Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-21
Concentrating in tho East

MANY of Governor CoX's friends have
AFA urged him to apply the bulk OF his
campaign resources 10 his campaign east
of the Mississippi River rather than try to
spread himself out over the country from
coast to coast Those who take this position
are convinced that tho Democratic ticket
this year has only one chance OF success.
and that chance lies in carrying Ohio and
New York with the group Of States in the
East and Middle West which logically fol-
low the lead of these two pivotal Common
wcalths.
There seems 10 be wisdom In this argu-
ment President Wilson was reelected in
1916 without New York. but that result
was admittedly political phenomenon.
The Far West turned its back upon The Re-
publican nominee because of the rcactionary
type of his candidacy. There appears at
this time to be little opportunity for the
party to duplicate the success of Wilson in
the extreme West. But if Cox can carry
New York and Ohio it is reasonable to as
sumo that he will be elected no matter what
impression Harding makes upon the Far
West, and at the moment it looks to most
observers as if the actual battle-ground in
November will bo in the East and Middle
West. Already Democratic leaders in these
sections have it figured out that Cox and
Roosevelt Will need only cighty-fve votes
from what they regard as doubtful States
in order 10 insure their election. This cal
culation, it should be added at once assumes
That the ticket will not only carry the solid
South. but the group of five border" States
of Maryland. West Virginia, Kentucky, Mis-
souri, and Oklahoma.
1t is generally admitted, OF course, that
the eleven Southern States of Alabama, Ar
kansas. Florida Georgia. Louisiana Mis-
sissippi, North and South Carolina Tcnncs-
see, Texas and Virginia, having a total vote
IN the electoral college of 1924, will go Demo-
cratic. But 1t is not so certain by any means
that the five border States with an agErc-
gate of fftyscven votes, will go Democratic
If they should, Cox would start out with a
total of ISL votes. and eigEty-fve more or
266 would elect him.
Just where the cighty-hve votes are to
come from. taking it for granted that the
democratic ticket will be successful all along
the border, is the question to which the Cox
managers must find the answer. 1t would
appear absolutely necessary for the Demo-
cratic nominees TO carry both Ohio and New
1ork In order to come within striking dis
lance or the goal. New York with its forty
i've votes, and Ohio with it's twcnty-four
would provide siXty-nnc out of the eighty
five, but no more
II Is reasonable to suppose, however. that
II Cox carries Now York he also will carry
New Jersey with fourteen votes, and pos
sibly Connecticut, with seven and Delaware
with three. These States usually go along
with New York in all national elections.
Ana If the Ohioian carries his own State he
VIII have an excellent opportunity to carry
ihuiaha' with sixteen votes. which would be
an ana more than he needs to win
hcn the problem is worked out on this
general basis, the argument for concen-
.ratioh OF campaigning in the East and
Middle West is almost unassaiiable. and It
need be no surprise if the Democratic lead
crs eventually adopt a progr/m, the main
feature OF which will be n drive for Ohm
ana New York, on the one hand, and tho
border States on the other.