The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-17
COX GETS CLOSE ID HIS AUDIENCE
 WHILE SPEAKING
Gilbert Says His Homely Methods In Campaigning Are Effective and Will
 Bear Watching
By CLINTON W. GILBERT

Fly CLINTON w. GILBERT
 Columbus, O., August 16.-(spe-
 cial.)-Governor Cox scored an ini-
 tial success in opening the cam
 paign in Wheeling.
 It was not big success. but 1t
 was m unmistakable success. He
 presented his two issues--the
 prompt ratification of the League
 of Nations and the need of n pro-
 gressive administration--in n way
 to catch the crowd. He did not
 obtain a big response. hut he said
 what he had to say in a way to
 win votes.
 A campaign such as Cox has started upon may not overcome the advantage which the republiean party has, but 1t is one to be reckoned with An Ohioan who accompanied him to Wheel ing best described Cox's methods as Cox is crossroads orator." The news paper Cox has built up in Dayton has been popular newspaper, with the economy of attention to style which has been introduced in recent journal Iisp. It hits them in the eyes. It is Cox
 He is probably the crudest, direct est. simplest man who ever ran for the presidency. He does not belong to the general tradition in politics He bor- rows his illustrations from the life of his auditors.
 DESCRIBES UNDERHOLD
 When he was accusing the contrib utors to the republican campaign fund of selfish purposes he said: They want to buy an underhold upon the American government" and he pro- nounced it an "underholt'' with "t,'' which is the way his hearers doubtless pronounce it. Then he explained. You all know what an underhoit Is. When we were boys and were wrestling, we used to pitch a penny to see who should have the underholt.' and when we did not have penny we spit on one side of a stone anu pitched that up and you know the boy who won the toss and got the 'underholt' nine times out of ten threw the other one. The people who are giving vast sums to the republicans are after an under holt on our government"
 His speeches sound better than they read He does not follow copy, but as he warns up on the platform he inter- polates. His Wheeling speeches vera DOln ilOIt iHdH tHc pTepdfe0 HdLtor given out in advance. and he talks to his hearers in the language they are familiar with. He talks to them like an editorial from a popular newspaper with punch in every line
 He does appeal to their intellects when he can't appeal to their emotions. clever democratic politician said some time ago that he didn't like the League ef Nations as an issue, because people would have to think why there should be a league. but they could feel why there should not
 ARGUMENT FOR LEAGUE
 Cox is successful with the league as an issue because he is making his hearers feel why there should be 3 league. He tells story of Ohio parents.who lost son in the Argonne. who refused to believe it and who watched his regiment pass by on its return vainly believing that the los, son would be found in the ranks. Later the bereaved father came to him with a mud stained letter from the son. written the day before he was killed. and found later on his body. The boy wrote he had a presentiment of death. but that he went into battle
 (Confinueh ou Rnme Tuol