The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1920-07-09
THE STANDARD BEARERS

In the nomination by the democrats of Governor James NJ. Cox,
have IN easy fight to elect its standpat candidate, Senator Harding
If it does succeed it will not be because OF the strength OF the man 1t
against democratic rule under the Wilson regime. Had it been governed
by the opinion of the people instead of dominated by the odd guard
Of the party, and nominated Wood, Johnson or Hoover; the situation
Governor Cox will make perhaps as strong a candidate as the dem
ocrats could have chosen. He has been governor of the great state
He is almost the antithesis of Senator Harding,
The latter is confessedy a party man" If elected he will repre-
it, will be the republican members of the United States senate. As a
Harding is that the man in the White House must not think he is
bigger than the senator's Harding will no doubt work in harmony
tive or reactonary element of his party organization.
Cox, on the other hand, is more Of the type of mind that demands Id
Hiram Johnson type. Should he by any chance get into the White
fgurc-head. And it is this fact that will doubtless be used most effect
lively against him. For it is quite true that the dsrepute of the demo
ing intellect clustered in the White House, burning incense before his
own independent decisions"
But Cox has a record Of sane, aggressive accomplishment in his
home state. He has inaugurated needed reforms and constructive legs-
stands to his credit. He has credit for a child labor law that has been
eEtenST thai t fopi .ebo by c o1der enactsd a mnder eq bs dGrsct Or w y3e st t0un' 5y
a monument to him and to his state, He has been able to hold the
great army of organized labor in his state in comparative harmony
The democratic nominee will have to face the dspleasure of the
ultra dry" element of the nation, since he has announced his belief
that the states should be permitted to elect their own degree of wet
ness under the national prohibition amendment. But if he has lost
votes from this cause he has undoubtedly won others BY the same
have been, is a question. Taking into consideration McAdoos incubus
of being President Wilson's son-in-law, there are doubtless many per-
sons who will believe that Cox is.
In any event it is a safe prediction that the election this year will
not be won until all the ballots are counted. 1t will be a hard fight;
and the republicans should begin right now to realize that fact and to
work accordingly. The decision, it must be remembered will not rest
this time with a convention, but upon the will of some 100000 Am
erican citizens, a very large number Of whom cannot this year be con-
sdered as bound by any party lines.
Harding and Cox are from the same state. Both, by a curious
coincidence are newspaper owners and editors. And both have been
before the people of Ohio for preferment a number of times. Hard
ing was elected for two terms, from his home district where he is
personally wei. liked, as senator in the Ohio state assembly. He was
also elected Acknowledgements in 1905. He ran for governor once
and was defeated. In 1914 he was elected y. S. senator. Cox has been
elected three times, but not for continuous terms. He has great popu-
lany in his own state.
Normally Ohio is a republican state. But its repubicanism is of
the independent variety. In 1912 it first kicked over the traces, and
it did it again in 1915, largely through the detection of the progressive
element of the party which would not accept the dictates of the stand
patters who had controlled the conventions.
1t will therefore be particularly interesting to see which of her
two sons Ohio supports for the presidency. 1t is not improbable that
Ohios decision will be that of the nation.