The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-02

with any important beneficial meas
ure in Ohio. In his career in the
senate it is further pointed out, he has
been the sponsor for no important
piece of legislation, and instead of
announcing his position on an impor-
tant piece of legislation, and instead
of announcing his position on a i'm
portant issue as a leader, while direc-
tive public opinion was forming, he
has usually not been heard from I'M
til others have made known their
views. The challenge is for Senator
Harding to produce single instance
of taking the lead on. crucial ques-
ton.
Before Cox became congressman
from the Dayton district, he learned
how to be one. He was a reporter
when Paul J. Sorg, a wealthy. Ohio
manufacturer, who had been elected to
congress, offered him the position as
private secretary. With his applica-
ton and energy, Cox mastered the de-
tails and relieved Mr.. Sorg Of many
possibilities. Cox was elected to
congress in 1908 again in, 1910. He
does not now look his age by ten years.
When, smooth-faced and looking 9ot
much more than youth, he sirst
sought recognition on the floor II he
huse, Uncle joe Cannon, then
speaker asked, it is related:
who's the boy?"
Thereupon Cox attacked the tariff
bill. then under discussion, with such
force that, as he sat down Uncle
joe" remarked: THE youngster will
do"
In his second term, Mr. Cox was a /
member of the committee on appro-
priations. There, in the lack of sys-
tenn in handling the appropriation
measures, he had a lesson which he
took to the governors chair. He had
seen what the waste was in Washing
ton; he resolved to protect Ohio by
the adoption of a budget system, if
possible. He was the first governor to |
get a budget act enabling and requir- !
ing the governor to study all depart |
ments and to make a tentative bud !
get for legislative consideration. He |
sent a special commissioner to New |
York to study budget making and |!
supported the commissioner in a bud |
get school for state officers.
Notwithstanding the increased cost !
of everything during and since the !
war, not a single tax In Ohio has been !
increased. owing, in large part. to the !
of the budget system, it is |
stated. Tax valuatix rs have been in |
accordance with the Increase in the !
value of property. Investigation of !
other budget systems, by trained men
sent to make observation on the spot,
is but characteristic of Governor Cox's
method u precee ling on the basis of
He did the same thing
with regard to the workmen's compen-
sation act.
All his previous experience as
teacher, reporter, editor and publisher,
converged into his
larger career when in 1912 he made
his race for governor of Ohio. He
the state in behalf of a pro-
gressive constitution and then for pro-
gressive legislation to carry out the
objects of the constitution. There
were fifty-six of these progressive
measures. Cox called them THE New
Era" or the new order of things"
From the budget they extended
through non-partisan judiciary, state
wide main market and intercounty
road system, prison reform, initiative
and referendum, minimum wages for
consolidation of duplicating
bureaus and commissions, an anti
5rofiteering cold storage law and
Widows pensions and school reform
measures. In every one of the long
list, there is a special story bearing
IN some form of human betterment,
put who can read the records of the
wo nominees and for moment ques-
ion the superior qualifications of Cox,
Or doubt but that the great mass of
he people will recognize his qualities
and Mace him in the White HOuse2