New-York tribune., 1920-08-28
The Cox "Proof"

the pTOJeCLlie eXplOGeu Win Qamag-
ing force or has it arrived as a
harmless "dud"? May the Republi-
cans laugh as did the Parisians
when an official communique grave
ly reported the casualties suffered
by bunch Of chickens?
A good way to answer these ques-
tions is to set out without color or
comment exactly what evidence the
candidate has offered to establish his
charge that sinister large interests
are in conspiracy to "buy" the
election. The "proof," after ten
days of war-whooping advertise
ment, is spread before the public.
Of what does it consist?
According to the Cox narrative
of awfulness, the ways and means
committee Of the Republican Nation
al Committee has adopted the
"drive" method of Embarrassing. To
remove suspicious attaching to polit-
ical contributions, Chairman Hays
had promulgated the rule that no
cne is to be permitted to give more
than $1,000. The large secret con-
tribution was eliminated, not only
to avoid the possibility Of corrup-
ton but because the larger the
number of small contributors the
greater would be the probable inter-
est Of party members and the more
the party would pass to the control
of its rank and file.
In pursuance Of this plan, as
Brother Cox tells the story, the prac-
tice of assigning quotas to local
areas was applied. Chairman Hays
is accused of countenancing the hell
ish policy Of stimulating the various
committees who were to do the solic-
lting by appealing to their local
prize. An official bulletin showing
the progress of the work was pub
lished and sent throughout the
country. This bulletin contained
news that this or that commu-
nifty had actually gone cover the
top and called on the backward to
note the fact. The bulletins editor
was guilty of the atrocity of using
terms familiar to the advertising
world-such as that the solicitors
must "sell' the Republican party to
the country.
Then comes the big noise. Shaking
with emotion, the candidate showed
his audience a circular which he
said had been distributed at one
gathering. 1t showed an allotment
of quotas totaling $8,145, 900. Count
'em! Remember each is a dollar,
not dime or centl Mr.. Upham
(assuming the circular is genuine
and that it was not the work Of
a Jealous volunteer who knew ex-
actly how to succeed) is convicted of
fixing high mark for his helpers
The sensitive moral nature of Mr..
Cox is, of course, deeply shocked.
AS the only multi-milnonaire ever
nominated for the Presidency, he
palpitates with horror. Any one
who would seek to raise a campaign
fund in small amounts and by open
methods is infamous. Alas! we fear
the public will not be able to attain
to Coxian heights of indignation. 1t
has had previous experience with
buncombe.
The plot of the Cox movie has
some merit, but the motivation of
Its action seems scarcely up to
standard. It's main theme Is that a
few rich corruptionists are financing
the Republican campaign as an in
vestment-are deliberately purchas-
ing an underhold on the govern
ment~ II this is so, if they are in
the market eager to buy political
goods, and Messrs. Hays and Up,
ham are anxious to sell, why all the
Dallyhoo of a nationwide campaign
70 get money in driblets? Why have
quotas" and all the complicated
machinery Of raising money from
scattered thousands? The natural
procedure would be to call up on the
telephone and WHISPER: "Put me
down for 81, ,0o0, 900 worth Of under.
hold"
Candidate Cox does not state or
hint at the size of his campaign
fund-has nothing to say as to how
it is being raised. Not long ago the
Cox chairman, just after an inter
view with his chief, announced that
as to the size Of contributions the
sky was the limit-that the more
and bigger they were the better he
wonld be satisfied. But Mr.. Cox re-
ports nothing as to the sums raised
in his behalf. He is so busy telling