The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-07-14
GOVERNOR cox's RECORD

IT Is DOUBTFUL if much would be gained by his opponents by
bringing a charge of pro.Germanism against Governor Cox. II
= is even more unlikely that an intelligent republican leadership will
his newspaper and addresses by Governor Cox in the 1916 campaign
became inevitable when he was made the democratic candidate for
engaged in getting himself reelected upon the slogan. ''He Kept Us
Out Of War and Governor Cox was helping him, Governor Cox is
will find himself confronted with utteranees in 1916 which We're die.
tatcd by what was then regarded as political expediency' Those
uttcrances will now begin to come forward in solemn procession. ac-
companied By a long train Of futile explanations and vain regrets
In 1916 a majority of the American people, according to their
votes, did not recognize the difference between statesmaniike ieaiza-
ton Of the nations inevitable duty and courageous leadership 10
that end, as voiced by Charles =. Hughes and Theodore Roosevelt
and opportunsm. campaign expediency. false sentiment aud hysteri-
cal appeal, as voiced by Mr.. Wilson and those leaders who. like Gov,
ernor Cox. helped him to hs election. The American people recog-
In 1916 the large German population of Ohio, notably in Cincin-
natl, where powerful brewing interest were in German hands WINS an
important factor in the result Of the election. Governor Cox lacked
being resurreeted make it appear, by the most kindly Interpretation
possible, that he sought earnestly to attract and hold that vote for
the Wilson cause and his own. He was successful. He and his sup.
porters cannot now justly resent the resurrection Ct those campaign
uiterances, although they are now a part of the history of that period
and have no bearing on the present campaign save as they may reflect
the chsvacter of the man now standing FOR the position of supreme
national authority.
There were a great many Americans in 1916 whose ideas were
confused; who did not understand the crushing issues involved in
elected on the slogan Gle Kept Us Out of War to realize how far
tional situation and how comparatively few of us understood that
our immediate participation in the conflict was inevitable. Governor
Cox may have been one of the many whose grasp OF the Situation was
incomplete. II that is the explanation Of his attitude and utterances
in the campaign it cannot enhance public confidence in his ability to
other hand, his campaign uttefances were dictated solely by pOit-
zeal ex I% e Z. Of the moment non mt ny BY the s,es,ien to 'on %l, tie, the se. Ger.
detract frora public confidence in his strength if character and the
quality of his craftsmanship
The same powerful interests in Cincinnati that were to be con-
cliated in 1916 are there today and perhaps more aggressive in their
demands than four years ago because then the issue of wa With
Germany was in a sense an impersonaI issue with them. Now the
issue of Eight wine and beer is an issue directly related to their
personal booklet books. tt .iatat
Charles +. Murphy, boss of Tammany hall. was cautious in his
brief statement TO a Herald reporter while he was in Albuquerque
Yesterday. Governor Smith of New York was more frank. While
careful to state that he had no authority TO speak for the candidate.
he let it be understood that he and Tammy hall confidently expected
the election of Cox 70 result in modification of the Vostead act and
the restoration Of Eight wines and beer f
All Americans are now fairly well aware that the return of
flight wines and beer is the entering wedge in the movement to
overthrow national prohibition and bring back booze in all its former
power; and that the real. issue as regards prohibition is not the "per-
sonal liberties Of the people to drink booze, as Governor Smith
stated yesterday, but the personal liberty and license Of brewers and
dkhllers to manufacture il and sell il at enormous profits. 1t may be
that Tammeny has no definite assurance about the matter and is
merely playing out its hand and betting on its luck. It is more prob
able that II knows something definite about the Gauss so near its
heart and pocket book. The Cox record all points that way. This
impression is strengthened by his attitude in the 1916 campaign,
when he exhibited either a lamentable ignorance of the true situation
in Europe and our relation TO il, or a willingness to forego conviction
and principle in order to hold the German vote in his state in line.
After We entered the war Governor Coxis record was that Of the
vast majority of the governors and the people. a vigorous, aggressive
entered the war and in the 1916 campaign is important now only
- Il may throw light upon the character Of the man and as il may
serve 70 inform the American people whether bis abilities are those
Of a c9urageons staiesmanship. OF merely those Of a plant political
epperiuasl