New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-07-16
COMMENT

THE nomination of James Middle
ton Cox is due to the circumstance
that he was the 'wettest' candidate
in sight to the desire TO get as Tar
away from Wisconsin as possible, and
TO the fact that the nominee is from
Ohio.
Governor Cox, although the San
Francisco platform is silent on the
prohibition question and the conven-
ton voted down the Cochran plank
to permit the making OF wine and
beer for home purchases, is known
TO be an open opponent OF the
Eighteenth Amendment. He was
strenuously opposed by William J.
Bryan and the Anti Saloon League.
This gave Mr.. Cox the support OF
large delegations, particularly from
the Eastern and Central states where
the Democratic organization has long
been locally under the control Of
the saloon interest.
The Democratic party, disregard
ing the sentiment of the West and
counting the South as certain in any
event, is 10 make its main struggle
in New York, Connecticut and New
Jersey and in Ohio, Indiana and H.
linois. The party returns TO its old
campaign s~trategy-to working for a
combination of Solid South ard
Northern cities.
"Ohio is a state of strong local
pride and likes to add to the number
of Ohio Presidents. Governor Cox,
il was claimed, was strong at home
and it was said that to reject him
meant concession of a pivotal state
to Senator Harding. The argument
that Ohio must be carried was stead
lily hammered on and at last secur-
ed converts. So the convention
named a mar it had little thought of
a week ago. But the alleged Cox
strength in Ohio is largely a myth.
He has run behind his ticket; in 1916
he had bu, 5000 plurality, whereas
Wilson had $1,000 and Pomerene 35,-
600.
The Cox nomination, following the
inclusion in the platform of the Walsh
plank indorsing the reservation prin-
ciple, makes impossible a referendum
concerning the Wilson Ieague. No
one appcares TO uphold the affirma-
tive. Twenty-three Democratic
Senators voted for the Lodge rcser-
~vations and if there is another roll
call the number will be increased.
a t~wo-third majority being neoes-
sary to ratify, what conceivable
chance is there of getting two-thirds
Of the next Senate to accept the
Presidents plan'
The campaign promises 10 be a d $
tressing one to those who like poll
tics explicit. The verbal indorse-
ment OF the Wilson Administration,
coupled with its practical abandon
nent, makes il a matter Of extreme
doubt what votes for Cox will mean.
wisconsin is identified as a body
Of death, and, as far as possible, CON
nections with it are cut. The repre-
sentatives of the President were
dutifully allowed to write, in the
main, a White House platform, The
delegates politely oheered the name
Of Wilson, but the great majority Of
them then tried TO forget the horrors
OF the last four years. At Washing
ton it was unconcealed that the Ad-
ministration preferred any bne to
Mr.. Cox New York Tribune.
AN attempt to line up organized
labor behind Gov. James NJ. Cox
Democratic Presidential nominee. was
put under way here today a few
hours after CoX's nomination.
THE movement, which is under
the wing of officials of the Ameri-
a Federation Of Labor. is planned
as a climax to labor's so-called non
partisan political effort which has
been carried on for several months
against Representatives in Congress
who refused to accept labor's die
tates on the Esch- Cummins bill and
other measures before the Sixty-sixth
Congress.
I'm exchange for promises Of lab
or support officials of the American
Federation Of Labor will expect from
Governor Cox that he
nnreservedly will indorse the labor
plank of the Democratic platform
which was adopted at the sugge
ton OF Samuel Gompers president
OF the federation. This plank de-
clares against the labor clauses of
the Esch-Cummins law and arbitra-
tion schemes OF the kind contained
in the Kansas industrial court law.
Labor leaders familiar with Cox's at
ti,ude for labor expect no trouble
in getting such an assurance from