New-York tribune., 1920-08-31
Cox Denies Wet
Money Aids in
His Campaign
Governor Calls Statement of
Hays in Chicago s'Absurd
on Its Face; Jubilant
Over Eastern Trip
Speaks at Fair To-day
Ohio Committee Recites
Court Record of Illegal
Levy on State Employees
spec4aT Dispatch to The Tribune


COLUMBUS, Ohio. Aug. 3O-Gover-
nor James M. Cox denied tonight the
charge made by Will H. Hays, chair
man Of the Republican National Com
mittee, that the vets were. contributing
to his campaign fund. After reading
press reports Of the testimony given
to-day by Mr.. Hays before the Senate
subcommittee investigating campaign
expenditures in Chicago. Governor
Cox said the vets had not contributed
cent to his campaign.
II reply to the charges ne said,
"only because silence might be mis-
construed. The vets have not contrib
uted to my campaign and they will not.
Neither have the drys. If Mr.. Hays
viii take the trouble to investigate, he
will find that the vets never contributed
cent to any of my campaigns
1T is very we'll understood in this
state in particular, that the vets have
not been active in politics for some
time. Official reports to the Secretary
of State show that in the last year
or two the vets have not apparently
been able to make large campaign con-
trlbutiVns for wet referendums"
:. The Governor said the charge of
Mir. Hays was absurd on it's face"
Speaks at State Fair To-day
Jubilant over his first Eastern trip,
Governor Cox returned to Columbus
this afternoon to rest for day or
two before beginning mis- Western
journey Thursday. He will speak on
Presidential Day" tomorrow at the
Ohio State Fair sharing the time with
another Ohio candidate for President
the Rev. Aaron S. Watkins, of Ger
mantown.
The Governor said tonight that he
would reply in few days to what he
referred to with bit Of sarcasm, as
Senator Harding's --latest plan" on the
League of Nations and world peace.
The Governors emphasis on the
words --latest plan" was taken to mean
that he expects to show that Harding
has been confused by the developments
and has found himself compelled to
offer something as a substitute for the
League of Nations which he says he
now opposes
The Governor will confer tomorrow
with Franklin D. Roosevelt, his asso-
cate on the ticket At the fair he will
talk on agricultural topics and the
League of Nations. This he considers
non-partisan topic.
That the league is regarded as non
partisan topic in New York heartened
him greatly. He explained that he
had run into currents Of independe Mt
thought. In size these are very i'm
the Governor said. Rabbi Stephen Wise
expected to arrange a meeting for hin,
under bipartisan auspices, entirely
divorced from party politics. This
development pleased him very much
as he bases his hopes in the election
on these elements The crowds in New
York interested him, because it is
traditional in New York. he said. not
to become interested in fall elections
until after Labor Day.
Committee Assails Governor
The Republican State Committee to-
day issued a long statement attacking
the Governor because Of prosecutions
against former Democratic chairman
IN 1914. In part it said:
wv hlle James M. Cox, Democratic
Presidential candidate, is lodging ef-
forts to make him prove his charge of
a Republican campaign corruption
fund, here is proof from the records
of the criminal courts of Franklin
County, Ohio, that real conspiracy
operated, right under the dome of the
state Capitol where Cox was presiding,
to collect funds to reelect him Cover
nor of the state
"The Cox machine didn't merely re-
quest campaign funds. 1t violated the
law by levying assessments for the ad-
vancement of Cox's political fortunes
on all civil service employees in the
state service. Half dozen state Off
cials and Democratic party leaders
were indicted. William L. Finley,
chairman of the State Executive Com
mittee, pleaded guilty and was pun
lshed, and the conspiracy was frus-
trated
There were thousands of employees
on the state payroll at the time the
conspiracy was hatched, which was in
January. 1914. The plot involved a
levy of 3 per cent on the annual pay
of each of these, payable monthly, or
an average of about $40 per month per
victim. Launched in January, 2e14, the
immediate purpose of the fund was to
pay the expenses of a publicity bureau
which was to be established in Cox's
interest. Extended through the year
mp to the ensuing November election, it
is readily seen what a tidy sum would