Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-09-02
Cox Inyades
Republican
Ranks Here
Oregon Republicans
Desert Grand Old
Party for Progress
sive Democratic
BY Ward A. Irvine.

There is a possibility that Gov
ernor Cox will be given. other
speaking dates in Oregon outside OF
Portland. 1t has ben definitely de.
cided that the presidential nomi-
nee will speak in Portland Monday
noon, September 13th, and plans
are under consideration for ad-
dresses at Eugene and Salem IN
the morning. Final plans are await
ing the return of DR.. C. J. Smith,
state chairman, to his office Fri
day. M
Governor Cox arrives in Portland
Sunday morning. and if the Eugene
and Salem speeches are included in
his itinerary in Oregon he. will go
to Eugene Sunday night, speak
there early Monday morniIie, ans
again at Salem on the way to Port
land.
Republicans Desert.
With the advent Of Governor Cox
to this state. his Oregon hackers
are predicting still more desertions
by men Of his own policitical affil-
iation from Senator Harding. They
say that beyond question desertions
from candidate have never been
SO widespread so early in the cams
paign as those from the Harding
standard. Many democrats desert
ed Alton b. Parker for Roosevelt
in 1904. but the movement was not
noticeable until late in the cam
paign.
On the other hand, in a single
conversation. the writer was told OF
at least a dozen cases of bandon-i
ment of Harding in favor of the
progressive Cox. In an office in
an Industrial establishment there
were IL employees, II republicans
and one democrat. A straw vote
a unanimous sentiment for
Cox.
Wedding Party s'Votes."
The question of politics arose at
a recent wedding in Portland.
Those present We're for the most
part registered as republicans. Ev-
cry person present was a Cox sup
porter. Four brothers of Columbia
county, all republicans, have left
for Cox. They have al
ways voted the republican ticket. i
Another republican who recently
polled heavy vote for a public
office in Multnomah county was
asked what he thought of Hard
ng's prospects.
81 don't know was the repiy.
4 am not much interested. l am
going to vote for Cox"
Various reasons are assigned FOR
he desertions. predominant among
hem is the progressive record Of
Cox and the reactiOnary stand OF
oregon is a progressive
state. She was the pioneer in much
If the progressive legislation adopt
I'd throughout the nation. And the I
-ank and file of the republican par
" is progressive. 1t is the forward
oking republicans that are desert
ng to Cox. The reatcionaries are
,teadfast in their devotion to the
ohio senator.
Farmers Oppose Harding. 4
Many Of the desertions are
to the opposition of
Harding to the league of nations.
others oppose the syndicated presi-
iency. others react against the
,ymn of hate. Still others shy at
, purchased presidency, fearing the
,nion of government and big busi-
less. the combine that in the past
20 effectively suppressed the pro-
lucers and workers of the nation.
The greatest number of deser-
ions are in the ranks OF farmers
md working men. The farmers re-
member Harding's stand for dollar
wheat and against, the farm loan
.ct. The laborer doesn't forget the
Harding record against the strike,
md the IL votes out of 1S he cast
n the senate against labor meas
res.
Desertions in the east, Cox ad-
lerents believe, will further stimu-
ate the movement to Cox in Ore s
,on. Among the most noteworthy
f the eastern jumps, was the an
of Harold L. Ickes, ,
rusted lieutenant of Thedoroe
and Illinois manager for I
i'm in 1912, that he would support
,ox. Ickes was a delegate to the ,
convention at Chicago ,
his year. and although he opposes I
he league of nations, he is for Cox ,
.ecause "he is progressive" I,