Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08
Sentiment Points to Repre-
sentative as Nominee for
Governor.
cox POLITICAL LUCK
SEEMS NOW WANING
Opposition Developing in the Rural
Distriets-Civil Service Evasion
in Club Scheme.

Special Correspondence OF The star
COLUMBUS, Ohio. March :, 1914. =
IL seems probable now that Repre-
sentative Frank L. Willis of Ada will
be nominated by the republicans to
lead them in their night against Gov.
Cox this year. though with the state
convention method of selecting candf-
dates abolished by the new state pri-
mary law il is not so easy TO make
such a prediction as il was when the
sentiment of the party leaders general
ly controlled in such matters Repre-
sentative Willis was well received
when he appeared at the state meet
ing of republicans here last week. and
comment upon his candidacy by re-
publicans not at the meeting is quite
favorable. 1t seems to be the general
idea that u young and vigorous CAM
paigner should be chosen to lead in
the campaign-Gov. Cox being himself
hard fighter. Two years ago the re
publicans, hard pressed for canal
date. after Judge f. =. Dillon. the
regular nominee. withdrew from the
ticket. and in the presence OF serious
split in the party. nominated Gen. X. B.
Brown. a veteran of the civil war. fair
ly vigorous still, but no match for Cox
thirty years his Junior.
D. Meade Massie who is under con-
sideration as the candidate for gov
ernor, read his speech from manuscript
at the get-together meeting. and dld
not measure up to the standard set by
the republicans for their 2ubernato-
rial candidate this year. Representative
Fess-also one of the speakers, and
mentioned fer the nomination at the
head of the state ticket-though known
as one of the best orators in the party
here. for some reason failed TO reach
Int 90. 1l-d of
tor on this occasion-the result being
just as Representative Fess himself re-
ported 1t after the meeting, that so
per cent of the republicans seemed to
be for Mr. Willis for the nomination for
governor.
Gov Cox's luck" was much talked of
in the last state campaign. II really
looked as though fate had creased the
ways to let him slide easily into the
executive office. Never was a victory
of such Importance so easily Won in
Ohio. The probability Is that IL he had
not made speech OF raised a hand in
the. campaign he would have beer elected
Just the same But he did not take any
such chances. His fighting was +as Wig
o-ous as though he YVES in imminent
danger of defeat and his work then may
be taken as an earnest of What he Will
do in this years campaign.
Political Conditions Changed:
now TO DC changing. AS the day for the
openins of the campaign work of the
wear approaches. serious entanslements
% his administration seem to multiply.
II really begins 10 look as though the
political conditions that prevailed in Ohio
tWo years ago would be reversed this
year: that while the republicans seem to
be making progress toward the healing
OF the wounds Of their internal dissen-
sions. the democratic ranks are opening
up. There were strained relations be-
tween Gov. Cox and his predecessor.
Judson Harmon. at the outset Of this
administration Gov. Harmon had taken
:. position against the initiative and ref
oreadum in the constitutional convention,
while Gov. Cox had stumped the state
~ support Of that proposition For his
stand in the matter Gov. Harmon was de-
clared TO be reactionary. and upon this
the STATE fight agains. the Endorsement
Of Mr.. Harmon for the presidential noni-
nation was based.
The strained relations were aggravated
when. Just before he retired from office.
GOV. Harmon sent to the senate large
number of appointments. Gov. Cox re-
.uested the senate to return these to him,
explaining that while he might wish to
send many of the names back to the SEN
ate. ne thought II only just to him to be
permitted to name the officers who were
TO serve with him under his admihistra-
ton.
Gov Cox did reappoint most Of the per-
sons whose appointments he thus with
drew. still there we're many prominent
Harmon men who came over to his ad-
ministration from that of Gov. Harmon
that Gov. Cox dropped out-among them
Men w Thurman. Judge r. NJ. Dittey
and B. F. Mckinney. These men and
their following constitute nuclei around
which :he opposition to Gov. Cox In the
democratic party now gathers though
they do not themselves appear conspicu-
ously among the opposition.
Expect Cox to Garry Primaries.
Representative whittacre still stands
out alone at the head Of the revolt in the
democratic party against Gov. Cox. 1t
looks now as though he will be able to get
no other prominent democrat to stand In
the state primaries as a candidate against
Gov. Cox for the nomination for governor
and that he would have to take it him
self II is really of little significance ex-
cept as showing the opposition i'll the
democratic party to Gov: Cox. Neither
Mr.. Whittacre nor any other democrat
who may be placed ip- the race will stand
the slightest chance to secure the nomi-
nation. None of the opponents Of the
governor expect to defeat him in the pri-
,naries. What they do expect is that the
primaries VIII develop that there Is a con-
siderable element of the party that does
not approve the present state admins
tration.
Most of this opposition is in the rurai
districts. The farmers are incensed at
the new laws which take from them the
right to elect their local officials and con-
duct their local affairs. The change will
result they say. i'll less efficient service
and more official expense. Gov Cox has
heretofore proved convincing speaker
and many an adverse audience has been
brought over to his way of thinking. but
speaking on these matters at recent
farmers meetings he has utterly failed to
bring them into line. At a farmers in
stitute at Kenton recently the governor
was kindly listened to. but when he took
his seat resolution condemning the
legislation that he had defended was
unanimously adopted. Recognizing the
rural. opposition to the governor. Mr..
whittacre Is directing his literature to
the oranges.
Alleged Civil Service Violation.