The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-13

tam the same ambition for Mr.. Bryan,
with due respect and affection for Mr..
Bryan, and with due care to avoid
seeming to issue invitations to what
must be no less than the sixth politi-
cal funeral at which Mr.. Bryan has
been the subject of the obsecuies,
feel sure that there are no probable
circumstances ahead under which Mr..
Bryan is likely to resume the leader
snip OF the Democratic party.
AS to Cox continuing in leadership.
that is hard to see.
Cox is intelligent enough to know
that as a leader of the Democratic
party he is completely of the past. as
Alton Parker became when he suffered
an even less conspicuous defeat six.
teen years ago, Not only is Cox I'm
possible as leader by the crushing
quality of his defeat; in addition 20
this. those elements within the Demo
cratic party who got the nomination
for Cox ere in the deepest sort CT
disfavor One of those who brought
about Cox's nomination is Murphy of
New York, and Murphy is charged,
with having laid down on the party
in the election.
Former Leaders Out.
What is true Of Murphy is in de-
gree true of Nugent, of New eJrsey.
and Brennan, of Chicago This par
ticular group of leaders won't be per
mitted to have a hand in the nexl
Democratic candidate for the presi
dency, if it can be prevented by other
elements
1t is probably true that Cox person
ally was not always tied up to those
leaders as close as he at first seemed
undoubtedly these men, when they
nominated Cox, did so with the
thought that they could rel, on him
not to veto any modification of the
prohibition law in the direction of
greater "wetness." 1t is apparent.
however, that when the campaign got
under way, Cox declined to take a pc,
would. Nevertheless Cox, of all the
possibilities for Democratic leader
ship now in sight, is the least likely.
Recent Issue Obscure.
IS connection with Cox and prohi-
bition. one of the most interesting cpl
sodes of the recent campaign is still
a little obscure. If Cox together With
those others who knew the facts anti
have the documents, should see lit
to let them become public. This cyl
sode probably would turn out to have
a good deal of bearing on the question
of future leadership of the party.
The story is this:
THE Democrats in the early stages
of the campaign were desperately hard
pressed for money. when the train was
hired to take Cox on his long trip
from New York to the Pacific coast
and back, the Democratic organiza-
ton was unable to pay the dill in ad-
vance. The railroad company accomo,
datingly agreed to take the money il
installments, but said that the train
could not leave New York until an ed.
vance of $500 was paid That sum
was not in the Democratic treasury
and Senator Pat Harrison. of Missis,
sippi. who was in temporary charge Of
headquarters at that time, had TO do
some energetic hustling to get The
sum together in time to let the train
start on schedule.
Made s1,5oo,ooo Affair.
"C nder these conditions, IN offer
was received to raise a campaign fund
of S1,500,000 provided a certain conji
ton was complied with. / have never
known accurately the names of ell who !
united in this offer but understood
that the group included Allan Ryan
of New York, and ex-senator Clarence
Watson of West Virginia. These three,
and the oilers associated with them,
were fully able to make good on the
offer. | understood that Mr.. Ryan
alone was willing to be responsible for
$500. 900
The condition named was that Cox
in one of his speeches in the far west
should announce himself "bone-dr,"
and should pledge himself to veto ally
act of congress tending to make the |
present prohibition law less di.cs,iu |
A telegram 10 this effect was sent to
Cox. At the same time understand. |
President Wilson was told of the Incl |
dent Mr.. Wilson. 1t is said, wiref' |
Governor Cox, in strong language, to |
turn the offer down. In any event, !
Cox did turn it down, and the party
organization dragged along in the
same state of impecuniosity."
Reason Discussed.
1t might be inferred that Governor I,
Cox's reason for turning down this OF.
fer lay in his being opposed to prchi-
bition on principle, or being opposed |
to it on grounds of political expedi. !
hot =