The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-08-13
THE TEST OF GOV. cox

Thus far there mas Deem little pOpu-
lar interest in the Presidential cam
paign. A great deal of noise has been
made by professional politicians, but
the great mass of the American peo-
pie are neither talking about politics
nor thinking about politics.
For the time being they are indif-
ferent to both candidates. Senator
Harding's speech of acceptance salts
fled nobody except the reactionaries
and the bitter-end opponents OF the
League of Nations, and to the Ameri-
can people as whole Gov. Cox is still
an unknown quantity. They have not
yet had the opportunity to take his
measure.
Whether or not there is to be real
and vital interest in the campaign will
depend on Gov. Cox. He can quicken
il into life, or he can turn it into
colorless contest between two Ohio
politicians engaged in trying to sneak
into the White House through cellar
window. The decision rests with him..
Gov. Cox's chances of election de
pend upon the kind of appeal he max
es to the great body of liberal and IN
dependent voters. He will get NO
where by trying to compete with Sen
ator Harding in the manufacture OF
platitudes, nor can be further his can
didacy by relying upon the ordinary
methods of organization politics. The
Republicans will have the money, as
they usually have. They will have
the better organization, as they al
ways have In any contest that hinges
upon poliaical manipulation and polltl-
cal barter, all the advantage rests
with them.
Unless Gov. Cox determines TO ap
peal to the idealism and the consci-
ence of the American people his cam
paign will be wasted effort. Unless
he demonstrates that he has courage
and convictions he will appear to the
great majority of the voters merely
as a Democratic Harding, and Demo
cratic Harding is beaten candidate
from the start.
The Republican managers have
challenged Gov Cox to make the Lea
que of Nations his chief issue. 1t is
a challenge that he should not hest
tate a moment to accept. 1t is ar
issue that he cannot evade without
destroying himself. If the Democratic
Party does not represent the League
of Nations in this campaign, if it does
not represent the moral obligation o.
the United States to exert all its pow
er and influence to end war and com
pei disarmament, if it does not repre-
sent the vast responsibilities incurred
by the United States on the battle
fields of France and the supreme duty
of the Republic toward civilization, il
represents nothing except the ambi
ton OF Office-seekerS.
There is not serious problem that
confronts the American people which
can be ASSOCIATED from the issues
the World War and from the issue.
of the treaty of peace. There is IT
isolation left except in the minds of
Republican politicians. Nothing OF
consequence can happen anywhere in
the world which does not concern us
and which does not affect our national
tranquility and prosperity. Without
political and economic stability in
Europe, there can be no political and
economic stability in the United
States.
To subordinate the League of Ma
tons is to wreck the Democratic cam
paign. The League has become the
symbol of all the great liberal and
progressive policies to which the Dem
oeratic Party is pledged. 1t is not the
only issue by any means, but it is the
issue by which Gov. Cox's fitness for
leadership will be tested Harding
can be puppet and trust to the Re
publican organization, but Cox mus
lead or fail disastrously-New Yorl
World