Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-10-16
GOVERNOR SAYS NE CANNOT SEESTAND
 OF PROMINENT 31
Democratic Nominee Says the Statement of Harding Sup pOrters is Inconsistent SPEAKS IN HOME
 TOWN OF HARDING Candidate Wonders if People Are More Amused at Sena-
 tor or His Spon-
 SOrS

Detroit, Mich, Oct. 15.-Governo, 1 Cox announced here tonight that his campaign would be fought sqaurely upon the league of nations issue as drawn by Senator Harding in the latter's Des Moienes, Iowa, speech in which the senator said that he flaw ored "staying out"
 The governors announcement was made in statement replying to that issued yesterday by 31 promi- nent Republicans headed by Elihu Root, Herbert Hoover, Henry w. Taft, and others, declaring their SUD- port of Senator Harding.
 That he did not see how the 31 signers could support MT. Harding consistently was asserted by Gov ernor Cox here in an address at the auditorium. The governors state ment:
 "The gentlemen say: The ques- tion is whether we shall join an agree ment containing the exact provisions negotiated by President Wilson or an agreement which omits or modi- fies some of it's provisions.' It is to be inferred that any one who stands for the covenant as adopted, with or without reservations is friendly to the league, and that any one who is against the covenant with or without reservations, is clearly opposed to the league. Senator Harding in his Des Moines speech said:
 Matter of Ethics.
 Governor Cox favors going into the league and l favor staying out. It is not interpretation but rejection l am seeking.' If these gentlemen do not accept what he has said to the American people then it is past my understanding how they can, as a matter of ethics, advocate his can. didacy.
 '1f, on the other hand, they do accept in good faith what he has said, then l cannot see how they can, as friends of the league, advocate his candidacy. They attempt to jus tlfy their most astonishing position on the theory that President Wilson was unbending in his attitude on the league. On the subject, they say, MT. Wilson insisted upon the agree ment absolutely unchanged. These gentlemen, upon reflection, must realize that this is not justified by the fact"
 Citing reservations offered by Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, ad- ministration leader in the treaty con- test, Governor Cox recounted that President Wilson had written Sena- tor Hitchcock stating that he could accept the reservations, Gas they stand"
 In conclusion Governor Cox said:
 "If things continue as they have been going for the last ten days, it will be a difficult matter to deter mine whether the people are more amused at Senator Harding himself or at the desperation of his spon- sors. A frantic effort is being made to stem the tide of resentment. The senatorial oligarchy has apparently drawn on its last reserves, and yet MT. Root, pre-eminent nd distinguish ed as he is-and no one places high CT estimate on his statesmanlike qualities than I do-is unable to bol- ster up the wiggling and wobbling candidate."
 In his speech here tonight and also in half dozen other cities today through Ohio, Governor Cox contin- ued his league preachment making them almost his sole subject with re- ligious fervor. A feature was a speech at Marion, Ohio, the home of Senator Harding, where the governor made no personal reference to MT. Harding.