Evening star., 1923-07-16
DEMOCRATS SEEK
TO COMBAT FORD
Conference in New York
Would End "Menace"- DE-
nies His Future an Issue.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

NEW YORK, July 16.-An important
series Of political conferences. held
here during the week end. found former
bearer of the democracy in 1920, closet
ed with Cordell Hull. democratic ma
tional 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 Wilson;
, Frank Cobb, editor of the New York
World. and others of prominence in the
democratic party.
Gov Cox insisted the conferences
had nothing whatever to do with his
devoted to a discussion Of democratic
policies in the trying months that will
precede the conventions and campaign
of next year.
FinnI Attack on Ford.
II is known, however. that among
the subjects discussed was the mem
ace" OF Henry Ford as a presidential
aspirant in the next democratic con-
vention. 1t was the concensus of opin-
ion at the conference that enough
votes will be pledged to other cadi-
dates in advance of the convention to
check any early stampede to the De-
'troit automobile Croesus.
1t has further developed that a new
line of attack is to be opened on Mr..
Ford.
" Even IL by any stretch of the i'm
agination he could be elected to the
presidency, he would resign in six
months" said one of the most promi-
nent figures at the week end confer
an industrial autocrat. The red tape
at washington--and by this 1 mean
the necessary red tape-would choke
Mr.. Ford to death. The limitations
Constitution and by organic law
would be so irksome 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. I 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 great deal to
him. but the drudgery of it after
ward would not"
Urges Clinging to Policies.
Gov. Cox urged upon the leaders
y
remain steadfast to its principles !
,, the coming session of Congress. y 1
democrats will have greater power i
the new Congress than, at any Y an
since 1918. and upon the record n ad
therein will largely rest Il tlei
chances Of winning the presidenf ty i
1924
"The democratic party has be IN tn
great pallbearer to all other " Iitics
parties," said Mr.. Cox, "and I be
| iieve we are to be called I mon I
| function again. We will ou fiiye a
! the others by remaining stef .dfast t
| the guiding principles of tli 1 democ
racy in the past. But IL We go chas
ing Wills -the-wisp. If yte 20 t
vying with some elemen' is of til
republican party in chas ing all O
the crazy Up, political ideas asis pf the dai
bearers instead Of bein & the pail
| bearers ourselves.
Sees World Issues = .scending.
THE democratic part g always ha
been sanely progressiv ALL it need
to do now is to COY itinue on tina
path. 1 said in some of my speeche
in 1920 that after an Inevitable perio
OF reaction. this cou! try would than
| God for the demog .atic party and
believe that time III now about to ar
rive"
All of those who attended the part
conferences here are confident tina
-tConLinued un Saxe q Column II