The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-09-16
Biz Changes In the PresideA
tial Contest

! tial Contest
! Odds on Harding have declined
in Wall Street betting. We should
think they would. This front
porch campaign is proving hurttul
rather than helpful. AS yet there
isn't a particle of enthusiasm for
Harding. Party feeling is frosty.
There isn't any pep or ginger in
the Republican campaign. The
rank and file are not giving the
ticket aggressive support, but
seem to accept it in a spirit of
subdued resignation rs if it were
an infictinn visited VI on them by
n divine but inscrutable provi-
lencc. Perhaps conditions will
change for the better before No
vember, but they have certainly
grown steadily worse since June,
and ut this time it is doubtful
whether it will be possible to pul
Harding over. Whatever is done
will have to he done without help
from him, for he is proving q
burden rather rather than an asset.
On the other hand, Cox is Civ
ing the Democratic party a leader
ship it has not known since ill
dens day. Wilson has been too
scholastic and high-brow for the
traditional Democrat, but Cox is
different-a sort of Democratic
Jim Blaine. In the beginning of
the campaign it seemed that the
Democracy would be on the de-
fensive. All expectations have
been upset. Under Cox it has
taken the offensive and is in as
gooc fighting trim today as it ever
was in all its history. Cox is
alive, human and magnetic. In
contrast with hi.n. Harding, giy-
ing front porch photographic r"p-
etiti0n to monotonous platituies
seems a stuffed and refrigerated
automaton.
Saturday Night views the pros
gress of events as an impartial
historian of the passing day. not
as a partisan. 1t is one of the
satisfactions Of being free from
the bonds OF party service that
you can look at men and things
rs they are and appraise them at
their real value, without feeling
obliged to stretch Il point here or
ignore a fact there because of
partisan considerations. Neither
the Republican nor the Democratic
party is ANYTHING in our young,
free and joyous life. We measure
Cox and Harding and the rise and
fall Of their respective candidates.
just as we would anythin. else of
public interest, without any pur-
pose in the world except to reach
an approximation of the tru.h.
And the truth is that Harding
stock is going down and Cox stock
is going up. in each case with sur
|,rtsing rai idi,y.
The members of the Senate !;
,l.qu. that groomed Harding for
lie presidency, in the L~licf that ,
ls president he would be but as so )
much human putty in their prac- 6
iced hands, put Lowden and
Nood out of the convention run y
ling by an artful disclosure of
heir campaign expenditures. The 5
Republican party never could q
tard for sIch tactics! No, inde''d! d
Whatever e!se happened the prrs-
dency must be bought. Horror
At upon sanctimon,ous senatorlnil
ountensnees and there remained
Until Harding had been ppt across
s i'cr Penrosc program. TneDI
he horror disappeared! and energy =
ddrcsScl itself to raising the :
,rge,t c,.npaixn fund in al curl
0litical history. Cox has ,uny
is oratorical changes upon thI, ci
retty effectively and has dug up o,
nough facts to cinch the charges Sc
e is making. that in themselves "
re serious enough to give pro- h.
ressive Republicans a good deal b.
I concern. al
Meanwhile there is rising dis. ps
'nsion within the party itself. in
[arding's effort to be all things hi
all men on the league issue is z,
ound 10 fail. lie can't carry re
ater on both shoulders. He la
mt be for some sort of a Ieague4
ith the Republicans who demand
league aud against league with
,hnson and the other Bitter
nders who are opposed 10 any -
rt Of a league. Harold Ickes, on on
no was one the delegates-at large
ON Illinois, already has aban-
med Harding and declared for :
*. Of course there are special
asons influencing him to action.
3 helped organize the Progress
e party in Illinois in 1912. He
IS successively state chai, man !
d national committeeman. lie
his best, bue finds 1t impossible
D support for president the man
10 DETAINED and vili6ed That -
rty (the Pro9ressive) and de. -
red that when the PrOvressi.es