Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-16
FAITHFUL VISIT
WHITE HOUSE TO
BUOY UP HOPES
Only Fear Entertained There
Is That of Over
confidence.
BY \. O. MESSENGER.

BY y. o. MESSENGER
White House circles are buoyantly
hopeful. these days over November
election prospects. All incoming
democrats beat il up to the White
House first thing, to impart joyful
tidings-or. if by any chance they are
downheartS. to get braced up with
encouragement. And they never fail
to get it.
The only fear of the elections out
come entertained in White House cir
cleS is that the democrats may be-
come overconfident and overlook
few bets thereby. Otherwise. the re-
suit is regarded as a cinch from the
democratic viewpoint. The faithful,
when they visit the White House for
either or both of the reasons afore-
mentioned, gossip around with each
other and chaff any luckless repub-
lican who may have wandered in. like
the fellow who mistook the revival
meeting.
Movie Audiences Gauged.
Wonder where the republicans get
that stuff about a big Harding vic
tory?" remarked one of a group to-
day. They ought to see how the
movies greet the likenesses of Cox
and Harding. There's nothing to il.
They give Coxs picture a hand. .hree
to one over Harding. Last night. at
raised the roof over Cox"
'Aw, it was a hot night and they
were thinking in wishful terms of
long. cool glasses of beer and claret
punches" retorted sour-looking
fellow, suspected of republican lean
ings.
That's Just the point" came back
the other fellow. II will bet there
was many a republican who echoed
the applause for Cox for the same
reason. If they vote like they crave.
I guess we win"
All of which persiflage. appropriate
to the dog days period of political
gossip, leads to more serious consid-
Grafton of that same dry and near
wet proposition. Republican mana
lure of light wine and beer implied
in the Cox candidacy, and they say il
is only implied. But, at that, it cuts
two ways.
'COx and Cocktails."
On the Pacific coast slogan has
already been started. Cox and cock
tails-Harding and the home" Un-
himself, this early in tha campaign.
stated his POSITION. He is for en-
forcement of the law while il stands.
His record in Ohio has been for en-
EOrCenen ne lOIu tinOlundlf hudt
he would enforce Sunday closing il
1t required the militia to do it. and
citizens who found life intolerable
under enforcement could move across
the river to CoviHgton-
Candidate Cox has pointed out the
way to get light wines and beer-by
amendment Of the yolstead act increas-
ing the alcoholic content of permitted
beverages, which can only be done by
Congress He has left il to be inferred
l.
veto such an expression of the people 5
will through their duly elected repre-
Senta tiveS.
And that's all there is to the lure OF
light wines and beer involved in the
Cox candidacy To hear some of the
talk on the street one would conclude
that the average voter will be led to
believe that ii is only necessary to elect
Cox and begin to circulate the beer-can
with the incoming returns of the exec
ton.
Republicans "Lay on" Subject.
The plan of the republican managers
is expected to be to lay OFF, the light
wine and beer subject in the campaign
If the democrats play it up. it is cal
culated that the reactionary effect will
benefit the republican ticket II repub-
licans in numbers succumb to the inn
piled lure of the near-wet suggestion;
if they do not discern the facts and the
~
democratic ticket on that score alone.
why. they will just have to be marked
off the books as an unavoidable loss, it
is said.
The long suit of the republican cam
paigners is to appeal to the sentiment.
which they regard as widespread, for
the supplanting Of a democratic admin
istration with a republican administra-
ton. For example, they are not going
to exploit their candidate as a marvel
among men. the only man alive who
could save the day for America. They
country is fed up on supermen. in a
state of repletion with genius, aweary
of temperament and longing for leaders
who are just plain. hard-headed. COM
mon sense business men,
Harding will be represented as a cam
didate whose career proves him to pos
sess the basic sterling qualities OF
the party's record for constructive work.
extending over half a century. will be
pledged as security. Harding is to be
underwritten by the republican party,
with its assets in men. principles, polis
cieS and capabilities.
Republican managers admit to each
other that the selection of Gov. Cox, in
stead of some one more closely identified
with the administration, was a disap-
pointment to them. 1t took away some
of their ammunition. they say. But they
will still play heavily on the need for a
change of parties.
The democratic platform is recognized
by the opposition as being probably the
best that has been written by the dmo-
Gratis in many years, and calculated to
appeal to the independent vote The
say they will have to try
tions to the democratic party as party.