The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-04-12
.LIVLIEST BUCKEYE
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Snapshot Of a Man Likely to BE
Next Governor of Great
State of Ohio.

appears clever and interesting
story about Congressman James M.
Cox Of Dayton. The story is from
the pen of Sloane Gordon, the noted
magazine writer. The major portion
of it is reproduced here:
And now they say that James M
Cox, M. C.-"Jimmy" Cox, If you
! please-is to be the next Democratic
candidate for governor of Ohio
"They" are the supposedly wise ones
in Ohio politics. Some moan with
pain at the very thought of such a
thing and others go right out into
the highway and give cheers. Jim.
my" Cox is slated for the nomination.
He ia also, according to the wise
acres who feel the political pulse and
record the political temperature, on
the cards for election. Which
wouldn't be at all surprising, for
Destiny put a special delivery stamp
on this man theofirst time she mailed
him. He's been arriving on schedule
ever since.
With which few remarks it is prop.
er to pass the preliminaries and in.
form the ignorant that James NJ Cox !
is about the livest and most interest. !
ing Buckeye now in public view.
In addition he is, as hinted, slated |
for the gubernatoria! nomination in
Ohio this year to succeed Judson
Harmon.
Cox first appeared in Washington |
as a member of congress three years
ago. He was new as a member but |
old in Washington experience. A few |
cobweEs were brushed ruthlessly |
from the sacred surface of tradition |
early during the extraordinary ses-
sion of congress in 1909 when young
chap arose in his seat said "Mr.
Speaker" paused-and was recog-
nized by "Uncle Joe" Cannon.
who's the kid?" a venerable and
moss-grown oak in the forest Of
craftsmanship inquired The ancients
of the house are inclined to resent
the audacity Of a new member who
comes speech-laden. Thomas B.
Reed once remarked that when
new congressman makes a speech he
usually subtracts from the sum of
human knowledge"
Cox Said Something.
"Mr. Speaker and gentlemen" con-
tinued the young man as if such a
thing as custom and tradition were
of no consequence. Then he launched
forth into a discussion of the Payne
tariff bill He wasted little time in
preliminaries Getting warmed up to
his subject, he began pointing out
specific incongruities in the proposed
measure.
The elder statesmen began to take
notice. Some of them, to show their
Indifference and disapproval, saun-
tered leisurely toward the cloakroom.
When q congressman wishes to show ,
disapproval he walks slowly to the
cloakroom. There are instances of
speeches being delivered in the pres
ence Of eight members and the speak /
er. But when Jimmy" Cox spoke, a l
goodly portion of the membership, I
though condemning his disregard for G
the alleged proprieties, remained to q
listen. Incidentally they heard some b
thing. Mr.. Cox knew what he was ]
talking about. il
"The youngsters all right" COM
mented Uncle Joe when Cox sat il
down. And Uncle Joe said this In V
face Of the fact that Mr.. Cox's views t.
on tariff are not the Cannon views I
by large majority. Il
Once upon a time, not so many u
years ago, James M. Cox was a coun. o
try schoolteacher. He was born and n
raised in the village of Jacksonboro, Il
o., and it was in a schoolhouse near "
that settlement that he first taught. u
Jimmy" was in his teens then and Z
experienced great difficulty in sitting W
still. He still has trouble that way. Z
A Classy Reporter. W
Jimmy" didn't stick to school. IL
long. 1t was too tame His II
brother-in-law, John Q. Baker, owned u
a daily newspaper in Middletown, o.
1t was a perfectly reliable paper, but 81
outside of the editorial column which L
was presided over by the classically o.
Baker, didn't run much to n
Cox used to tell Baker tC
about it. He insisted that the news L
columns needed a little more class, u
some big words, some humor, some II
Dathos, some ginger and some head. a
ines. Otherwise, he opined, the Sig &c
nal might do. n
Come over and take the rejuvena 1t
lion job" said Baker "and I'll give W
you ten dollars a week." d.
That wasn't much of an improve
nent in financial way, over the
eaching business; but Jimmy" saw
possibilities ahead. He accepted the IL
lace and was up at o'clock the ie
lext morning gathering items and /.
them into shape His idea -
vas to make each item a classic ut
The literary style was vastly i'm. "
roved. Strange words began to u
reeD into print. The two compos. al
-o-s began to shy at Cox's copy. co
here is no fun in Setting up" such III VI
lords as 'idiosyncrasies," "quid- IL
uncs," isproportionableness and vi
1t is related that Oh
ne Of the new reporters closest w
was an unabridged die
onary. Whenever Jimmy" found In
-ord that looked good in print he sh
tudied out just what it meant and an
len hustled up an item that he fir
Ould fit it into. ar