New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-07-23
cox IN EXPLANATION OF
PRO-GERMAN EDITORIALS

German editorials thai appeared
during 1915 and 1916 in the Dayton
News, of which he is the owner and
publisher. He entered into a long
and rather involved explanation,
citing his record as war governor of
Ohio and the fact that the German
sympathizers voted against him in
the election of 1918.
In an effort to offset the effect
the editorials probably will take in
the national campaign Gov. Cox did
not attempt to deny the authentic
ity of the editorial, but he made it
a point that they had not been writ
ten by him personally.
The chief editorial writer for the
Dayton News during the period that
the editorial appeared Governor
Cox explained was George f. Burba
now an editorial writer for the Co
lumbus Dispatch.
Il think he will tell you, when you
get to Columbus said Governor
Cox, what is the quality of my
Americanism"
Governor Cox said that during the
period that the editorials covered
although the Lusitania had been
sunk with a loss of American lives.
and although German plotters had
been active in the United States,
there was a constant fluctation of
feeling regarding the proper course
America should take"
He said that the editorials had
been published by the republican
organization in Ohio during his last
race for governor despite which
the German sections of the state,
which might have been expected to
support him on such record,
turned against him
Refebs to Soldiers
Anyone who really wants to
know my attitude on the war need
only question any of the soldiers
Ohio sent to the war and study the
vote in the pro-German section of
the state" he said. Il challenge
any man to find a word in any
speech OF mine or to find anyone
on Gods footstool with whom
ever discussed the subject who will
say that ! ever uttered Z word that
would in any way confirm the idea
that | was not opposed to the Ger
man military olgarchy from tho
very moment the European war
began"
So far as the authenticity of the
editorials is concerned there is no
question.
BY way of explanation il is well to
add that there is large pro-Ger-
man vote in some sections of Ohio,
in Cincinnatti but also
IN several tiers of counties in the
central and eastern part of the
state, this German vote, the exact
strength of which it is impossible to
present with accuracy, has been
much sought in elections and there
S scant possibility of variation
rom the truth when it is said that
he general Cox policy at the time
was largely political. whether the
editorials were written with his
or not.
The damning. thing about the
whole affair, according to the situa-
ion, as it appears in Dayton, is
hat the editorials continued in the
anne tone over long period. They
'egan in 1916, soon after the war
'egan and continued up to within
few days of the declaration of
var when the Dayton News took
he view that American troops
hould not be sent to France.
The point of this is that Governor
OK must have been fully aware of
he character of the editorials even
hough he did not write them AMI
ould easily have put a stop to them
{ he had so desired. Governor COY
turing the period was at Colum-
us, the state capitol, most OF the
ime, but Columbus is only seven
niles from Dayton. and it has
,een his custom to go back ami
orth between the cities frequently.
hat is, as often as every week.
ometimes oftener.
Wet and Dry Issue
At the same time, copies of the
Dayton News, which is an after
oon paper, would be readily avail
BILE for him any morning that he
vas in Columbus.
The natural inference is that
ither Governor Cox paid no at
ention whatsoever to the editorial
olicy of his newspaper, which folks
ereabouts hardly believe owing to
is constant interest in politics or
hat he was willing that the policy
{ pursued.
At the time of the elections in
olS. which were held only a few
avs before the signing of the ar
1istice, there were two divisions OF
)hio soldiers overseas, and others
4 camps in the south. There was
o state provision for the taking OF
he soldier vote. the exact extent OF
which is impossible to obtain accur-
tely. nut which probably was well
, excess OF 100000.
Owing to the fact that these SOL
iers did not vote the matter OF how
hey would have expressed Them
elves of course, is merely matter
{ idle speculation, but the fact re-
lains that they might easily have
hanged the result OF the election
,hioh was carried by Governor Cox
yer Frank z. Willis. by something
lle 1900 votes.
Wet and dry served as the real
sue OF the election Willis. who
efeated Cox in his race for re-
lection in 1914. and who in turn.
as defeated by Cox in 1916. when
resident Wilson was a candidate
5 avowedly dry-antagonistically
~ as described by some persons.
he election was fought out on
iese grounds mainly. for Cox gen
rally was accepted as wet. That
sue overshadowed everything else.
Reports from east of DesMoines
re to the effect that the wheat
arvest has begun and the crop is
ne best in several years. The sea-
IN has been almost ncrfccf 50 far