The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-14
COX HANDS ONE
TO HARDING
First Campaign Statement Of
Democratic Nominee is
Singing Attack on
Republican.
! IS RATHER SARCASTIC
Says Harding's Front Porch Listening
Post viii be Far from the
November Fighting
Line. .
by Herbert W. Walker, United Press
Staff Cnrresnondent

Staff Correspondent
COLUMBUS, o., July 14.-Making
his first campaign statement a sting
ing attack on Senator Harding and
.'the senatorial oligarchy of Lodge,
Penrose and Smoot," democratic nora-
inee Cox today declared his fight
for election will be dedicated to the
task of bringing peace with honor"
The statement was in reply 10
Senator Hardings declaration that
President Wilson had forced Cox, al
though he did not have the backing
of administration forces at San Fran
cisco, to accept the league Of nations
as the dominant issue of the cam
paign. S
In a rather sarcastic tone, Cox. at
tackled Harding's front porch CAM
paign, declaring that his listening
post at Marion will be as far from
the running current of progressive
thought as the senatorial oligarchy
of Lodge Penrose and Smoot, has
! been from the heart-beats Of tho
American people for year or more
Cox's statement said:
my. campaign will be dedicated to
the task of bringing peace with hon
| or. Of readjusting the affairs of civil
Zation and of creating a new day out
of which we will make the best of
, the lessons Of the past. Therefore
the things that the senator believes
vital and pertinent from his isolated
! perspective will not, in all proba.
! bility be so regarded by me. His
last statement is but restoration OF
what has been said in the senate
time after time, so that if the cam
paign develops into mere morning
sessions of the senate, you will very
readily perceive the uselessness OF
daily response"
Harding Accepts Challenge.
! [By Raymond Clapper, United Press
Staff Correspondent
MARION, Ohio, July 14.-Warren
C. Harding has opened his defensive
and eagerly accepted the democratic
challenge to a finish fight over the
league of nations.
His statements welcoming ma
tional referendum" on the league
issue was viewed as his most EN-
phatic utterance thus far and also as
a skillful attempt to split the demo
cratic party on this question. His
purpose. it was believed here, wss
to Smoke out" Governor Cox ON the
league and force the democratic
standard bearer either to line up
soldly with President Wilson on the
league question or come out for
strong reservations and break with
the white house on the leading issue
/, of the campaign.
Either course, it was believed IN
the Harding camp, will drive wedge
between the administration forces
and those democratic leaders who
opposed President Wilson's course IN
the treaty fight.
When word reached the republican
nominee that Franklin D. Roosevelt,
! democratic vice presidential cand!-
date had declared the league of IA
tions should be the leading issue ne
suspended work on his acceptance
speech and issued a prompt accept.
ance of the challenge.
| Harding's statement showed fight
ing spirit which put enthusiasm into
his advisers here.
His scathing references to the
acknowledgements which he believes
would result from Americas partici-
patton in the league are expected to
draw the fire of administration sup
porters ard indications are for hot
pitched battle before the old cam.
paign has gone far.
! His statement today was taken by
some TO foreshadow a firm anti
league stand by Harding in his speech
| of acceptance. He frankly declared
that America would be involved IN
the score or more wars now raging in
Europe should we join the league
and he drew the inference thai
America would be called on to supply
its army and navy to help settle them