The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-24
WILSON CHUCK[ES '0VER COX TELEGRAM
 WHICH UPSET ROOT
Democratic Nominee After Un- paraIIeied Reception Wires State Leaders We Have
 Them on the Run
By HUGH W. ROBERTS
 WssAiastsa eursau The Ass- hsrai9

| H
 Washington, October 2s-(Special.)- The White House strongly intimated to- day that pressure brought to bear on the President to make public telegrams and letter. which would greatly embarrass Elihu Root, in view of his recent address in behalf of Senator Harding will not avail
 It is known that the President has spch
 data. and that 1t is capable within itself the League of Nations which former Sem ator Root presented It is understood that this data proves beyond contraveu- ton that Senator Root, like ex-President Taft, made suggestions to the President, and that these suggestions were incor- pcrated in the league covenant; and that, as result, Root was one of the co-au- th0rs of the document against which for present political expediency he in- weighs.
 In explanation of the Presidents con- clusion to refrain from assailing Root, it is said at the White House that he feels that inasmuch as the discussion regard ing the league has degenerated from the sphere of statesmen to the sphere of poli- ticians engaged in artless fabrication, it
 would be beneath his dignity and the dignity of President further to be a party to the situation.
 THE WILSON CHUCKLE
 In addition, it is believed that the Pres ident has another reason. It is under stood that he was delighted with the splendid manner in which Root was han dled by Governor Cox. It is said that
 when the President read the entirely re- spectful. but altogether dynamic tele- grAm of Cox to Root, he audibly chuc- kled. The deduction was natural, there fore. that he was of the opinion that the discomfiture of the attorney of interna- tional fame'' was 30 complete as to rem der an additional blow from him unneces- sary.
 It has been previously pointed out in this correspondence that. whereas no one in official life is surprised at anything that Senators Borah and Johnson do or say. there is surprise and disappointment whenever Mr. Taft shatters the general concept of him as man of conscience rather than of trickery and expediency. The same in truth may be said of Mr.
 Root And yet. Mir Root in his New
 York contribution to the republican cause, fell into pitfalls of rnisrepresenta- ton which the average schoolboy would nave avoided. He stated it as fact that Cox insists on the ratification of the league just as 1t was written in France. whereas Harding stands for the league properly amended.
 It was so easy for Cox to destroy him. For every reader of American newspa- pers knows that. as Cox stated he has repeatedly expressed willingnesh to accept any amendment which does not tend to destroy. and that he would con- suit with everybody-Wilson. Taft and even Root-n an effort to secure the treaty's ratification. And likewise. every body knows that MT. Harding at Des Moines, exclaimed that it was rejection, not ay-eudesnent that he desired. ESSENTIAL TO DECEIVE The Root speech, instead of proving a political dreadnauzht of incalculabie ben eht to the republican candidate has, In tho opinion of the democratic leaderS in Washington. really redounded to the ben eft of Cox. It failed to impress with it's ortginaiity and it failed to convince that the republican fear of hidden danger to American soveraignty is more than the Pigment of-a shrewd political intellect. bu. its grcatest effect. in accordance with the democratic opinion here. lies in the fact that even as great a man as Root must. in sustAining the candidacv or Hardng-who is now recloned as the Prince of Wogglebrgs-resort to the most elementary variety of deception If ;s pointed out that he might have rot away had he confined himself to nic- turing obscure dangers in the treaty bu, that there was absolutely no chance when
 he attempted to unwrite, in one sentence
 that which has appeared and doeA appear
 In every newspaper every morning. ! So the democrats here re1oice. ana expecting Root to make another .scon-
 trfbution" to their cause when he nert ! appears in public,
 COX CONFIDENCE GROWS 1 James M. Cox sends his chiefs in every
 state of the union this message: eve have the enemy on the run.''
 1 The reception which has been accorded the democratic nominee in the past causes
 him to believe. absolutely. in the truth
 of his laconic message, His reception jn republican New England does. as a mat { ter df fact, warrant his optimism \ h view of the deveiopments Of the week tCestaasea = Pase I've,