
The Great Idea was unleashed and al
lowed to run wildly over the district, BY
means of street corner A. u. A. spellbind-
eTs and A. p. A. literature, the third term
candidate was attacked, not for his dis
regard of the time -honored two term rule
oh, no!--but for membership in a church
that was taboo to the A. p. AS. These
attacks unjustly but effectively, were at
trbuted to the third-tc.m aspirant's OPP
ponent
the district was ailame wit han unreas-
enable and unwarranted politicco- eccles-
iastic dispute.
The Great Idea was working and 1t con
tinued to work. 1t accomplished its pur-
pose TO the extent at least of bringing
to the active support of the third term
candidate his co-religious workers, most
OF whom were warm Supporters Of the two
term rule.
As planned, they were made to forget.
or overlook, the one issue they were in
terested in, and to this extent the Great
Idea was a ripping success. But beyond
this 1t became unmanageable. 1t run
wild and accomplished things the Post |
master Strategy Board never dreamed Of |
1t concentrated the adherents of lother |
creeds and of no creeds in an opposing |
camp, and when the votes were counted |
the third term candidate found himself
hit in the ribs by a projectile manufac- |
tured by his own supporters. His op- |
pOnent won the nomination hands down |
But the Great Idea was still unleashed |
and cavorting over the district The third |
term aspirants followers, unaware of the |
deception that had been practicea upon |
them, were made to regard him as a |
martyr cruelty punished for religious con- |
Victions. They cried for revenge and |
waited only till the regular election TO |
obtain it. They bolted the nominee and |
as a result for the first time in its his