Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-09-10
From Other Pens
A FIGHTING CANDIDATE

i
low countrymen as first class fight
ing man. He does not wait to be
| assaulted. He himself attacks N
force. He carries the war into the
enemy's country. With lamentable
disregard OF senatorial courtesy"
Gov. Cox sharply smites Mr.. Hard
j ing's shield with vigorous spear.
I The democratic candidate puts his
rival and the opposing party imme-
diately on the defensive by his prompt
aggressive. He leaves no one to mis-
take his purpose. Governor Cox is a
good writer in the sense that he first
makes up him mind what he wants
| to say. and then says it in plain and
forcible English. After Senator
Hardings cloudy eloquence and elu-
sive phrasing, it is refreshing to get
! a speech of acceptance that is
straightforward, explicit, bold and
clear.
The speech at once topples over
! the whole series of fantastic imagin-
ings with which the republicans have
been comforting their hearts. Gov
ernor Cox was going to have difficulty
| in reconciling his position with that
of the president. He was going to
minimize the issue of the League of
Nations; would be found pussyfoot-
ing on the democratic platform; and
would have to dodge and straddle in
order to hold together the diverse
elements of his support. But the
plain tale of the speech of acceptance
Immediately puts all this down. Co..
| ernOr Cox commits himself in the full
lest way to the League. In language
which no one can mistake he declares:
"The first duty Of the new Admins.
tratiOn clearly will be the ratification
of the Treaty" Referring to the
League of Nations, he says: Senator
Harding, as the republican candidate.
proposes in plain words that we re-
main out of it." AS the democratic
candidate. favor going in" That is
flat-footed enough. II the republicans
wanted the issue squarely joined,
they have got it. And they have also
got. 1t is evident, man VINO will keep
them busy defending themselves and
explaining and apologizing until No
vember. Governor Cox has. by his
courageous and direct speech, taken
the initiative in the campaign, and
plainly intends to keep it.
II Americans were merely standing
by as spectators ut the contest, they
could not fail to admire the dash AMI
vigor with which Governor Cox goes
after Senator Harding. The latter
had vaguely outlined his plan for
peace with Germany and accord with
other nations. But Cox demands
specifications. Peace by joint resolu-
tion of Congress? Do the republicans
really mean to make a separate peace
with Germany? "This would be the
most disheartening event in civiliza-
ton since the Russians made their
separate peace with Germany. and in
finitely more unworthy on our part"
Besides. 1t cannot be that Senator
Harding does not intend to guard
American rights in negotiating with
Germany. He will have to lay down
conditions in his separate treaty. But
suppose Germany refuses to agree to
them. Would Harding send an army
across the sea to enforce our terms?
Would he be so lost to shame as to
beg the Allies to help US get what we
are entitled to? These are questions
which the republican candidate can
not decline to answer. And II he
answers that Germany is certain to
accede to whatever we demand. then
he would have to reply to the further
question by Governor Cox, whatever
the republican scheme Is to enter. into
q German-American alliance for the
express, purpose Of breaking. on the
United States from the wartime ASSOC
citation and cooperation with France
and England. II this is the intent,
It would be. as Governor Cox truth
fully affirms, not only "bungling
hut Sv~1n L. - ArS az
dishonesty"
language used by the Governor in
the Harding suggestion that, after
arrange some kind of "moonshine
understanding" with other nations.
BY them, declares Governor Cox, this
new project" would surely be re-
garded either as "arrant madness" or
"att mpted international bossism."
The League is now an accomplished
fact. The sole question is whether
we shall join the twenty-nine Govern
ments that have accepted it, or cast
our lot in the outer darkness along
with Germany, Russia, Turkey and
Mexico. 1.-THE republican proposal
means dishonor, world-confusion and
delay" There is no mincing of words
about that. The democratic candt-
date redeems his promise Of straight
thclking and straight talking"
No republican dignitaries are safe
from this plain-spoken man. He tits
without hesitation at the Senatorial
cabal which first secretly plotted to
defeat the Treaty and discredit
yxyTv oON-nureIy ont of motives of
personal spite and partisan advantage
and then went on from move to
move in the hazardous gamble until
at last the republican majority In
the Senate saw itself Outwitted and
dominated by the minority group.
Thus 1t is the reconcilables. john
son and Borah, who have now taken
command of the republican party,
and forced it to submit to their will.
The exposure of this state of affairs
a.. ,.oworfu1lv made nv Governor Cox.