The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-08-08

We think II certain that GOV. CoX'S speech
~ acceptance is q cruel disappointment TO that
large and influential section Of his party which
thought n had succeeded in naming candidate
orposcd tn tho idonllsllc international theories
which came To be the controlling motive OF the
Wilson faction Of the party. To the prosidcnt
and his satellites 1t brings, OF course, exceeding
g.ont Ioy for II has fallen 'u but few presidents
Nv see their policies 30 Eoryllcy followed by their
pnrty succossor Republicans everywhere viii
han the speech with uudsgutnod delight Tor II
cannot fail Of strengthening the cause Of Hard
ing ana Coolidge an along the line.
As for the speech itself editors generally
must fcol ashamed of Brother Cox on profcs-
sional grounds II he iF indeed a trained news
paper man, he falls utterly to show It In his
first state paper. II he over learned brevIty
and condemnation. nc has forgotten all he
learned. lie " verbose 70 the point Of utter
profligacy in the use of words. His city editor
could have boiled" his speech to half It length.
adding to It's punch, clarity and general Interest
thereby. II his acceptance speech is fair sam
pie, MIR. Cox Is far more Of space writer than
an editor.
But whatever may be said Of the speech, It
Is not evaslve or uncertain either as toNwhat
constitutes the paramount issue Of the camrSign
o. the position Of tho candidate with rcspecNot
that issue. Senator Harding, recognizing that
the president made the principal issue OF the
campaign when he asked for solemn refer
cndum" on the covenant Of the league OF ma
tions. said: IL promise you peace as soon as
republican congress can pass the resolution ana
a republican executive sign IT,"
Gov. Cox, taking direct issue with everything
the republican candidate said with respect Of the
league OF nations issue, says "lt elected Will
consider It the first duty ot the party to ratfy
the peace treaty without reservations that i'm
pair Il In any way"
So that the position OF both parties on tho
league Issue has been made clear by the candi-
dates Interpretation OF their platforms Hard
ing stands pledged to peace by resolution OF the
congress- a rejection OF the Wilson league and
the continuance OF the foreign policy OF the re-
public from Washington down to Wilson. Cox
stands specifically pledged to the immediate rat
ificaton OF the peace treaty as written by VIII
sen and to the Wilson policy Of hopelossly and
irrevocably involving this country in the politi-
cal affairs Of all the world.
on that issue the country express Itself
between the republican and democratic tickets
without the slightest uncertainty.
II remaired for the democratic nominee, how
ever, to deliberately make another issue that
must Inevitably weaken him Tremendously "Our
frat commIttal Is to constitutional government"
said Senator Harding in his acceptance speech.
This country s too big for any one man TO rule.
I believe In party sponsorship In government as
distinguished from personal government, indt-
viduaI dicatorlai autocratic or what not"
. Gov Cox squarely and almost viciousIy on
poses this doctrine, lie ardcntly and cnthus-
iaaucally defends the super man idea and de-
clares In effect that he will accept his election
az mandate from the people to run the gov
ornment
Here again the country s not loft in doubt
as to the position OF the two candidates. The
one stands for constitutional form, a government
by three coordinate branches each acting with
In it's own sphere ana each ideal check and
balance on the other An executive department
Is composed Of cabinet heads selected for their
ability and experience. capable OF bringing
strength to the administration and government,
not mere office boys selected with a view of
! carrying out orders Of an putocrnt and demand
| ing that all minds run along with his,
The other stands for autocracy as II has come
! to be recognized during the last seven and a
half years intoicrant ~ either advice suggestion
! or difference OF opinion lie demands suhordi-
! nation OF all minds to the one master mind. with
! the certain result that surN am administration
could never be stronger than the one mind and
certain to be even weaker than that one mind.
Contrary to announced purpose Gov, Coz
does not seek to run away from the league ISSUE
or to substitute some other as The paramount
| rIue. He faces that issue, 2evotc5 at least hal,
~ his speech to IT. ana giores tn g. That ls the
surprise Of bis address.
We think the speech a whole must he
keen disappointment 10 the country, and espec
tally to those gentlemen accustomed to handunl
public documents OF its nature, regardless o
their partisan eanlngs. For II is too length!
to be considered terse or cogent; II is too con
troversial to he considered strong; It Is TOT
much like echo to be considered original;
is too spocious 10 be considered quite sincere.
In spots It takes on the hue OF eloquence an
oratory, which, as one OF the old masters say,
"is the certain consequence Of looking too muc
at ont side Of an argument aud too little at tn