New-York tribune., 1920-08-03
Cox Chooses
Wilsonite to
Debate League

talked with him about it. and from the
statements of George White, his cam
paign manager?"
II think when Governor Cox speaks
next Saturday it will be found that he
piled Mr.. Hitchcock.
Gould you make that just a little
more definite and say that he is in ac-
cord with the President? Some OF
those who might be included in your
statement voted for rather strong
reservations"
Smilingly avoiding a direct answer
on this, Senator Hitchcock proceeded
to explain the situation
"The position of Governor Cox is
very different from that of the Presi-
dent" he said. you see the Presi
dent was in defensive position. He
was up against the hostile majority in
the Senate, and was forced cons .antly
to defend his covenelt from the solidi
fed attacks of that majority. On the
other hand, Governo- Cox is candi
date. He can assume an aggressive
attitude and demand the ratification of
the treaty. He need not go into word
ings or phraseology of reservations.
He can make his ideas clear in q
broad way. People will not be voting
on reservations. They will be voting
for Cox or Harding, And they win
know that if they vote for Cox, or
at least if Cox is elected, the treaty
will be ratified, ana if Harding is
elected it will not be ratified"
'"Do you expect to make heavy gains
in the Senate at this election 2"
"That is not the point. 1 think if
the sentiment of the country is regis
tered so emphatically in favor of the
league as it would be by the election
of Cox that the Senate would then
ratify the treaty, even if we did not
control it. The election of Harding
would mean the reverse. Answering
the direct question, hope for gains
in the Senate"
"Such an effect Of the election i'm
Plies that the election would be a
referendum, and therefore that the
League of Nations will be the para
mount issue, does it not?'
III am aware that Chairman George
White, of the Democratic National
Committee, has said that progressive
ism would be the paramount issue,
sald Mr.. Hitchcock. "This is only my
opinion that l am expressing, but
feel sure that the people are more in
terested in the League than in ny
thlng else. 1t is amazing the quicken
ing of interest in an audience when the
orator swings from any other subject
to the league. In view of the public
interest and this constant pull on the
orators, do not believe it will be pos
slble to prevent the league being the
paramount issue"
Democrats here who had taken CON
siderable heart from the statements of
George White and from the reports OF
Cox's attitude on the league brought
back by other Senator'S were dunn
founded tonight at the Governors ac-
tion in selecting Senator Hitchcock to
represent him in debate on the
league of nations. The stanch Ad.
ministration men are elated, and say
that this selection means q great deal
more than the impressions either
George White or such Senators as
King, Of Utah, and Walsh, of Massa-
chusetts, obtained from their talks
with Governor Cox. The wish. the Ad-
ministration men say, probably was
father to the thought in the cases OF
both King and Walsh
Those Democrats wHo believe that
adopting the Wilson league policy
means certain ruin for the Democratic
ticket this fall and there is a con-
siderable number Of them in Washing
ton, are wondering why Governor Coz
was not just little bit more tactful.
"He could have picked Senator