Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-19
PRESIDENT ASKED
FOR NO PLEDGES
FROM NEW LEADER
Usually Reliable Sources De-
clare Cox Is Still a
Free Agent.
RY DAVID LAWRENCE.

conference with President Wilson
opens the democratic campaign. To
republican eyes it reveals the demo-
cratic nominee partner In the SINS
of Wilson democracy. To democratic
.1acticians it makes the Ohio governor
a partner in the virtues of Wilsonlan
idsalism. best expressed, perhaps, IN
the league of nations.
But inside the democratic party,
where the San Francisco convention
opened a few old wounds in the con-
test between the reactionary and pro-
gressive wings of the party. there
is redoubled interest in what sort of
an entente really was established De-
tween the President and the demo-
cratic standard bearer
From stanch Wilson men in Wash
ington who usually get accurate IN
formation on White House politics,
and from Franklin Roosevelt and
other members of the Cox party. with
whom the writer made the journey
from Washington, these Impressions
of the White House conference were
Crawn:
Conversation Was General.
First and foremost, the President
showed plainly his pleasure that the
democratic party had selected young
and vigorous champion of the prin-
ciples for which he himself had fought
in public life. Mr.. Wilson's attitude
was that of a man who was turning
over the leadership of the party to a
successor who. he felt, was worthy of
the job.
Second. not a word was said by the
President concerning the management
OF the campaign or the personnel of
the managers, nor did the President
ask for the perpetuation of his poll
cies. The whole conversation was of
of nations as the principal subject. AS
a matter of fact, there was little new
to be gone over. Although the public
hasn't perhaps observed it. Gov. Cox
has been in rather close touch with
the White House for many months,
and was in frequent communication
by telephone with Secretary Tumulty
while the San Francisco convention
was in progress.
Product Of Newer SCHOOL. --
The President has always looked
upon Gov. Cox as one of the younger
pIosressives In the democratic party
who would be depended upon to carry
out forward-looking principles. He
regards Gov, Cox as the product of
the newer school of democratic states
men. and as splendid refutatfon of
the argument that the democratic
party doesn't develop able executives.
Third. Gov. Cox pledged the Presi-
dent his whole-hearted support for
the league of nations. This may cost
Cox some anti-Wilson votes in the
democratic ranks, but the Ohio gov
ernor, even before his nomination.
made it very clear that he stood for
the ratification of the peace treaty
with such reservations as would not
impair the independence of the
constitutional rights. Gov. Cox
doesn't intend to go back on what
he said before he was nominated,
simply because certain, influences
more or less hostile to the Wilson
ing for him the nomination at San
Francisco.
Cox n Free Agent.
Fourth. TIE Endorsement by Gov.
Cox of the league Of nations with
reservations does not mean his ap-
proval Of all that has happened in the
last seven and a half years of demo-
cratic administration at Washington.
He is a free agent. His conference
at the White House imposed no obli-
cations upon him. He entered into no
arrangement whereby the present
down, shall be retained. Not a word
about the Wilson policies was spoken
except the league of nations. and the
great significance of the White House
AhCCtiA6e 10 tidt Tic 1IcSlQcnI nlmSelI
wanted no Endorsement of anything
but the principles of the democratic
platform. He asked for no approval
of personnel And the inference re-
mains that Gov Cox can. at the proper
time. announce his intention of rid
-6ing himself of the whole burden of
inefficiency. wherever it NAV have
taken root in federal Offices. and
promise new deal with a new per
sonnel without particularly offending
the White House.
Fifth. Gov. Cox intends to go west
ward and traverse some of the same
ground which Mr.. Wilson covered in
MS trip last September in behalf of
the league of nations. The democrats
in the west want to know how sim
cerely and enthusiastically Gov. Cox
is for the league of nations. The con-
ference at the White House was de-
the democratic party behind its
candidate. Woodrow Wilson will en-
deavor to transmit the strength he
has in the western states to Gov Cox
but the latter must go west to help
complete the conversion.
Real Issue in the West.
The east may not be especially ex-
ercised about the league of nations
but Gov Cox knows that it will be
an issue in the west, and he is 60
ing out to champion that cause the
very first thing. By the time he has
campaigned for few weeks there
Will be no doubt in the minds of all
democrats where he stands. and there
will be plenty of time for him to take
UP the program of constructive ad-
ministration which he means to pledge
the people in the coming campaien.
IL he started out with emphasis or
domestic questions he would not
quickly draw to his side those demo-
Gratis of the west who placed tran
scendent Importance in the league
of nations. When he has covered
that to the satisfaction of the skep-
ties he can approach the other parts
of the democratic platform in detail
and tackle the question of admins
trative efficiency and personnel in
government His speech of accept
ance will. of course. embrace both
foreign and domestic questions, but
the likelihood is that when Gov. Cox
opens his campaign in the west he
will make clear his position on the
all-im portant matter of international
policy which he would follow il
elected for the next four years
Copyright. 1901