Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-24
COX LOOMING LARGE:
AS PARTY LEADER.
ASSERTS LAWRENCE
Movement for Ohio Govern
or Has Gained Proportions
'Of Ground Swell, He De-
CIareS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

downright. 1920, for The Atlanta Journall
WASHINGTON, April 23.-Enter
Governor James Cox, of Ohio, as
factor of rapidly increasing strength
| in the contest for the Democratic
presidential nomination. Gradually,
| like a ground swell, the movement
for Cox has grown until the leaders
here recognize it as a full-fledged
boom which is more than apt to be
| in the finish.
It's "McAdoo or Cox" or possibly
"McAdoo and Cox" said one of the
administration Democrats today. Ano
coincidentally the news comes trick
| ling in from New Jersey and Ohio
that there is some sort of under
standing being developed between
Governor Edwards, exponent OF the
"wets," and Governor Cox, whose
j inclinations are damp" but who is
not viewed as an extremist on the
prohibition question. One story has
it that Governor Edwards presently
will withdraw in favor of Governor
Cox, thereby transferring to him
all the momentum which has been
gathered by New Jersey governors
open advocacy of wetness in Demo-
cratic platform. But Governor Ed
wards himself told the writer today
over the long distance telephone that
he didn't intend to withdraw at all.
On the other hand, friends of Gov
ernor Cox are not altogether sure
that this would be wise method of
procedure. They want to see Cox
hold much of the prohibition vote
and they fear>that the Ohio governor
would be embarrassed IL he were to
be regarded as holding the same
views as Mr.. Edwards. There is no
objection, for instance, in Governor
Edwards eliminating himself from
the race and Governor Cox naturally
would fall heir to the Edwards sen
timent. But it is an interesting COM
j mentary on the situation that the
move has not yet been Made and thai
apparently the Cox supporters arr
not certain the tactics are politically
good.
Cox In Good Favor
4 So far as the white house is con
cerned, Governor Cox stands in good
favor. II,
He may develop sufficient strength
to be the presidential nominee anu
4 then again If he doesn't, the chances
are not at all slim that he Will Hpe
the vice presidential nominee. For2it
begins to look as if Cox, would be
in the final reckoning.
But it would not be surprising u
Governor Cox had to declare him
self definitely on the prohibition
question in order to gain control OF
delegates who come from states
where Governor Edwards has polled
a substantial vote in the primaries
The New Jersey governor advises
the writer that his main purpose In
the presidential race is to see to IN
that the Democratic convention writs
a wet, plank IN it's platform. He
will stay in until that is accom-
plished. And the inference is that
being a modest man, seeking nothing
for himself alone and only for the
cause from which he is working, the
New Jersey governor might get be-
hind Cox If the latter showed evil
dences of miltancy. on the side OF
the vets
However the sentiment for Cox
which is beginning to be noticeable
here proceeds lot alone from the. fact
that he would appear to be satisfac.
tory on the Hberlizatio program
which so many of the Democrats
think will be the outcome of the pro-
hibition controversy. 1t proceeds
from the fact that Cox has carried
IOhio three times and still is popular
there. And it is very important foi
the democrats to select their candi
dates with an eye to the big states
like Ohio A presidential election
can be won by the Democrats with
T the west and south and the addition
Of Ohio.
Georgia Results Not Pleasing
Moreover. Governor Cox doesn't
bear the responsibility for act Will
sonian. Both Palmer and McAdoo
are part and parcel of the Wilson
regime. In counting up the resent
ment vote which any administration
in power for eight years is bound to
accumulate, the selection of candi-
date who would stand on a record
ton not to be lightly disregarded.
For if the truth be known the Demo
cratic pilgrims from all parts of the
country who visit the various head
quarters here tell plaintive tales of
discomfort in the fold. The results
| in Georgia are none too pleasing to
| the white house now that the COM
plete returns are available.
| Nor can it be said that the asSur-
ed presence of William Jennings
Bryan as a delegate at San Fran
| cisco is altogether cause for jubila-
ton in executive quarters.
| 1t is too early for the Democratic
! leaders themselves to make predic-
tions. They all admit the situation
| is full of uncertainties. Some of
the influential men here are for>Pal-
| mer, some for McAdoo and some for
| Cox and there appears on the hori-
I zon the beginning of Champ Clark
for the other candidates. Mr.. Clark
! is we'll liked by the organization men
in tn~ %arty-and they will control
the convent3Sn! He brings to his
@bst ba9 9eeagg IN of sy 1Saa 0 Sad
a majority of the delegates-enough
to win in a Republican convention
but not enough under the two-thirds
rule of the Democrats Moreover. Mr.
Hearst, who is so powerful factor
| in the success of Hiram Johnson,
would throw his support to Mr. Clark.
AS for Wilson antagonism, Mr.. Clark
wouldn't inherit any of these, and
| his record at the capital has been
! good. He has incidentally played
| BALI and stood for the program out
! lined by Mr.. Wilson for congress and
never has allowed his defeat at Bal
timore to be the basis for vindic-
tive revolt against the Wilson lead
ership.
The Democratic race has not en-
tered upon it's final stages. But the
| entrance of Cox and Palmer means
that the choice is not going to be
| merely bet Waen pa Inner. nd Mr.