Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-10

date should conduct his own campaign
through the national chairman or that,
as announced from Dayton, the candi-
date should make the issues and the
| chairman should manage the campaign.
Some whispers went around among
the leaders who gathered here for the
notification and they were critical of
the national chairman. 1t is too early
| to criticize. Mr.. White was made
chairman only about three weeks ago.
! He had had no large experiences in
campaign managing. He had got him
self elected to Congress three times in
| district consisting of six Ohio coun :
ties, normally Republican. That was
good piece Of political work. But
| il was not big piece of work. A
! man might do that and still have no
special ability for directing national
campaign.
Mr.. White had. moreover, assisted
Judge Edmond Moore in conducting
Governor Cox's campaign for the nom
| ination. But Judge Moore Is man
of rare political ability and experience
| and to be his assistant was not a diff
ficult task.
Party Was Reorganized
The national chairman apparently
was selected merely as the personal rep
rescntatvc of the candidate. but it has
yet to be shown that the candidate can
make the issues or inspire the man
agemcnt Of the campaign or be the con
ter and source Of publicity. even though
he has the extraordinary energy and
unmistakablc ability of Governor Cox.
One trouble with the Democratic
party is that its national organization
had to be made over since the nomina-
tion of its candidate. Senator Harding
took over going concern. Governor
Cox started with reorganization.
Senator Harding intcrposcd small un-
factional council between himself and
Chairman Hays. The exact relation of
this council. composed of OK Senator
John w. Weeks, Dewey Hills and
Harry NJ Daughcrty. 70 Chairman Hays
is not fully disclosed. but the Hays or
ganization remains and It is functioning.
What tho Homer Cummings organza =
tion amounted to il not disclosed. Mr..
Cummings was a fine and impressive
man himself. with n good deal of the
| statesman about him. But there Is one
damning fact about his management.
His party has been in power for seven
| years. Yet he handed over to Mr..
White, his successor. an empty marty
treasury. That is certain. And what
ever his organization was, it had to be
largely scrappcd when new and in =
experienced chairman took his place,
having relations to the campaign which
are not yet perfectly defined.
Effect of Cox Speech Spoiled
Lack of organization and far sighted
planning was evident on notification
day. The Marion ceremonies were well
staged. Those at Dayton were not.
What happened was not important, but
probably symptomatic
Tho crowd gathered at the fair
grounds aud waited while Governor Cox
marched at the hend of a parade from
downtown to the speakers stand. This
marching was interesting and demo-
cratic if the main show was the parade
The marchers then struggled by taking
thrice the time necessary.
When Cox began to speak the crowd
was tired and thinking of dinner 1t be-
gan to filter away. Cox had to hurry
and cut his speech. Then two copies
of the speech had been given to the
auditors who read it before the speaker
finished it. The response of the crowd
to the more effective parts of the ad-
dress was spoiled. The emphasis was
on the parade, not on the candidate or
his speech.
1t was not well organized. Cox has
been good organizer as governor and
| he may yet pull what he has together I;
but up till now the Democratic Orgaui-
Zation has been running loose