The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-11-05
NO REASON FOR A CHANGE

W. NeAoON run - N1ANSG
The issue between James NJ. Cox
and Frank B. Willis two years ago
turned upon the character of admin.
istration each had given the state.
Each of thelu had been governor for
one term. Mr.. Wills term was just
ending, Mr.. Coxs term had closed |
two years before. All through that
campaign the many contrasts be.
tween tho two administrations were
emphasized.
Ohio decided In favor of James NJ.
Cox
The governor has now served the
state another two years Again vii.
lis socks the Office. Unless Mr.. vii.
lie has proved that Governor Cox dur
ing thcseN> two years has not been
such an executive as the state has a
right to demand he has failed In his
campaign. The governor stands up
on his record. If the record Is good,
Willis is answered., as no was an.
swered In 1916.
ls the record of James NJ. Cox dun
ing the past two years such ns~to en-
title him to reelection?
Tho governor was elected as a
peace executive. Within six months
after election he became II war gov.
crnor. In the opinion Of Theodore
Roosevelt he has been great war
governor.
The minute war was declared Gov.
Cox began the task Of organizing the
government of Ohio on war effic.
jcncy basis. Like every other Aneri'
can ne was under orders from ithe
communder-in.chief at '.WashingtonAto,
use his ability and his opportunity to
tho utmost, that Americas par, IN
tho forthcoming conflict should be
effective and credtablc to a free peo-
pie. Obio's contributions to the war,
In men, IN munitions, in inspiration.
has been notable and the directing
hand has been that of Obios war gov.
ernor, James NJ. Cox,
And while the governor of Ohio
was thus busy at his official tasks
Frank b. willis was no less busIly
engaged promoting n candidacy that
began tho sistant he emerged from
the governors Office IN January, 1917,
His first step was to cspousc prohi'
bition, an issue nowiso involved in
the govornorshp then or now ana
one which he had refused to assist
when he was governor Wills chief
activity since 1916 has been running
for governor IN 1918. lis whole on
crgy has been directed to ousting the
man who had oustcd him from the
governorship.
Back of the Willis candidacy arc
the same interests that are seeking
10 discredlt the leadership Of Wood
row Wilson In national affairs. II was
not without Significance that no po''
trait Of the president was shown In
the Republican state convention this
year, nor that the Willis advocate nj
Columbus explained the omission by
saying that malicious destruction OF
property constitutes u pcnitentiary
offense, and such a crime would have
been provoked by hanging Wilson'S
picture before that crowd"
Here one has the measure OF the
fight ON Governor Cox. A portrait Of
the worlds foremost spokesman fol
liberty could not be shown to the
crowd behind the willis candidac.
lest the picture be destroyed il
wrath!
Mr.. Wills believed in l9l5-ant
stili believes that the United States
should not have permitted Grea
Britain and France to buy munitions
here. with which TO resist German AZ
gregsions. II Is not surprising, there
fore. to find him now trying To sub
marine the state administration tina
has stood by the president and tn
federal government In the war.
Intelligent Ohioans viii not beiiey
that the Wills fight for reinstatt
ment, based on popular iorgetfulnes
Of what kind of governor Willis wa
and Cox is, can succeed, Ohio pass
ed Judgment upon Willis two year
ago. There Is no reason for revcr'
ing that Judgment now.--CIevelan