The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-09-24
H o ADDRESS

ing, but IL IL not convincing. II is not an impression, as a whole,
that sweeps people along in waves of mounting enthusiasm. II It's not
an impression that wins elections. If we had entertained any doubt
Der ii would be removed by the visit of Governor Cox to Albuquerque.
A strong character and an able politician he lacks the power of the
is Of governorship size. He is not of presidential size.
We studied with great care the reception of the democratic can
includes people of every cline and of every shade of opinion. The
reception here was hospitable, as it must have been to the presidential
candidate of a great party. From his partisnns, it was enthusiastic.
But we could not help comparing it with the receptions that have
been given to Theodore Roosevelt in this state, and to Woodrow Will
son. Compared to these it was cold. Any evidence of a great pop
ular response to a great leader was entirely lacking. With United
states Senator Jones on one side. and Col. 4. X. D. Sellers carrying a
red light ON the other, Governor Cox, bare-headed and on foot,
marched up Central avenue from the Alvarado hotel to the armOry.
II was q tremendously democratic appeal. But there were no waves
Of cheering and tumultous enthusiasm was missing. There were
scattering cheers
In the arnOry, with a great audience intensely attentive the re-
Spouse was much more enthusiastic. But even there it lacked that
quality Of spontaneous response that must be commanded by a man
who is to win the office of.president.
For the most part Governor Cox said here the things he has said
throughout his western tour. His arguments for the league of ma
tons and touching other issues in the campaign which he docs not
desire to evndc, have been and will be carefully analysed during the
ourselves from time to time. II is enough to say now that here as
elsewhere Governor Cox laid principal stress upon his charges of a
tremendous force and with great dramatic effect, but Il. is the force
OF a political grandstandcr and the effect obtained is the effect of
the dcmagoguc. That is the inevitable conclusion reached by those
who give calm, cold analysis to this campaign corruption fund charge
and the people are giving It such analysis.
In his address last night Governor Cox departed from his set
speech to give q surprising amount Of attention % local newspapers
ing that arguments against him in that paper were unfair. But he
did not reply to the arguments that have appeared against him in
the Workers Chronicle, based upon his labor record. He cvsdcd
those arguments.
Governor Cox had been asked some innocuous questions by the
Morning journal concerning his stand upon the league of nations
Those Questions had all been answered when Governor Cox took his
which he could not help taking in view Of the democratic national
platform. no matter how little he may have liked ii. He had already
answered all the Journals questions and he answered them again
when he said what is undoubtedly true that:
'No man opposed to the league of nations will vote for
me. Nome favcrDg the league will vote for the republican
II was easy for Governor Cox to be very courteous to ,he Morn.
ing journal. II has, apparently, been easier for the owner Of the
Journal. Mr. siagee: to revise completely his estimate of Governor
Cox, which he does in a signed article today.
Governor q was not 70 courteous in discussing the definite.
pointed question asked him by The Evening Herald. Instead, he re.
sorted to the old. familiar trick of the political platform speaker in
demanding that the editor come up and argue the matter with him,
then and there, in perfect security that sich a response on such an
The Herald's question to Governor Cox was perfectly fair, per.
iseuy courteous. perfectly sincere. His own party in this state has
stead prohibition enforcement. law as it stands, without any let down
in its force and without any increase in the alcoholic content of bcv-
erases. Il is the popular impression that Governor Cox is not in sym
PATTY with that declaration. Prior to his appearance in Albuqucr.
que he had refused to go on record about it, or to discuss it. The
Herald asked him this question:
In event Of your election. should an act of congress be
submitted to you which will raise the alcoholic content per-
MISSILE in beverages, or which will tend to weaken the en-.
foreement of the law, will you approve or will you veto such
Governor Cox did not pretend to answer this question. All he
said was:
1.-THE eighteenth amendment $ a part of the cOnsitu.
tin Of the United States. As president I will take nm oath
to uphold the constitution. lhaye never violated an oath of
office and do not intend to do So"
OF course Governor Cox will not violate an oath of office. But
knew that il had nothing to do with our question. lie knew, more.
that It is being esked by newspapers and in the minds of the people
all over the nation.
ret Governor Cox deliberately evsded TINS question by the well
worn platform trick of seeking to divert attention OF his audience
by asking the editor Of The Herald, by name, TO stand up and de-
bate with him. II was exactly the trick employed in the same audi
tonum not long ago by Governor LarrazoO when The Herald had
asked him a series OF pertinent questions, and when he took that
method to evade answering them.
Governor Cox knows that national prohibition may be made in
effective in enforcement by modification Of the Vostead law. He
knows that organized liquor interests are striving TO elect congress.
men who win vote to modify the VOstead law, and he knows that
these same ORGANIZED liquor interests are working 10 elect him to the
presidency, His stand upon the volstead law, therefore. is a ma
lionel issue in this campaign. II is an issue in this state. Governor
Cos refused to meet that issue; to 90 on record upon II; to say any
hing about H. he evaded il by q platform trick.