Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-14
COX OPENS FIRE
ON REPUBLICANS
IN WEST VIRGINIA
Charges Political Rivals With
Attempted Trickery
With League.

| Gov Cox, democratic presidential
nominee, opened the first real fire of
the democratic campaign with an ad-
| dress here this afternoon at the West
i Virginia democrats convention.
| The league of nations and other
main fighting points were handled
vigorously by the candidate where
! Gov Cox made his second speech
since his acceptance address He will
address a public meeting tonight.
| The governor chose motoring for
his trip from Columbus, and met
friends at GAINESVILLE Cambridge and
st. Clairville, Ohio, en- route for hand
shaking and five-minute addresses. A
welcoming party from Wheeling met
the candidates party at st. Clair
| vile. Gov. Cox will motor back to
i Columbus tomorrow.
Opens Fire ON Opposition.
| Gov. Cox today opened fire on his
republican opposition, charging its
leadership with attempted trickery''
OF the American people in opposing
the league of nations, and with con-
Quoting campaign behind a smoke
screen" to secure partisan spoils.
That "a powerful combination of in
terests is now attempting to buy gov
ernment control also was asserted
by the democratic presidential candi- :
date, charging that millions and mil
lions" wepf being raised in campaign
contributions.
The governor loosed his, attack in
an address here at the West Virginia
democratic convention. 1t was his
first vigorous assault on the repub-
licans and was to be followed to-
night by another address made to the
general public.
Attacks senatorial Oligarchy."
Although advocacy of the league of
nations. which the governor declared
eousness in the history of the world"
was the main theme of the democratic
candidates address, he also attacked
again the republican senatorial oil
garchy." The democrats, he added,
present cause of Constructive, pro-
and promise definitely saving of ST.
600, 100000 annually in government ex-
penses.
"A grave responsibility rests with the
democratic party said Gov Cox.
Through its policies and conduct it
must render good faith In behalf Of the
nation, of the soldiers Of the war and to
our allies. who helped to achieve vic
tory. 1t is not partisan affair. The
campaign this year is not contest for
the triumph of a political party.
IT is purely e matter Of concluding .
quickly as prudent. consideration Of our
copntry's interests suggests
Leadership IA a great moral question
has been given to the democracy. for
the. simple reason that the senatorial
oligarchy. which for the time being has
assumed control Of the republican party.
has abandoned the idealism Of other
days.
Calls Country Delinquent.
1--WE shall not alone make appeal to
the electorate by contrasting the rules
Of economic thought that have prevailed
in the past, but we shall call attention
to the delinquent attitude in which this
intrigue and to the very definite pro-
gram Of action we pledge. 1t is unnec-
essary to recall the issues of the war.
They were well marked in the public
mind. We were willing to sacrifice in
behalf of the next generation. because
US. After all, that is the vital thing in
civilization. We resisted a world wide
menace, and we intend now to establish
permanent protection against another
menace. We know how easily wars came
in the past. We want to make their
coming difficult in the future. We have
definite plan.- The American people
understand it, and after March I, 1921,
it is our purpose to put it into practical
operation, without continuing months Of
useless discussion
Opportunity for Cooperation.
"The platform of our party gives us
the opportunity torender moral CO.
of righteousness in the history Of the
world, and at the same time to hold
our own interests free from peril. Our
position is plain. The circumstances
in the last eighteen months convict
the republican leadership with at
| tempted trickery with the American
people. Under one pretext after an
other they prevented the readjustmnt
of national conditions. They proposed
certain reservations to the league of
| nations. and then they were aban-
| doned, to befoliowed by nothing more
definite than the announcement of a
hope that an entirely new arrange
| ment might be made in world affairs.
What method they have in mind if it is
concretely in any ones mind, the peo-
| pie do not know. No unprejudiced
person can deny that the consequence
of abandoning the league, and attempt
! ing an entirely new project will be long
delay. If the voters Of the republic,
without regard to party. desire action,
and prompt action, along lines that
are now clearly understood, they will
| render a verdict SO overwhelmingly
| expressive of public Indignation that
scheming politicians for years to come
will not forget.
| Smoke Screen Develops.
"In the face of an efficient demo-
cratic leadership during the war, and
of constructive, progressive, eco
nomic service in peace, the republi-
can leaders developed smoke screen
| behind which they seek to gain their
| objective. the spoils Of Office For
years the best thought and the hu-
manitarian impulses of civilized
countries have been applied to the
! high purpose of making war practi-
cally impossible, The league Of ma
ment, and now the senatorial dig
archy meets it with the absurd plea
that it increases the possibility o.
armed conflict 1t not only reveals
unworthy intent, but a very poor es-
| innate of American intelligence as
we'll"
! Declaring for square dealing be-
tween men and no preference under
! government" Gov. Cox warned
! against distortion of the basic prin-
! ciples of the government. and added
IA powerful combination of inter-
| ests is now attempting to buy gov
ernment control They are raising
millions and millions of dollars into q
campaign fund. Just how it will be
used the future alone can tell We
do know it is being employed now to
arouse racial discomfort, to breed un-
rest and to befog the public mind
| The movement is based upon greed
and self1shness. and if successful will
| result in an extreme reaction and a
disordered society. Rather than