The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-07-13
CAREER OF GOV.
JAMES NJ. COX
How the Timid Boy Grew Into i
Fearless Journalist and One of
Americas Leading Statesmen


would think it was written by good
democrat for red-hot democratic
paper But it was written by Boy
den r. Sparks, who may or may not
be a democrat, for the New York
Tribune, the most staunch republican
paper in the United States.
When Jimmie Cox was small boy
running barefoot on his fathers
farm in Jacksonburg, Ohio, other
youngsters less imaginative used to
point scornful index fingers in the
direction of his tow head and shout
fraidy cat Little Jimmie was
afraid of the dark.
1t seems trivial now, but it was
tragic for that country lad. The
taunts hurt his pride far more than
any stone bruise hurt his feet. Final
ly. because Of this ridicule, he steel
ed himself to overcome his fear o1
the dark, and in succeeding apparent
ly developed an immunity against all
fears.
Overcame His Fears
Nowadays, when Jimmie Cox ID
master Of a fortune that Is estimated
70 exceed $5,000,000, owns and edits
two newspapers. has been elected
governor Of Ohio three times and is
the democratic nominee for the
presidency, the men who work for
him and his other friends like to at
tribute his success to his fearlessness
Dayton, Ohio, where the cash reg
listers are made and the Wright
brothers first envisioned the aero
plane, was a boss-ridden town when
Jimmy Cox came to town, and bought
the moribund News with its boiler
plate columns and feeble circulation
That was in 1898. Immediately he
started in to provide the people OF
Dayton with paper with vigorous
news policy.
"Doc" Loves was the political boss
Of Dayton and doc" proved to be q
splendid grindstone for young Cox
then twenty EIGHT years of age. to
sharpen his circulation on. The mu-
nicipaI government reeked with graft
The News exposed this situation
beneath headlines that showed total
disregard for the price of printing
ink
Frequently when Publisher Cox
who was also Managing Editor Cox
and Telegraph Editor Cox and Re-
porter Cox and Advertising Solicitor
Cox, appeared at his Office there
would be a delegation waiting fol
him, heavy-handed friends of "Doc'
Loves. If Jimmie couldn't whip them
he bluffed them.
The Last Rough Stuff
About the last of these experiences
occurred when he had just acquired 9
private Office. half frosted glass and
half matchboard partition. Jimmie
was very proud of that Office, and on
the first day it was ready to be usec
he arrived at the News to find 3
thick-shouldered, scowling rough necl
waiting ito see" Mr.. Cox. 1t was :
henchman of doc" Loves.
Jimmie led the way into his pri
vate office. Some of the old EN-
plcyes of the News say that as tn,
visitor followed him into the sanct1a
they saw him spit on his hands.
The door closed on them; the em
ployees waited nervously. Then, tho
no words had been spoken, the New
staff heard the scuffie Of feet and ;
chair overturned. There was crasl
of glass ard splintering of wood
The rough neck was catapulted thrl
q wall Of the private Office and lighte'
on the back of his neck four step
from the bottom Of the narrow figh
that led up from the street. He didn'
return, but the private Office was pri
vate no longer. 1t was just wreck
age.
Father Republican
Cox hadn't learned how to run
newspaper in a day or a week. Hi
ability had background. Neithe
had he acquired the tough muscle
with which he bounced the friend Q
''Doc" Loves without hard work.
To begin, James Middleton Co
was born March 81. 1870, on sma
farm near Jacksonburg, Butler cour
ty. Ohio. His father was Gilbert Coz
q farmer who voted for Lincoln an
his republican successors, and n
mother was Elizabeth Andrews Cox
Jimmie was the youngest of seve
children, and, while he was still
tiny chap. the country gossips wel
given plenty to talk about in su
for divorce filed at the county seat b
9Th" Cox. Little Jimmie's moths
went away from the farm. His olde.
sister, now Mrs. John @. Baker, Wi
Of the postmaster of Middleton
Ohio, went with hem. She is Jimmie
favorite today.
The other children were Williar
who now conducts small candy, +
bacco and soft drink shop in Daytol
Mary Catherine. now Mrs. Villa
Rospcof, wife of Dayton painter
buggies and automobiles; John Co
who works in the Dayton gas ofic
Charles Cox, who works for DetrC
RatOmobile concern. and one 9th
brother, who is employed on Il
IN News.
Jimmie was little more than bal
when the family was broken up. VIII
he was six years old "Gib' Cox ma
ried again. q widow. Mrs. Carroll
Martin, whose school teacher husbal