The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-06
WHAT HARDING links OF COX
Harding On Governor Cox and the Meaning of the Presidency


Although am newspaper man and
nave written many personals in the
past. there is little that feel may
say, in propriety, at the present time.
about Gov Cox, yet there is something
Important that may be said about the
meaning OF the presidency and the quail
tiles that should inhere in the presi-
dent OF the United States.
My little" about Gov Cox is this:
Naturally l have known him good
many years as a fellow Ohio publisher
and editor. From time to time, usually
at meetings of the Ohio Associated
Da1les, we have compared notes, pro-
fessionally. He has two newspapers,
one in Dayton and one in Springfield;
l have one, in Marion. As both OF
his cities are larger than mine, the vol
ume Of business done BY each Of his
papers considerably exceeds that of the
Marion Star, although II the populations
OF the communities we serve be taken
into consideration the relative imppr-
lance apf the publications is not dis
creditable to our Marion efforts. He
carrier went to larger cities where he
received thorough training as a prac-
tieaf newspaper man, while my whole
newspaper career, except for my politi-
cal activities, has been spent here in
Marion, which l have seen grow from a
city of 5000 to one of nearly 30, 900.
Coy. Cox has an active mind, which
readily attacks any problem. and he has
an attractive personality which brings
him great deal of favorable atten-
ton,
After | have recorded these obvious
superficial facts about Gov. Cox, it
seems to me only proper that any
further comparisons that may be made
between us should be drawn by the
electorate of the republic.
Gov. Cox has promised that If elect
ed president, he will carry on Presi-
dent Wilson'S policies. especially those
that concern the proposed league of
nations and he has said that he believes
that this nations prosperity hinges on
the leagues result"
On this point the issue between us is
definitely Joined agree with him
leagues result. but in a different way.
believe that Europe depends on Amer
lea, not America on Europe, and that
the league of nations which the presi-
dent negotiated is a scheme to get ev-
erything possible out of America with
out giving anything in return but the
sophistry of falsely called moral OBJ
legation"
To my mind the only thing certain
in the proposed Wilson league of ma
tons is the inevitable dependence of
this country on the decisions of Eu-
ropean governments. Gov. Cox courts
this; / abhor it.
Another fundamental issue between
Gov: Cox and myself is defined in his
recent statement that in case / am
elected the senate will have some say
in determining the policies of the gov
eminent. In this Gov. Cox has cor
rectly interpreted my intention, which,
take it from his public utterances, IS
different from his own.
On this point it is well to be ex-
plicit. Every president must have some
advisers. Who can be better, especial
ly as concerns affairs of foreign pol
icy, than the So leading men of the
republic? Not the party bosses, not the
personal favorites of the White House
incumbent, but the SO conspicuous citi-
Gems chosen byN their 4S respective
states in solemn Biecton for that par
ticular high place and that especially
privileged authority, and as duly pro-
vided for by the constitution.
| am glad Gov. Cox has raised this
point and made ii prominent. 1t COM
pletely defines the issue between us,
for, as it goes beneath the structure
of the formation of governmental policy,
1t practically includes the issue of such
a league of nations as l think would
involve our surrender of nationality.
II elected president. Gov. Coy prom
Uses not to heed the vote Of the senate.
What voice then will he heed? That of
the party bosses who nominated him?
That of group of favorites with whom
he may surround himself, dependent on