New-York tribune., 1922-11-03
Drys i'm Ohio
Mass i'm Drive
On Pon1erene,

On POmerene
CONTINUED frcm page ens)
set in definitely toward the Democrats,
but which is just as surel turning
slowly to the Republicans, is the iniec-
ton of the League of Nations issue.
1t was dragged in by Cox, to the rage
and indignation of almost every Demo
crat in the state and to the fierce Joy
of the Republicans.
Ha dozen Ohio politicians sitting
around dinner table last summer
were discussing the Ohio campaign,
about to open. All agreed that Pome-
rene would win the Democratic NOM
nation, would probably win the cleo
tion and would be the Democratic
nominee for President against Hard
ing.
Coming in just as this conclusion
was reached, the writer asked il this
was not Just as apparent to Cox as to
be very displeasing to him.
Sure he knows it," said one, as the
others nodded, "and he would stop it il
ne could, but there is nothing he can
DO He would not dare knife Pomerene.
lit would be detected, He has got to
Ego through for Pomerene il it kills
hilas and he has got to support him
warmly in his papers, at Dayton and
Springfield. Farther, he has got to
carry those two towns for Pomerene at
the election, or all Ohio will be on his
neck"
But suppose it was asked, "Cox
should announce his warm support for
Pomerene, and then should in his
stump speeches urge the League of
| Nations, insisting all the time, Of
course, that every one should vote for
| Pomerene
Cox Warned To Be Silent
| 1t developed that this situation had
been thoroughly. appreciated by the
canny Ohio Democrats; that they had
| told Mr.. Cox very sharply that the
League of Nations issue was not to be
brought up at all. In fact, they were
almost as rough on their late Presiden-
tlal nominee in this respect as the
Massachusetts, Democrats were when
Mr., Cox wanted to go up to the Bay
State and attack Henry Cabot Lodge.
Well, Governor Cox took his medi-
cine like man, and was going through
nobly with the program until about
ten days ago. Then some heckler
shouted at him:
Glow about the League Of Nations 2"
Cox replied promptly that this was
not an issue this year, but that it
would be an issue two years hence!
Having made the league the para
mount issue two years ago, having
studied it from all angles while on his
long European trip, and having given
interviews. abroad saying that America
would eventually enter the league, Cox
naturally feels that it is pretty nearly
his issue, and that he would be the
logical standard bearer on that issue
two years hence
"It will be an issue two years hence,"
he said.
Rum, Romanisn and rebellion" re-
marked q clergyman in the heat of
Presidential campaign generation
ago.
Keep Faith In League
Whether he had any idea Of the ef-
feet of his words or not, Cox surely
slipped the league issue cat out of the
bag with these words. There are some
Democrats who are bitter enough to
believe he did it deliberately to injure
Pomerene. This does not square, Of
course, with a point which should be
advanced IN defense of Cox. Naturally,
he believes sentiment has been turning
toward the league, or he would not be
building so constay tly in the direction
of making himself the candidate on
that issue two years hence. No one
believes he merely Graves another
whipping.
But whether they curse him for guile
or rail at his stupidity there is no dis
guising the dismay he has spread
among the Democratic workers.
IF the league is to be the issue two
years hence" said the Republicans,
"it is an issue now"
evaru parnh1;,,1 S&,,,,r
speaker and newspaper changed the
whole plan Of campaign. From defense
of the Harding Administration and of
the Republican candidates they smashed
out on attacks. Their campaign was
changed overnight from defensive to Of
fensive.
To appreciate the tremendous relief
this afforded the Republican orators,
workers and newspapers it must be
realized that Ohio is far from en-
thusiastic about the Harding Admins
tration. Just what the, people who
rolled up 100000 for Harding two years
ago expected him to do in the White
House would be difficult to say. Ger
tainly certain groups of them expected
him to do opposite things. Certainly
also he has not pleased them all.
Governor Not Popular
Tn top OF this the administration OF
the Republican Governor, Harry Davis.
is scarcely popular. Davis has failed to
accomplish anything spectacular in the
way of relief which people somehow
expected. He is attacked as a "do-
nothing" Governor.
There is no doubt that he has not
pleased majority Of the people of his
state and there is no doubt that he
did not enjoy the job. AS matter
of fact he refused TO consider running
for reelection. 1t is generally ad-
mitted that he could have had the
nomination by using the machine
which he controlled had he gone
after it.