Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-19
CHIEFS
PLAN To PUNCTURE
HENRY FORD BOOM
BY ROBERT 7. SMALL
Uessed Wire Service TO The Journal.
(EouyTiubt 1uC9 \


NEW YORK, July 16.-An i'm
portant series of political confer
ences held here during the weekend
found former Governor James M.
Cox, of Ohio, standard bearer of
democracy in 1920, closeted with
Cordell Hull, Democratic national
chairman; Senator Pat Harrison, of
Mississippi, who has just returned
from a long tour through the west !;
Joseph P. Tumulty, of Washington,
former secretary to President Will
son; Frank Cobb, editor of the
New York World. and others Of
prominence in the Democratic party.
Governor Cox insisted the con-
ferences had nothing whatever to
do with his possible candidacy in
1924, but were devoted to a discus
sion of Democratic policies in the
trying months that will precede the
conventions and campaign of next
year.
1t is known, however. that among
the subjects discussed was the
menace" of Henry Ford as a presi-
Dental aspirant in the next Demo-
cratic convention. 1t was the con-
sensus of opinion at the conference
that enough votes will be pledged
TO other candidates in advance of
the convention to check any early
stampede to the Detroit automobile
Croesus.
It has further developed that a
line attack is to be opened on Mr..
Ford.
Even if by any stretch Of the
Pima gination he could be elected to
the presidency, he would resign in
six months" said one of the most
prominent figures at one Of the
weekend conferences. Mr.. Ford.
he continued, sis an industrial auto
grat The red tape at Washington,
and by this [ mean the necessary
red tape, would choke Mr.. Ford to
death The limitations placed upon
the president by the constitution
and by organic law would be so irl1-
vome to Mr.. Ford that he would
walk right out of the White House
as soon as he discovered not what
he could do but what he couldn't
do. / mean by this also that the
presidency and the traditions OF the
office would not mean very much
to Mr.. Ford. The attainment of the
Office would mean a great deal to
ward would not"
Governor Cox urged upon the lead,
ers with whom he talked that the
party remain steadfast to its prin.
cipIes in the coming session of con-
gress. The Democrats will have
greater power in the new congress
than at any time since 1918, and
upon the record made therein will
| -, IL 49, e
| ming the presidency in 1924.
THE Democratic party has been
| the. great pallbearer to all other pc
l,tical parties" said Mr.. Cox, land
1 believe We are to be called upon
to function again. We will outliVe
all the others by remaining stead
fast to the guiding principles of the
dmocracy in the past. But if we
| go chasing wills-o the -wisps, if we
go to varying with some elements
of the Republican party in chasing
all of the crazy political ideas, then
| we will have to call for the pail
bearers instead of being the pallbear,
ers ourselves.
The Democratic party always has
been sanely progressive. All it needs
to do now is to continue on that
path. I said in some Of my speeches
in 1920 that after an inevitable pc
Rod of reaction, this country would
thank God for the Democratic party
and believe that time is now about
to arrive"
World Issues to Fore
All of those who attended the
party conferences are confident that
the next campaign will be fought
out on world issues and not on do
nestle "trivilities.' They believe
there will be reaction to President
Harding's insistence that domestic
problems always shall take proceed
ence over any proposition for Amer
lean participation in the, world court.
Senator Pat --arrison, who has
been out on the Chautauqua circuits
of the west, told his party associates
that wherever he went he found the
people Indifferent to the tariff and
other domestic issues, but keenly
alive to world conditions. The
farmers in particular, he reported,
are showing a wholesome interest in
world affairs, having finally come to
the belief that America cannot live
by herself alone.
Governor Cox told of many Incl
dents Of his campaigning for the
Democratic congressional ticket in
half a score of states last fall. On
several occasions wnen confronted
by great crowds, he deliberately ask
ed them, what subjects they would
like to hear discussed. He mention.
ed the tariff, ship subsidy and other
domestic questions, but invariably,
he said, the audiences demanded that
he discuss conditions in Europe and
American relation thereto.
joe Tumulty, with his old
chief still stricken in Washington
naturally was a bit pessimistic as
to how the "~---. was ever to find
its way out Of present day difficult
ties, but the party leaders did thei:'
best to reassure him and he has re
turned to Washington a bit brighter
in BODY and soul.