The New York herald., 1921-01-27
CABAL OF ANTIOCH
MEN SEEK TO GAIN
CONTROL PARTY
Expect to Call Democratic
Committee Next Month
and Gust White.
BRYAN'S HAND is SEEN
Wooley, Chadbourne and
Roper Mentioned for Ma
tional Chairman.
cox VISITS WHITE HOUSE
Hopes for 1924 Believed to Get
Little Backing From Will
son, However.
COX VISITS WHITE HOUSE
Special Despotch to The New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. C.. Jan, 26. (

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., Jan. 70.
Ex-Gov. Cox's control of the national
organization OF the Democratic party
is seriously. definitely threatened. A
coalition Of former McAdoo men, for
mer Palmer men and former sup
porters Of the defeated Ohioan who
united under the benediction of William
J. Bryan. plans shrewdly to break Cox's
grip. retire Cox's national chairman,
George White; get the painfully press
ing debts of the national committee
squared, put an anti-Cox man at the
head Of the committee and appoint an
anti-CoX steering committee to keep
tab on Republican breaks in the COM
ing four years and to dictate Demo-
cratic policies accordingly.
This is the situation, and it ade-
quately explains not only Mr.. Cox's
presence In Washington this week. but
also his call to-day on President VIII
son. Disingenuousness personifled. the
former Governor of Ohio tells all
hands he comes here to visit old
friends and to make arrangements for
the passports he will require on his
forthcoming tour of Europe.
That is all true. enough. but another
set of passports Mr.. Cox socks is Of
more anxious importance to him than
tie State Departments parchment.
This set would entitle him to the
Democratic nomination in 1924. II
would guarantee to him the prize
four years hence without an expensive
contest and Mr.. Cox, like many other
Democrats, believes there will be some
thing worth fighting for four years
hence.
Wants Renominatfo I'm 1924.
He insists on being accepted as party
chief He demands retention of the
control of the national committee and
the party machinery. He will not brook
opposition. This is his state OF mind.
because he wants TO be renomnated,
ana ne Is " StAcp Ltlt HV.AoAs
II he can remain master of the party
he will win denomination. as he sees ii
II he loses mastery he has a fight on
his hands. Without the power that con-
troll OF the party machinery gives he
will be merely one Of field Of candi-
dates. precisely as he was at San Fran
cisco last year, but he will be handi-
capped by the burden of his overwhelm-
ing defeat in November. Only reten-
ton Of his present chieftainship can
offset his defeat by Mr. Harding.
If Cox sees these factors clearly his
party opponents perceive them no less
distinctly They realize that IL Cox Is
to be beaten for the nomination In 1924
ne must be reduced to the ranks at
once. While the majority of them may
be said to be friendly to William Nc
Adoo and to haye McAdoo's success in
1924 pretty closely at heart they say
without exception they are not fighting
Cox in AIcAdoos interests, but for the
good Of their party Their war cry is
IAN open field and an intelligent party
direction"
Their plan Is to get the Democratic
National Committee together as soon as
possible. vote out OF power the present
Cox chairman. George White of Mari
eta. Ohio, put In one of their own per-
suasion, "energize" the now moribund
party organization, and leave the COM
ing years open either for the natural
development of Mr. McAdoo's strength
or for the coming OF an entirely new
Democratic leader who conceivably may
be developed by circumstances.
Gov 20 r,1a ~ w el, IN, VtOp and cau the
President this morning to block this
move IL possible. Since he came to the
home OF his close friend and political
lieutenant, former Judge T. 4. Ansberry
he has had numerous conferences with
Democratic loaders--IIonler s.. Cum
mings. former chairman OF the natio1oi
committee: Charles +. Love. national
committeeman from Texas. an ardent
McAdoo supporter: George White and
Senator Carter Glass. He has employed
his persuasiveness that harmony may
be continued. To that end he called on
President Wilson and spent hair an hour
at the White House this morning. No
statement emanated as to what the
President and Mr.. Cox talked about. Mr..
Cox was markedly reticent on every
topic except the Presidents health, the
Improvement OF which since he last
saw the President, in July amazed"
him. But his manner was not that of
one who had gained n great desire.
Even Tumuity IL silent.
Practically every important Democrat
In Washington was in fever Of curl
osity about Mr.. Cox's call on tho Pres,-
dent The desire for information was
extraordinarily keen. But there was
nothing Informative from either party 10
the interview. six months ago when Mr..
Cox visited the White House Mr.. Wilson
hastened to put out a statement that he
and the candidate were In complete ac-
cord. To-day there was nothing but ST.
lence. Even Mr.. Tumulty had nothing
TO say. The prominent Democrats OF
this city can scarcely be criticised. there
fore, for assuming that Mr.. Cox went 10
the White House for something he
couldn't get. This would be tho Prcsi-
dents approval OF his, own dctcrmina-
Continted on Seventh Page.