Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-24

Columbus, O., July Ex-Governor
Cox is in Dayton finishing his speech OF
acceptance. 1t is his turn next. He
will write with Senator Harding's ad-
dress before him. In way his words
will be a reply to those Of the Repub-
lican candidate.
From Governor Cox's brief speech
before the Democratic National Com
mittee here this week. end. from mem
bers of the board Of political strategy
who surround the governor and who
talk quite frankly, it is known that
the governor desires to subordinate the
League of Nations as an issue and to
bring to the front the issue OF progress
against reaction.
This was the issue that suggested it
self at once when the Republican con-
vention finished its work at Chicago.
1t was supposed that the Democrats
would seize upon the opportunity pre-
sented and that the campaign would
20 upon the familiar lines.
But many things have happened since
the Republican convention which have
taken the edge off this possible issue.
The Democratic convention was not
notably less conservative than the Re-
publican. The Democratic nomination
suggests nothing prog .ssive or con-
structive in the national field. Other
motives than the desire for progress die.
tated the selection of Governor Cox.
Harding's Strength Growing
Senator Harding has grown stronger
as a candidate since his nomination
He has been accepted by the more lib
eral minded Republicans beginning will
Mr.. Hoover. And it is believed II
Marion that Thursdays speech of ac'
ceptance makes the open support O.
him by Senators johnson and Borah in
evitable, for the candidate stands firml!
with them in rejecting the League o
Nations.
Open acceptance Of him by Johnso,
and Borah is important in making l
difficult for Governor Cox to rails,
against him the charge of reaction
Johnson and Borah lead the progressiv
wing of the Republican party. II tn
progressives held off from supportin
the Republican candidate Governor Co
might find it easy to raise the cry O
reaction.
l.. hoo etn
difficult. And Senator Harding
speech of acceptance has done much t
make his conservatism plausible an
persuasive. Conservatism had bee
given a bad name by Roosevelt and b
all the Republican leaders who heade
progressive movements in their states
1t had been portrayed as force serv
, ing certain selfish interests. 1t wa
popular to call it reaction. 1t worke
, 10 people were led to believe, in alli
ance with the corporations that bougt
? Legislatures, that controlled parties an
, that had taken the government ava
from the people.
. 1t has been Senator Harding's tas
to present conservatism In anoth,
aspect. And he has done it so effect
lively in his speech of acceptance tn,
Governor Cox has his hands full
= call the thing his rival stands for RI
action and to make the nation belie'
: that 1t is reaction.
o Harding's Conservatism New
The conservatism which the Repul
= lican candidate presents IL primari
= occupied with the institutions of h
country and not as the older col
a servatism was, which fell into disr
pute, with property rights or with pro-
= erty privileges. 1t is new col
- servatism. 1--WE have drifted DANCE
a ously away from the form of goverI
ment set up by the trainers of the COZ
d stitution. Let us get back to it
70 This is the constant text of the II
d publican candidate.
e One-man government has brok
:; down, he asserts. There is no man
"a enough to run this thing we G.
America alone. The trainers of /
70 constitution were wise enough to s
" this, and they provided for COVER
ment of divided powers. Let us I
d turn to II. Let us have a Preside
who will not attempt to rule Congre,
W Let us make the Senate what II oug
Ito be, the greatest legislative body