El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-10-05
WEST STRONG
FORHARDING;
cox WORRIED
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
CONTINUED from page II

ever it IS. but that the important task
IS 70 put the Republican party back
in power and restore normal condi-
tons
Most people are so irritated over
the high cost of living. the high rail-
road rates. the congestion Of freight
and the whole after-the-War mess
that they want change. They think
the Republican party will bring IT,
They say matters cannot get any
worse than they nave been. and per-
haps they will get better. That's
about as far as the big mass Of voters
has gone in analyzing the success Of
the campaign
Plea for Referendum Fails.
Except in a few states. president
Wilson's plea for a solemn referen-
dun On the election has siEnally
failed. The mandate Of the election
viii not be a republication OF the
covenant or any other part OF the
peace treaty. Groups here and there
viii vote on foreign subjects such as
Irish freedom or Italian war aspira-
lions. but generally speaking Repub-
hcan victory viii mean a desire 20
change from one set of political
leaders to another.
Republican newspapers friendly TO
the league are already preparing
their readers for that verdict and try
ing TO prevent senator Harding from
unisconstruinE the verdict by deciding
TO stay out Of the league OF nations
The Republican press. in the west.
outnumbers the Democrat at least
two to one and ia some states four
and five to one The prO-leaEue
press is about evenly divided among
the Republican press but you can
count on the fingers OF your hand
the Republican newspapers that favor
na D. a
dared TO make that the paramount
issue and tell their readers they ought
70 vote for Cox on that account
5 The most striking thing about the
whole western campaign is the utter
lack Of enthusiasm by Democrats or
Republicans OF the rank and file for
either Cox or Harding Plenty Of en-
thusiasm and cheers were given Cox
on his trip. but the mass OF the people
are not impressed with the personal
ity OF either nominee as reflected in
the press
Unknown Before Convention
Both men were unknown, TO be sure,
before the two conventions. But the
real reason. in my judgment, why
the popular imagination is that they
have failed 70 point out clearly 2 re-
construction policy They have both
been more interested in the policies
OF the campaign than economics Of
the country The one has carried on
destructive campaign OF criticism
and the other has expressed hi self
in such generalities as 10 evoke no
particular hostility from any group
or class. But the truth Is, more than
one editor complained that neither
candidate really IS producing front
page stuff"
Perhaps governor Cox's criticism Of
the western press IS partly due to the
foregoing thought For It IS true that
even the dispatches from Marion have
not been conspicuously displayed all
the time
The Democratic nominee has made
q pluczy fight. He has made votes
in the west and stimulated Demo
cratic organization everywhere Its
was a splendid thing for him TO 90
west IN September, but, lacking funds
and a friendly press, the Democrats .
OF the west face an almost hopelesE
task
As matters stand today. It would
appear that senator Harding would
carry every state vest Of the Missis-
sippi with the exception OF Montana.
Utah. Nevada, Arizona New Mexico.
Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and MS