The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-08-14
REPUBLICANS ABANDON
VIGOROUS OFFENSIVE
Democrats Quickly Put Harding and
Coolidge on Defensive Campaign
Charges From BOOmerangs as Re-
publiC:lnS Have GontIolled Con-
SreSS The Law Making Body.

The landslide which the RepubIi-
| cans predicted would start in favor
of their candidates as soon as the
| nominations were made, shows no
| signs of materializing, although the
| convention of both party's were held
| several weeks ago, and Harding has
| been before the people, as the Re
| publican nominee for two months.
And there is now not only no evil
| dence of any trend of public senti
| ment among the people toward Hard
| ing, but rather the contrary. The
Democratic candidates have started
Out on the aggressive, and already
| they have put Harding and his fol-
lowers on the defensive, and the re-
publican candidates and the news
paper organs Of that party, are de-
voting their time and space to eX-
plantations, and when they attempt
any offensive tactics. they are weak
ana colOrleSs, and to all intents and
purpose of no practical value what
ever. From all sections of the coun-
try come the reports that the demo-
Gratis have called the republican bluff
and now, and from now, on to the
election day, the indications are that
Harding and his Supporters will be
kept busy defending and explaining
their position on every public ques-
Iion, which is real issue in the cam
paign. Both the Democratic candi-
dates are strong, able men, men of
pronounced personal views on all
matters effecting the public interest
and the real well fare of the coun-
try, and both Governor Cox and Mr.
Roosevelt know how to go before the
people and present the points at is
sue, in a clear, eloquent, and forci-
Bile manner. The republican can
didates, on the other hand, are ad-
mitedly men of no more than aver
age ability,-and owe their prom
inence to accident, rather than TO
any preeminent merit or ability on
their part. Both were nominated
because they have shown no signs of
any extraordinary force of character,
,or ability-as public men. Harding
never ranked high In his own state
or elsewhere, while Coolidge has
never been anything but a second
rate Yankee lawyer, without even
moderate reputation for learning, or
ability in his profession, and both
were nominated by the old, rotten
and corrupt oligarchy of corporation
senators, who placed them on the
National ticket with the expectations
OF using them, should they be elect |
ed. Harding never ranked even in /.
the second or third class as a news !
paperman, and as Senator he has !
practically no rank whatever above
the commonest mediocrity. He was |
the tool of Penrose and his crowd in
the Senate, and he was chosen to
run for the Presidency, with the alb
solute certainty that he would be
tAeAteol Of Penrose and his gang ia
the White House. Hence these
have aroused not a rip !
pie of esfhusiasm, even among the |
most rabid of the rank and file in |
their own party. While among in
defendents and non-partisan citizens, |
generally, the republican nominees
have been greeted with derision and |
hostility, all over the land
Governor Ritchie has started out |
to make a thorough and effective in
vestigation of all the departments of |