The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-30
COOKS SPEECH TO
EXPRESS HIS OWN
VIEWS" LAWRENCE
Wilson to Have No Part in
Formulating Nominees At
titude on League Of Ma
ton, Writer Declares.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,
Especial CORRESPONDENT Of The News
Selmltar.)

WASHINGTON. July 30.-Several
Gays ago story was published that
president Wilson would wait until he
mad read the speech OF acceptance by
gov Cox and then would write him n
letter recognizing him as the leader OF
the Democratic party. The White
House declined TO comment on the story
End similar silence was observed at
Dayton. But the incident has caused
considerable comment, as the writer
learned BY mingling with Ohio folks
ana not few Democratic politicians.
The truth OF the matter reveals a
rather interesting sidellght on tho re-
Iations between the president and the
new leader OF the Democratic party and
aIso exhibits some Of the deiicacies In
are these:
When Gov. Cox visited President Will
BON, In Washington, the latter talked
cordially to him about the general po-
hucal outlook and his own candidacy
and said frankly that he was glad 20
surrender the leadership OF the party
70 the nominee Of the convention. This
pleased Gov Cox very mitch and Il was
fully expected that the president would
make some such statement in public 80
mat there would be no doubt In the
minds OF the voters as to who was
leading the party In the coming cam
paign. But no statement or letter has
been forthcoming and the impression
IL that Mr. Wilson viii wait until he
examines the speech of acceptance and
determines whether or not the Ohio
governor has expressed himself cor
reetiy from the Wilson viewpoint.
Out In Ohio. however, tactics like
hat are apt to be understood as CO.
ercion, for II fs contended that Hiram
johnson held club over Senator Hard.
ing and withheld comment until after
the speech OF acceptance, and the in.
faFRnnA VNRr ~ AWas 49, ~
Harding wrote his speech merely to
meet the approval OF Johnson on the
league OF nations issue. As a matter
OF fact, Gov Cox isn't consulting the
white House In any sense about the
speech OF acceptance and is writing
II from his own point Of view. believing
that the country expects him to express
his own views and not have others die
tate them. The president need have no
concern about the governors views
upon the league OF nations. for he has
studied the question thoroughly and
hnows the difference between reserva-
lions that nullify and reservations that
reassuru the American people abso-
iutely on questions Of sovereignty in
dependence and the making OF war.
From the Ohio point of view, as the
writer gathers Il from sources here
friendly to Cox, Il would be much bet
ter strategy for the president to make
public at this time what he told Gov,
Cox In their conversation two weeks
ago at Washington rather than 10 wait
until after the speech OF acceptance.
For already friends Of the Democratic
nominee are saying privately that the
Cox visit 10 the White House may have
been good thing To reassure Wilson
Democrats, but on the other hand, II
made other Democrats and independ-
ents wonder how far Cox would be
obliged to swallow all the defects OF
the Wilson administration.