Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-19
PARTY LEADERS CONSIDER
COX A STRONG CANDIDATE
Ohfoinn Enters Race With His
State Soiidly Behind Him and
With Other Support.
nY J. FnEDENICK ESSAItY.

WASHINGTON, April 1S.--Of all
tho avowed Democratic candidates for
me presidency. Governor Cox, OF
Ohio, perhaps occupies ut this time
inc strongest strategic position and
party leaders arc taking him more
and more into consideration in their
pre-convcntion calculations.
The Ohioian has entered tho race
with his own State solidly behind
him. State which lie has carried
not once but twice ana Il State whose
success of the man who Is elected In
November whether that man be Il
Republican or Democrat. The with
drawal OF Senator pomcrenc after
0hio Democrats had agreed among
themselves that tho Governor and not
the Senator would make the stronger
hid for tho party nomination. has
left Cox without contest ut home
not only with the Ohio delegation
safely pocketed. but probably with
that of Kentucky and with scatter
Ing vote from other States. total.
! Is said OF something like 100 votes:
pledged % him on the first ballot. lie
Is West VirG!nia's second choice. his
friends assert and might even be
the first choice o. that State nj
committed themselves 10 Ambassador
John w. Davis. their "favorltc so,,"
Then. too. thr Governor Is good
administration Democrat I'm all essen
,ial directions. but he is not a part
or the administration and will not
have To assume any direct responsi-
bility for tho unpopular acts or poll
cics OF the Washington regime lie
has stood with the President upon
all important party issues and. as tho
war Governor OF his State. he contrib
uted heavily To the efficiency of the
government in the great campaign for
the defea: OF Germany.
To that extent at leas1. It Is ar
al a -.
will commend Itself to the good will
os the Srcal body OF administration
leaders. even though II be true. az
further argued. that the Governor IS
ton and cannot be held to blame
for the things which the administra-
ton is called upon 10 defend most |
vigorously In the present campaign.
1t is believed. moreover, ny those
who arc making the Governors fight
that this stand upon the issue u: pro-
hibltion Will be tower of strength !
TO him when the convention reaches
the point OF action. lie Is decidedly
liberal upon this question. SO much
his own State has found Il necessary
10 prescribe him. The drastic drys
have concluded that he must not be
nominated and they are out TO XIII |
him or. II possible.
but moro ami more OF tho stronger |
Democratic leaders are leaning TO the
liberal side o. this Issue. They are
chamrioning the position taken by
President Wilson himself when he
asked Congress TO permit the mod
when he vetoed the Volstead en-
forccmcnt rot. This liberal move
ment has gained sufficient nome ntuhf
20 make II reasonably. sure that tho /
San Francisco convention will turn :
its back upon tho bryan program and
declare itself in favor OF some modi- |
acations or tho prohibition laws as
now being enforced.
Governor Cox will make strong ap-
peal to the convention. Such de-
claration would be directly In line
with his own Expressed views ana his
friends believe would place him at
the very top y. the list OF avaIlahles. |
II is quite evident even now that
no Democratic candidate Will go to
San Francisco With anything approx
mating majority OF t:e convention.
much les: tie necessary two thirds. /
More and more States are adopting
the Maryland idea OF unpledgcd dele !
cations with the idea OF leaving the
convention free 10 move In the direc-
ton of manifest party eXpedicncH.
This Will mean that any OF the gruup
OF able and resourccful leaders Of
the Cox type. having the backing OF
their States. may he tho nominee. I'M
such situation the Ohio Governor.
with his own delegation enthusiastic
cally behind him. may proye the ideal
man To lead the party hosts against
the Republican stronghold.
1t so hapreRs that Ohio has
strong Republican candidate In Scna-
tor Warren e. Harding. He viii! have
TO frht for his States delegation
against General Wood. hut most party
forccasters seem convinced that Nc
viii have little difficulty in defeating
ti'c military candidate In the primary
contest. II he does. he will .oon
large at Chicago. and with tho bitter
s;ruEGlc on between Wood. Johnson
ana Hoover. The Republicans promise
10 dchG!oc's on. the early balloting.
In that event the Ohio Senator might
rr'Nc the logical candidate for the
.;Hruhl!ca1 nomination.
With Harding on the Rtpubliaan
ticket. tho position o.! Cox as n Demo /
cratic candidate would he strength
cncd. His friends would insist that
he is the only man in the Democratic
party who might conccivably carry
his state against another Ohioian. The !
Republicans. of course, will nominate
hrSt. and tcrc viii! he .nlcnty OF time
to consider the Harding phase OF tho
matter after ii is seen whether or not
the Republican convention turns to
the Senator standard ne