The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-01-27
CANDIDATES BUSY
IN POLITICAL RING
All ANXIOUS TO PROVE TRUTH
OF OLD "RULE OF THREE"
BRYAN IN LIMELIGHT.

That has been the rule in the
GREAT majority of American political
careers. Just as baseball players set
great store by three, so do the super
sfIfious statesmen and politicians.
Three strikes in the national pastime
means the end of the batter's allott-
cd span at the plate and three Off
GERS or an office thrice held, usually
denotes the end of a political life.
Wherefore is three considered the
1rckv number in American politics.
Most public office holders who have
made three political strikes, desiring
TO 90 down in history with clean
slate of victories decline to go to the
hat for the fourth time in the hope
that the electorate will make wild
beave and give them pass to "first
base" And while some lean back
ward from the fourth ball for fear
Of being "beaned," the more ven
turesome spirits are constantly try
ing to break the charmed three. There
are likewise few instances in
which an office holder having made
two strikes will stand with his bat on
his shoulder and watch the third
one" go by without at least swinging
at it.
Diversity in Rule.
There is great diversity in this
"rule of three" For instance, Presl-
dent Wilson, running to form has
three in his political career-goVer-
nor of New Jersey and twice elected
president of the United States. 1t
would be possible for him to make 1t
a "big three"
And that has been the chief ankle
+v of various and sundry democratic
aspirants for the nomination, for de,
snite all efforts to "smoke him out
Mr.. Wilson has not yet fatty an
nounced that he will under no cir
cumstances accept third nominal
ton. ,,,,,
Probably the most unique "three"
in modern American politics is held
bv Col. William Jennings Bryan, OF
Miami. Fla, Asheville, N. c., Wash
jngton. D. c., and other points west.
The peerless leader it may be re-
membered has been thrice a canol-
date for the presidency and nkeWlse
tbrice defeated. 1t may not be true
&C some aver that the candidacy. OF
the gallant colonel dates from time
immemorial, but who can doubt the
assertion that Mr.. Pope had the boy
orator of the Platte in mind when ne
wrote. "Hope Springs Eternal"
Apparently with the view of an ul-
innate blessing in mind, Col. Bryan
has recently been seen abroad wear
ING a candidates outfit that is as new
and unruffled as if it had not been
laid away in the moth balls since
1912. when at Baltimore he stamped
ed the convention to the present III
cumbent of the white house.
Pull for Commoner.
Pessimistic democrats and optlmls-
tic republicans are of one accord on
the outcome of the presidential cleo
ton in 1920. Unless the situation
shifts considerably before November
rolls around the republicans antlclc
pate a waIkover. Therefore some OF
Col Bryan's friendly enemies are
strongly in favor of handing the NOM
nation to the commoner so that ne
NAV carve for himself an lmperlsn-
able niche in the hall of fame as the
cnlv American who ever went down
TO defeat four times hand running
or as near hand running as he could
make it.
Most of the prominent presloen-
tial aspirants have their eyes on the
ball, for most of them have TWO
strikes and the third ball means MT
or a Whit. Senator Johnson, OF Cal
ifornia, has a three, having been
twice elected governor of his state
and to the senate, but he wants a
real three" and makes no effort TO
conceal the fact that he expects TO
ride to the white house on an elgnI
word platform.
Some of Others.
Ohio's senatorial presidential can
didates, Senators Harding and Pom
creme, who are keen about throwing
three" have both served as lleu-
tenant governors of the state. gov;
Cox, of Ohio, is now serving his thlro
term. He has also served IN the mouse
and is now busily polishing his nat
in the hope of banging out triple
Other senators who would consld-
er their triplicate political careers
completely rounded out by tour
years residence in the white house
are Underwood, of Alabama; Hitch
cock, of Nebraska; Poindexter, OF
Washington; Lenroot, of Wisconsin
and Sutherland, of West Virginia
They all served an apprenticeship IN
the house.
Vice President Marshall, with two
terms at that job and one as cover.
nor of Indiana, would doubtless hno
move to the executive mansion a
pleasant journey, despite his pr0tes-
tations to the contrary. Champ Clark
whose service in the house was bro
ken by a republican landslide IN
1894, thus giving him three with
the speakership, could conveniently
round out the big "three' that ne
thought complete for many ballots at
the Baltimore convention.
Senator La Toilette has three
threes in his career. He was three
times clicked to the house, three