Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-07-07


attained prominence in later lif
James Middleton Cox. governor of oh
10, was born on a farm near jackson
burg, Ohio, March 81. 1870. He at
1 tended the district schools Of the neigl
! borhood, became a printers devil
| printer, school teacher. newspaper re
| porter, private secretary to a cong
ressman. owner. manager, editor an,
proprietor Of two newspapers, membe
of congress for three terms and gov
ernor of the state of Ohio for thre,
terms.
In the eyes of his friends this recort
is an outstanding reason for his can
didacy for president, in the coming ell
ection--and it is added by his friend:
from the Buckeye state that this il
not only the sentiment of those of his
own political faith-the democratic
party--but by many men of all Other
political faiths.
Progressive in Politics.
The early trend of Ohio toward pro-
gressive thought in government and
the enlivening of activity along these
lines brought to the front in congress,
ional policies James NJ. Cox who es-
poused those principles from his first
appearance in public life.
The same application which made
Mr.. Cox a successful business man by
his own efforts and from which he
achieved a good sized fortune, made
him a congressman, regarded as ex-
ceptionally efficient. and governor of
a nominally republican state.
He first became a candidate for
governor as the leader of the progress
sive movement which demanded
changes in the state constitution.
AS a proponent of these changes he
took the field on behalf of the pro-
posed amendments and was called by
the democratic party into its councils
and made its candidate out in his ori-
ginal campaign and obtained the pas
sage and enactment of laws which
placed the constitution in its new form
in full effect.
However, before all of the changes
in contemplation could be assimilated,
a political contest developed and in
the turmoil of the following election
Governor Cox was defeated for reel
ection.
Re-etecttu 6oNefIiOT.
O, Undismayed by this sudden shock
to his political ambitions, the former
governor braved the storm and again
became candidate in the next guper-
Material race. In this election he was
successful and served the state as its
leader in the numerous activities dur
ing the war.
Again in the face of a political re-
yersaI of opinion which sent a tidal
wave across the state, Governor Cox
was elected for third term by an ov-
erwhelming majority when every 9TH
er candidate@on the democratic ticket
was defeated. In this connection 1t may
be stated That no other governor .n>
served three terms in the state OIL c.iio
save Rutherford B. Hayes who left his
third term to become president of the
United States.
During the turmoils preceding the
war when industrial unrest was so pre-
yalent in states where large manufac-
turing interests were centered, Gov
ernor Cox displayed his ability as
leader of his contituency in meeting
the situation. This same leadership
was carried on during the period OF
the war and has since come through
the reconstruction, with all its attend
ant disorders, with domestic peace and
without at any time resorting to force.
Started as Teacher.
James Middleton Cox started his ac-
tive career as teacher in school DIS
trict No. l. in Wayne township Butler
county. where he had earlier attended
school. His evenings were spent in the
offices of the local publica-
tions and few years later he was ac-
cepted as a reporter on the staff OF
the Cincinnati Enquirer. The next ten
wears were devoted to active newspa-
per work in almost every capacity OF
that newspaper.
He is next heard of as private secre-
tary to Congressman Paul Sorg of the
third Ohio district and at the close
of his services in Washington he pur-
chased the Dayton, Ohio, Daily News
most of the money with
which to carry on the business OF the
paper which at the time had very
small circulation.
Mr.. Cox put all his energies intno
making the publication successfui
business venture and so well did ne
carry out his plans that he was soon
owner also of the Springfield Daily
News which today stands out as one
IF the newspaper successes of the
Sent to Congress.
In 1905 he was nominated and elect
I'd to congress from the third Ohio dls-
.rict and was reelected for second
erm and also third.
In public life, Governor Cox was al
yays regarded as a progressive and
MANY of the laws now ON the statute
books of his home state which bear
his progressive trend were sponsored
Nv him both as congressman and gov
ernor.
Among these laws for which the
Governor assumes responsibility are;
4 model workman's compensation act; |
, child labor law that has been cop |
ed be several other states; a mothers |
pension system; the initiative and re-
a scientific budget; a pri- /,
ion farm providing healthy occupation
or convicts; elimination of sweat
hops; blue sky law to protect Ohio
investors; consolidation of useless bu-
eaus; time limit on storage of food
PRODUCTS and TO check profiteering; +
extension of a good Grads system by
main market and inter-county roads.
School men in Ohio are quoted as
aying that the Ohio school code of
odav will live as an everlasting monu
nent to the achievements of Governor