New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-13
Edge Explains
Why Cox Was
Not Summoned
Majority of Committee Be-
lieved That His Presence
Would Produce No Mate
rial Evidence, He Asserts
Answers Reed Criticism
Defends His Right to Conn
anent ON the Merit of
Charges Governor Made

ATLANTIC CITY, Sept. 12.--Gover-
nor James M. Cox was not called be.
fore the Senate committee Investigate
ing Presidential campaign expenditures
because the majority of the committee
Considered his presence "would produce
no material evidence" Senator Walter
E. Edge, of New Jersey, member Of
the committee, said here to-day.
II am very much interested in the
responsibility originally assigned the
committee and recognize the impor-
lance and the wisdom and necessity Of
regulatory legislation" Senator Edge
added. "If the committee will confine
its activities to that study and forget
Governor Cox and his utterances. it
can and will serve very useful pur-
pose"
Replying to Senator Reeds statement
last week that Senator Edges COM
ments upon Governor Cox's testimony
before the committee were "indecent,'
the New Jersey Senator said:
"It makes q considerable difference
whose OK Is gored. Time after time
the Chicago newspapers have printed
statements purporting to come from
Senator Reed. and others to the effect
that the Cox charges were established.
When, however, another member of the
committee reviews the evidence and
frankly states that Governor Cox's un-
equivocal charges of sinister influ-
ences,' and corruption funds being
raised to buy the Presidency have in
L l.
opinion of the Missouri Senator, is
indecent
Broader Policy Advocated
~ have no fight with my friend
from Missouri in this regard. He is
entitled to his opinion. have no hesi-
fancy in expressing mine. My state
ment certainly was clear enough as to
my intention of continuing my COM
mittee responsibilities, but am weary,
and believe the country is likewise,
Of permitting Mr.. Cox or his repre-
sentatives to annex the committee's
ator Kenyon, the chairman, is prepar-
ing the future program, and am con-
fident it will include other phases of
our responsibility.
PERSONALLY, | originally believed
Governor Cox should have come be-
fore the committee and made under
oath the charges that he delivered in
his campaign speeches. He was not
immune because he was q candidate
for the Presidency, but quite the con-
trary, should think. But as his rep
resentatives failed day after day to
establish any sinister plan and, be-
yond the existence of padded quotas,
his charges were daily punctured,
agreed with the majority that, beyond
creating further sensation, his pres
ence before the committee would pro-
duce no material evidence.
Committee Not a Court
"While discussing the matter let me
make it clear that it is not my view
that our committee constitutes a court
to try an issue and deliver a verdict.
If that had been the case, of course,
any statements by members would
have been entirely out of place. Our
duty, as clearly outlined in the Senate
resolution under which we are acting,
is to investigate the size, character
and source of the campaign funds, and
legislation which would regulate cam
paign collections and expenditures
Therefore, in discussing the progress
of the committee, no ethics, it seems
to me, are involved.
again, Mr.. Cox's charges are purely
incidental, and If he had never made
them the first duty of the committee
would have been to have heard from
the officers of both national commit
tees and allied organizations. The
former we have done. The latter as
yet only as it has come up in consid-
ering the Cox charges"