The Washington times., 1911-11-07
MR.. TAFT's SUPPORT OF GEO.
B. COX.

A Democratic President of the United
States, living in Baltimore, who would
this year campaign Maryland in favor
of Arthur Pue German for governor,
would provide a pretty good parallel
to the course of President Taft in in
dorsing the Cox ticket for municipal
offices in Cincinnati. But it would not
be complete. Taft and Cox have theo.
retically been enemies since 1905, when
Mr.. Taft, in the full glow of reforming
zeal, candidate for the Presidential
nomination, and spokesman of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, denounced Cox and de-
manded that good citizens align them
selves against him in order to free
Cincinnati from the rule of one of the
worst gangs in the country.
The Presidents letter, only part of
which is published, suggests that con.
ditions have changed since he m,de
his former assault on Cox. 1t is diff
fcult to see wherein they have changed
except to make it more than ever the
duty of good citizens to oppose Cox.
Last year Cox was indicted for perjury.
He has testified that he never received
any payment from Cincinnati banks
in consideration of his influence in
putting city deposits with them.
Swearing to this statement, Cox got
out of that investigation and little
came of it. A year passed, and brought
developments which proved from
records that Cox had in fact received
immense sums for giving the city de-
posits to favored banks. Thereupor
he was indicted for perjury.
There happened to be, by some acci
dent, an honest prosecuting attorney
in Cincinnati at that time. Cox anC
the Cox gang could not reach him. HI,
insisted on Cox being tried under that
indictment, and honestly tried. There
upon ensued one of the most remark
able and scandalous series of manipu
} lations, in (which courts, officials, anc
politics were employed to the purpose
of saving Cox from facing trial. Th,
boss won in the end; the indictments
were dismissed; but it was shameful
chapter even in the shameful history
of crookedness and graft in Cincinnati
Cox continues the Republican boss o
Cincinnati. He is just as Objectionable
boss as he was in 1905 and thi
scandal of last year has made the fac
more notorious than it was in 1905
There is no change in conditions il
) Cincinnati which could justly vote
supporting the Cox ticket now VIII
was unwilling to support it in 1906
The President, as a citizen of Cincin
natl, and as the titular leader of hi
party in the nation, has shown ono
more that he has a poor vision, ba
( understanding of what is going on il
the public mind at this time. Cincin
|, , natl is trying desperately to rid itsel
of the old incubus of corrupt bossisn
5 If it shall fail in the election toda
there will be people in every part O
: the country to blame the President
e utterances in support of the Cox ticke
1t was not necessary for the Pres
dent to 60 to Cincinnati to vote a
this time. He could have rename
away without attracting attention
Even if he did not want to take
i position in opposition to his party ol
g ganization he could easily and grac.
e fully have side-stepped any participt
Q tion.
+ Instead, he has aligned himself wit
d the worst municipal machine in Il
E, whole nation, in way and at tin
= when his course is certain to brir
severe criticism from the very peop
% whose support the President and h
r party will need from now till electie
II day one year hence.