The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-27
COX ATTACKS
DRY LEADERS
Harding is Accused of Being
Brewer Who is Apologizing
for His Holdings.
QUESTIONAIRE UNFAIR
Wayne B. Wheeler is Charged
BY Cox With Attempting
to Protect Sen. Harding.

Cheyenne. Wyo., Sept. Ex-senator
Harding was characterized as
brewer who is apologizing for his
holdings" in a statement issued here
today by Governor Cox before the
latter's departure to continue his
campaign tomorrow in Nebraska.
Governor Cox discussed the re-
spective prohibition positions of him
self and Senator Harding and charged
that Wayne B. Wheeler, general coun-
sci for the national anti saloon league,
had acted to protect Senator Hard
ing, and was a "mere chattel of re-
publican headquarters"
Governor Cox asserted that ques-
tions asked him and Senator Hard
ing by Mr. Wheeler were designed to
aid the republican nominee and the
governor courted further but identical
questioning.
The governors statement follows:
"My attention has been called to a
dispatch from the east, which quotes
Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel of
the anti-saloon league, as saying that
he has submitted questions to both
Harding and myself-and that / had
not responded, but Senator Harding
had.
Let me direct the notice of the
public to the significance of this cir
cumstance.
'T was asked whether I was for or
against any proposal to change the
Volstead law. Senator Harding was
a uh ha OF hv hic
corded vote on the 18th amendment
and the Volstead act. This sharp diff
ference will be noted:
"The question to me was based up
on future developments; the one to
Senator Harding was not. was asked
what l would do in the future; Sem
ator Harding was not.
1.-The habitua1 trickery of Wheeler
which is obvious in the face of his
oft repeated statement that the anti
saloon league was only interested now
in what might be done with the Vol
stead act. and yet, he made no at
tempt whatsoever to ascertain Sen
ator Hardings stand on what he,
Wheeler, himself, says is the real is
sue. This would all. seem to be a
carefully devised partisan plan. In
fact one would have expected it from
Will H. Hays, the republican chair
man. That it was prepared as pro-
lection to the republican candidate
rather than as an attempt to ascertain
his views is perfectly clear.
This idea would seem to be
strengthened by the coincidence OF
events. On the day preceding Mr..
Wiheeler's statement, representatives
of the prohibition party made public
in Chicago letter from George Chris
tian, Jr, Senator Harding's secretary,
in which two striking statements ap-
peared: First, that the senator was
interested in the brewery business,
and, second, that if the Volstead act
was changed by congress, the senator
would not improperly impose his will
on the law making body. In face of
this disturbing revelation, first aid
was needed from some source. If it
had been given by Chairman Hays of
the republican national committee, it
would have been availing, but Mr..
Wheeler, true to his adherence in the
past to the reactionary influence of
the commercial wing now in charge
of the republican party, came forward
with ae blundering and unscrupulous
defense. 1t is inconceivable how any
sensible person would attempt to foist
such a thing on the public, and, fur
ther how the conscientious members
of the anti-saloon league can have
any further doubts as to Wayne
Wheeler being, what I have already
charged, mere chattel of the republic
can headquarters.
IF Mr.. Wheeler is an honest man,
why does he not present the records
of both Senator Harding and myself
on the liquor question and then sub
nit to us the same question with an
agreement to print our replies there
to without deCeitful comment. /
would also like to ask Mr.. Wheeler
what change has come over the rec
ord of Senator Harding that has en-
abled Mr. Wheeler, as the spokesman
of the anti saloon league, to with
draw the condemnation by the anti
saloon league against the senator be-
fore his nomination. How can he ex-
plain to the conscientious men of his
organization his support for the pres
idency of the United States, a brewer
who is apologizing for his holdings p
Nine speeches in Nebraska are
| scheduled for Governor Cox tomorrow
| beginning at s o'clock.
The Nebraska campaign opens the
| last week of the governors western
! trip, which began September 2, and
which closes next Saturday at Kan
sas City, with South Dakota, Kansas
and Oklahoma to be toured mean
while.