Arizona republican., 1920-07-07

year. But years later though the Republicans were still divided Frank B. Willis, Republican, was elected. receiving 524625 votes against 493367 for Cox and 60791 for James R. Garfield, Progressive In the gubernatorial election Cox defeated Willie and he reelected two years later. In the mean time Harding in 1915 had been triumphantly elected United States senator. So. Harding and Cox have never measured strength Ohio. Each has been de- feated once, Harding ten by the strongest Democrat in the state and Cox six years ago in circumstances in which he might reasonably have been expected be elected. Since then both have been endorsed by the people of Ohio.
 Ohio is pcuar state. For sixty years it has had a Republican majority of 8oOoo to 5O,OOO. sometimes giving amjority of 75,ooo Yet within last forty-fve years it has elected Demo cratic governors times. It has twice chosen Democratic presidential eectors-once in 1912 and again in 1916 in circumstances which easily explain it's choice. may therefore, be that there is nothing in the record which to base prophecy that greater popularity of Cox would carry Ohio for him against Harding.
 To this point have handicap for Cox, the admitted natural superiority of numbers of the Re publican party so that other things being equal they are supposed to be. between candidates Harding would could hardly fail of election.
 is then handicapped by the record of the national administration during the last seven and half years; by the pronouncement of the San Fran convention with respect to the League of Ma tions concerning which there has developed sharp difference within the Democratic party There is none on this subject within the Republican party.
 But the most serious handicap the Democratic nominee is the position in which he been placed with respect prohibition. Preceding and through out the convention he stgmatized, not by Re pubIicans but by members his own party, wet" candidate and this stigma must attend him throughout the campaign We believe it was un- justly placed him. not because of his personal opposition prohibition. but because he had stated
 
 the president declared it in his veto message the convention held it to be by it's unqualified endorsement of the president and it's overwhelming defeat of MT. Bryan's dry plank.
 So. MT. Cox by his previous utterance, by the acts omission and of commission. the ton, has been placed before the country ap- parently wet candidate wet plank.
 It be argued that a majority of the people of this country favor modification of the Vostead law Of course. there is way of ascertainng public sentiment that But there is a psycho- logical condition to be taken account. will perhaps generally be understood that the of the election. whatever it may will greatly af prohibition. It is here. No congress will have the hardihoood the courage may be variously regarded, to interfere for years least with the status already fixed. Thus. there will be ade quate reason any Republican to disregard other issues and his party hopeless prospect of weakening prohibition the election of Demo- cratic president would offer. But there thous ands prohibitionists. MT Bryan a conspicu- ous type, who regard prohibition principle and not as a mere policy To those who Democrats prohibition is more than democracy and democracy has been put into an attitude opposition to pro- hibition
 It is true, that the Republicans have made declaration of prohibition a principle. they pledged themselves to the enforcement all laws and the prohibition enforcement act is law.
 All the handicaps, however will not be the democrats. It may be expected that they will not overlook talking point the poverty of perform ance the present Republican congress which has popular expectation. But against that may urged the loyalty with which the Republi- cans of the preceding congress supported the be- lated war attitude of the president in the face of Democratic opposition which but for the Republicans would have been fatal
 The people will reminded also of something they heard before of the wild of billions by the incompetent executive department it's of preparations of its futilfty throughout period preparation and of the scandals which it's bIundering n critical period history.
 There will be. in the course of the campaign much calling by the pot and the kettle of each other black. the voters will doubt perceive that neither entirely free from sooty accumulation , But in talking points well numbers the Republicans appear to have a lead which only the most unexpected happening could neutralize.
 We suppose there will be a revival of the Phoenix