Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-12
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1928

Bryan ran for the presidency on the
Democratic ticket. Defeat in each
of the first two cases was not bar
rier to his nomination a second or a
third time James NJ. Cox, former
governor of Ohio and the, nominee
of the Democratic party in the 1920
election, has this precedent to look
upon.
Analysing the chances of the for
r-er Ohio governor, one must take
into consideration the fact that he
was the victim in 1920 of an unus-
ual situation. Thousands, indeed,
millions of voters who were anxious
to register a protest against the
Wilson administration and it's poll
cies had nothing in particular
against Mr.. Cox. Indeed, there are
many Democrats who will admit
that almost anyone nominated on
the Democratic ticket in 1920 would
have been beaten decisively.
On the side of Mr.. Cox is the ar.
gument that he already has borne
the brunt of one campaign, and
that if anybody is deserving of a
second nomination for party service,
it is he. Mr.. Cox was nominated at
San Francisco through the aid of
the Democratic state organiza tons
in New York, New Jersey. Illinois,
Indiana and Ohio.
Prohibition Angle
One Of the interesting factors in
his victory at San Francisco was
the prohibition question. The con-
Vention refused to approve the pro.
hibition plank offered by William
Jennings Bryan, but on the other
hand 1t did not sanction the plat
form proposals Of the VETS from
New York state.
The record of Governor Cox on
the prohibition question, especially
MS utterances during the campaign
OF 192O, were of the law enforcement
variety 1t is significant, however
that the VETS in Ohio always have
leaned toward Cox, and it is not in.
conceivable that in a fight between
the extreme "wets" and the 'drvs''
IN a Democratic convention, the
ONO leader again would represent
the middle ground.
some OF the other factors which
were operative at San Francisco are
liable to be brought UP again. The
ueE!fe OF the Democrats 4 to carrv
emo was as much an inducenlent 20
the delegates in 1920 as anything
else. Were it not for the general
landslide and reaction of the country
in 1920, the friends of Cox insist he
would have carried Ohio. They
I ONT indeed to the election last au
tumn in Ohio when Governor Den
aShey. fl lend of Mr.. Cox, won bv an
overwhelming vote.
Harmonizes With Party
There has been talk that Mr.. Cox
IS not in good favor with the Demo-
cratic organization in Ohio because
he did not conform to the wishes of
his former aides, George White and
Ed Morse, when the question of Sc
lecting a nominee for governor of
Ohio was talked over last year in
the councils Of the party. Since
then, however, Mr.. Daugherty's vic
Tory has tended to harmonize party
differences in Ohio, and while no
doubt the enemies of Mr.. Cox are
making good deal of a stir against
him on the theory that he could not
command the support of the Ohio
delegation, it would be surprising in
deed if he did not again go to the
convention with the votes of his own
state. 1t will all depend upon what
the chances Of Cox appear to be out
side Of Ohio. If there is a sentiment
for him in other states, the ONO
delegation will be found fighting
vigorously for him. He will be Ohio
favcrite son at the convention any.
how. q.
Aside from his intimacy with the
leaders in the eastern and middle
western states Mr.. Cox in the last
two years has been more outspoken
than any other Democratic leader
IN the country on the subject of the
League of Majors. If the Democrats
really feel kindly toward Woodrow
Wilson, if there has been a revival
of Wilson sentiment, former Cover
nor Cox is the only man who has
been mentioned for the Democratic
domination who has the political
courage to stick through thick and
thin % the Wilson doctrine.
Other Candidates Wavered
Nearly every other candidate has
deviated from the Wilsonian position.
Mr. Cox has made it clear, however,
that he did not intend at any time
that America should enter the
League of Nations without reserva-
tons.
He was quite willing to accept
reservations which would protect
American sovereignty, and meet the
objections of those who sincerely
questioned the ambiguity of the COW
enant. If European questions are an
issue in America next year, former
Governor Cox will have placed him.
self in a position to argue that prob
lem from intimate knowledge gather
ed on personal investigation of the
principal European countries.
Mr.. Cox was elected governor of
Ohio the first time he ran, but was
defeated the second time. defeat,
however, does not disturb the cour-
age of James NJ. Cox. He was elect
ed governor of Ohio twice after that
defeat, and any man who can be
elected governor Of Ohio three times
has a resiliency in politics that the
leaders are not likely to ignore. With
President Harding, the republican
nominee, a native of Ohio, the Dem
ocratic leaders would be bound to
consider the chances of carrying
Ohio. Although the vote Of the
eastern states is important, and
/ 4 la
with the aid of the west, it must not