The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-21
COX REPLIES TO
!, HARDING DEFENSE
Of SENATE FORUM
Attacks "0Iigarchy," DecIar-
ing Opponent Fails to Dis
tinguish Between "Institu-
ton" and Men in Charge.

oRRvLLLE. o.. Aug. 21.--Another
spirited attack ON the senate oil
garchy' was made here today by Gov.
Cox In an address replying to that de-
livered recently by Senator Harding,
his Republican opponent, in which Mr..
Harding commended the senate as a
forum Of popular government.
The Republican candidate" said
. GOV, Cox, has devoted a front porch
session to the defense of the United
States senate which, with characteristic
feactlonary isolation from the current
Of public thought, he fails to distinguish
between the United States senate as
an institution, and the list of United
States senators who have taken charge
OF an important part of the, govern
ment.
ut is our contention that a group
of men have formed domineering,
arrogant, oligarchy in the senate and
that they have deliberately interferred
with the welfare Of the world, delayed
readjustment In this country, all to the
people,"
That the Republican senate group
was trying to ''annex the presidency"
also was asserted by Gov. Cox, who
stopped here today en- route to Canton,
O., where he was to speak again to-
night at a Cox day celebration.
''The feeling against the senate" Gov:
Cox declared, grows specifically out of
the abuses by the ofigarchy. Prompt
ed by its success In obstructive tactics,
1t has moved into an entirely new I'M
dertaking and it seeks now to annex
the presidency"
Continuing his attack upon Republi-
can campaign contributions, Gov. Cox
also charged that ''the greedy inter
asts which are making the contribu-
tons have been in notorious consort
with the senatorial oligarchy."
ganQfp leaders
Gov. Cox also again stressed the neces-
sity for the league Of nations, reiterat-
ing and expanding former arguments
in its support.
Senator Harding, in his address de-
Tending the senate, Gov. Cox declared,
stripped his discussions Of the per-
sonal equation and elaborated on the
wisdom of the fathers in creating two
parts of the legislative branch of gov
eminent, the senate and the house."
The people, Gov Cox predicted. would
resent the attempt now being made
to turn the senate and the presidency
into single unit"
"If presidential responsibility is to
be shared. it will be with the council
lors of the leaders," said Gov Cox.
He owes his nomination to them. His
gratitude is naturally to them. There
is scarcely day that some member of
the group is not in conference with
him. The public prints announced not
4S hours ago that a part of the oil
garchy had visited Marion, and had
discussed with the presidential candi-
Date the subject of matters which
would be treated in front porch speeches
of the next two or three weeks.
1.-The relation between the president
and congress should be cordial and CO.
operative, but independence should be
supreme.
1.-THE man in the street looks with
great misgivings on the whole chain of
circumstances that has developed since
the early hours of the morning when
the choice of the Republican leaders
was made in the hotel, and not in the
convention hall at Chicago. Not the
last disqtieting phase of the situa-
ton is the unblushing continuance of
the gathering together of millions OF
dollars for campaign purposes. This Is
not only offensive to public sensibili-
ties, but the people know perfectly well
that the greedy interests which are
making the contributions, have been in
notorious consort with the senatorial
oligarchy which is now attempting to
gather unto itself the power of that
law-making branch and the presidency
as we'll"
Gov. Cox emphasized the fact that
he was not criticizing the constitution
but the group of men attempting to
distort 1.-The senate's functions" The
term plural government" Gov. Cox
1T was never the intention of the
men who wrote the constitution chat
a dominating group in the senate should
obstruct the treaty making agencies OF
government on conscientious pretext
while moved by the hidden purpose OF
promoting party advantage" he con-
tinued t'It was never intended that
the senate should have any control over
the president except to share with him
by its power of confirmation, RESPONSE
bility for efficient public service. This,
-.Gf course, is in addition to its authority
In the ratification of treaties
1.-THE three branches of government
were intended to be separate and dis
tinct--certainly nothing could be more
clearly subsersve of that arrangement
than the carefully thought out plan OF
having the leaders of theg senate dom
: mate a political convention and make
j the choice of the party for the presi-
dency. The very argument which SEN
ator Harding presents in support of the
senatorial individuality, certainly holds
with equal logic to the preservation of
executive Individuality Not only will
the people at all times regard any de-
narture from this principle as danger.
Gus, hut they resent the attempt now
being made to turn the senate and pres
idency into a single unit of govern