The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-11-03
THE NEW "cokiSM."
gCieveland Plain Dealer.)

dCleveland Plain Dealer.)
-"Coxism" is the issue In Ohio. de-
clares a prominent Republican candi-
date. II "Coxism" means the record
made By Governor James M. Cox in
his nearly two years at Columbus
and what else can 1t mean f-the Plain
Dealer agrees without qualification.
IL fact, the Plain Dealer announced
this as the issue weeks before the pri-
maries were held. Nothing occurring
since then has changed the issue.
"Coxism," or the record of Cover
nor Cox. then is the issue. Upon 1t
the governor stands. Unless the rec
ord is good, Cox merits defeat. II Vt
is coed. justice and the best interests
of the state demand his reelection.
And what is "Coxism''-what has
this Ohio governor done or failed to
do which, in the opinion OF the Re
publican stump speakers, deserves
popular condemnation?
Cox is positive. He has habit Of
studying a public question and then
taking stand on 1t, In the sight of
. all men. Believing In principle or
me- sure. he fights for it, and those
. on the other side know fight is rag
ing.
Cox stnmped the state In favor OF
the progressive constitution In 1912.
uth
about 1t.
Cox fought at Toledo for platform
which should bind him and his party
ITO program OF constructive reform at
Columbus, and then ran upon that
pl9tfcrm N the campaign of 1912. In
tbft same campaign Willis ran for
congress s, straddllng the Taft .Roose-
welt Issue and letting no one know
whore q stood on the issue that split
his party.
c. 70 anne governor Willis went
to Washington The governor and
the legi' l. hrre set to work, writing in
10 tfc I trtes the substance of thirty
forr cen tltutional amendments which
TIE pcorle had ratified at the polls.
SO far rs the records show, Willis had
10 interest In what was going on at
Nolrmbrs. All the terrible "usurpa-
fttnl Of authority" Of which the Re-
puhllcen candidate now daily and
n'ei ~ oomplains, called forth no
protect from him.
Cox engineered the enactment of
tie compensation act, which makes
the state the guardian of widows and
orphans In distress, and all the Re-
puhlicans now find worth condemning
in II Is the scantiness of the awards
IL allow. Yet willis offered no as
sstance In the passage OF the act, and
there was time in that fight when
TIE governor needed the help of every
patriotic citizen.
Cox and the legislature, pursuant
TO constitutional amendment, took
the lnuor issue out OF local politics,
Wills made no protest Now he pro-
rooos docentralizlng the license ma
Chinery, which would turn every coun-
~ election into wet and dry contest.
Cox has done more for good roads
than any other governor Ohio ever
had. Aud now the party OF Willis
proposes to destroy tho state high
way department
Cox. with the Warnes law, has
brought tax dodgers to bay. Willis,
spokesman OF the dodgers. calls for
o radlcal revision OF tho law. lie
wants elected assessors. AZ every tax
dodger does.
Cox, In another department reor
ganization after another, most OF them
In conformity with popular mandate
has written efficiency into state gov
ern~eNt. Willis calls this machine
building. though he was 30 busy ridi
cullng President Wilson's foreign pol
icy that he offered no word OF con
demnptlon while this 'machlue" was
under construction.
Cox stands for promises redeemed