Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-17
BIG CONFERENCE
FURNISHES FOOD
FOR PIPE DREAMS
Meeting Between President
and Cox Gives Washington
Correspondents Opportunity.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Things as they are and things as
they might be do not coincide even in
presidential politics. which accounts
for the fact, that instead of conferring
with himself about a third term cam
paign. or with his son-in-law, Presi-
dent Wilson confers now with a son
Of Ohio, James NJ. Cox. who owes
neither his nomination nor his ascent
on the political ladder TO the Wilson
administration.
What the President says to Gov.
Cox and what the Ohio governor says
to the President will never be re-
ported with that intimacy of detail
to have. for the substance of the con-
versation is in such cases reduced to
formal writings and issued with
White House dignity and candida
torial eloquence to the waiting press.
The details are therefore left to the
correspondents must needs plead
guilty of possessing no inordinate
share. So being denied admittance to
the conference room. a cotemporary
historian must rely upon processes of
deduction something perhaps like
this:
Gov. Cox Enthusiastically
do you do. Mr.. President, how well
you look after all.
The President-Glad to see you.
governor, and congratulations on
your nomination.
Gov. Cox (modestly)-Don't speak
of 1t. was never SO surprised in my
life
The President (reminiscently)-S
much like Baltimore in 1912.
Gov: Cox--Yes. Murphy. was there
and Nugent and all the, fellows. But
a majority vote was enough this time
to bring the two-thirds.
The President with accustomed
humor)-Oh, well. Mr.. Bryan argues
that a two-thirds vote and a major
anyhow. (Then seriously). But. gov
ernor, how about the league of ma
tions. suppose you have read all my
addresses to Congress and my speech
es on that last western trip?
Both There. of Course.
The Governor (quick to answer)-
Yes, ] have not only read them. but
have memorized every one of them:
The President-What did you think
of them?
Governor-Well. frankly, Mr.. Presi-
dent, ] accept them all. but would
suggest two reservations which you
doubtless have read in the press.
The Presiden ent-Oh. yes. but those
reservations you proposed are there
in the covenant itself-it's all there
in plain language.
Gov. Cox-Sure, 1 know, but it's
quite the thing to be for reservations.
The people like it.
The President-Ah, I see, you are
learning.
Gov. Cox-But' there's . something
more important. Mr.. President, i
would like to ask you about.
The President (courteously)-Go
ahead. l shall be glad to serve you in
any way that can In order that
democracy may triumph at the polls
next November.
Wilosn Winks. Cox Ditto.
Gov. Cov-It's this When you We
toed the Volstead act and gave as
your reason some technical objection
about wartime prohibition, you GER
tainly left a good deal unsaid about
the legislation itself.
The President (winking left eye)--
Yes, and some things are better left
unsaid even now.
Gov. Cox (winking right eye)-Per-
hans you're right. In silence there is
strength.
at a joke)-Sometimes the strength
can be reckoned in percentages, too.
Gov. Cox (more or less confuSed)-
But / wanted to ask you-those sheep
out there-do they go with the
The President Gnterrupting)-Yes
there will be plenty of wool left to
draw over too eager eyes at the other
end of the Avenue.
Gov. Cox (getting up to go)-Oh, l
certainly enjoyed my visit. Mr.. Presi
dent, such beautiful decorations
The Presdent-Come any time. just
make yourself at home.
Gov. Cox misunderstanding. Are
YOU as sure of it as that?
! The President-You never can tell.
| CAS- Gov. Cox walks out. he notices
portrait of President Roosevelt, to the
right of the foyer. Long pause)
Gov. Cox-He doesn't seem to take
after Franklin Roosevelt. does he?
| The President Gin reverent silence.)
What was that?
| Gov Cox-I said 1t was splendid
portrait.
The President (soliloauizing.)- )-Ah
| yes he. too, was a great American.
| (Hand shake, auto horn toots, and
| the governors off to the station en-
route to Dayton, Ohio.)