The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-08-26
:COX'S SUPPORT
Of WILSON PRE-
SAGES HIS DEFEAT
Political Sharps In Washington, ID. c..
Regard White House Visit and
Alliance As Fatal.

Washington, Aug. 20, More and
more the impression prevails in the
National Capital that when Governor
Cox called upon President Wilson at
the White House he handed Senator
Harding a certificate of election.
The general belief prevails here that |
the country had already made up its |
mind to republic the President. His
arrogance toward those differing with
him in opinion, his specious promises
of four years ago about keeping the
country out of war, his idealistis and
impracticabe notions about Mexican
and European affairs, his flirting with
Socialism while laying Bolshevism,
the general incompetency and waste
of his Administration, and his efforts
to prevent any slightest protection of
American interests in the League OF
Nations covenant, had completely
estranged great masses of the people.
The Democratic convention, 1t was
thought in Washington, had put for
ward its most promising candidate in
that he was supposed to be somewhat
antagonistic to the Wilson ascendency
over the Democratic party and had
not been nominated by the friends and
followers of the President.
Hence the White House visit and the
subsequent utterances of the two men
came like bombshell. Public opin-
ion was thereby denied. Cox tied him
self to a dead horse, politically speak
ing. In so many words he declared
that he would uphold the position of
the President in regard to the league
and all other matters, that the Presi-
dents fight was his fight. The Presi-
dent let 1t be known that the Cox atti-
tude was eminently satisfactory to
him.
Many Democratic members Of the
House and Senate were dismayed and
dumbfounded Some among them said
Cox could do no more in the beginning
of the campaign than stand by the
Democratic President and the Demo-
cratic Administration. These privately
expressed the opinion, after he had
made this initial move and made sure
of a united party, that he would grad
ually break away from the absurdities
and unAmericanism of the Chief Ex-
ecutive's position and assume more
independent attitude. Republican men,
bers of Congress laughed at this. They
: said Cox had buried himself beyond
resurrection by his unnecessarily TAX
ing on the load of Woodrow Wilson
whom the country repudiated in 1915
and is ready to repudiate again.
But both Republican and Demo
cratic members showed a disposition
to wait. They would see what effec
the visit had on the county. The!
would see what Cox said in his speecl
of acceptance. They found that thu
country reacted unfavorable to thu
President, as was to have been expect
ed. And they found that the accept
ance speech only accumulated the al
lance between Wilson and Cox The!
took the position and still hold to /
that Cox is not fighting his own battl
but that of Wilson, and that If Co,
should be successful at the polls h
would carry on the ideas and method
of Wilson and not of Cox.
Further credence to this view Is Civ
en- by the fact that Cox since his nom
nation has shown not the slightes
originality or independence. He ha
not indicated that if elected he will
stand out for something different an
better than has already been done b.
President Wilson. He has not offere
any suggestion of anything new 70
the lettering of the government. Wha
he says, is this: Whatever Wilson di
was right could do no better Henc
have accepted his position in tote
Furthermore, anyone who attacks hir
is doing exactly the same is II h
kicked a wounded soldier in the stom
ach