Evening star., 1924-05-04
cox OHIO VICTORY
NO EMPTY GESTURE
Represents Sincere Conviction Of
Friends That He May Be
Party's Candidate.
SMITH GETS NEW LIFE
Murphy Death May React in Gov.
ernor's Favor.
BY ROBERT II. SMALL.
Special Correspondent to The Star.


Special Correspondent to The Star.
Copyright, 1924, by Consolidated Press
Association.)
NEW YORK, May 3.-The winning
of the Ohio democratic primaries for
former Gov. James NJ Cox this week
was far more than an empty ia
vorite son" gesture On the part Of
his political friends. They still be-
lieve that Mr.. Cox is the logical
candidate of his party, and the very
fact that President Coolidge has indi-
Gated an intent to turn the forth
coming campaign into international
channels argues anew in their minds
the availability of the Ohioan.
The Cox delegation includes men
of national prominence in their party
men like Judson Harmon, former
Gov. Campbell and former Secretary
of War Newton D. Baker.
No Effort to Organize.
There has been no attempt to form
a pre-convention Cox organization,
but when the voting gets under way
the Ohioans say a strong undercur-
rent for Cox will be noted and they
expect to build up steadily from the
first ballot on.
The Cox adherents are proceeding
upon the theory that no aspirant for
the nomination suggested thus far
has aroused the enthusiasm neces-
sary to assure him of the nomination.
They believe the convention will be
a long drawn out affair, with the
early balloting indicating a fight be-
tween Mr.. McAdoo and Gov. Smith.
Neither will have anything like
majority, it is said, and will be an
exceedingly long way from the neces
sary two-thirds vote. The first nine
or ten ballots may be divided among
ten or fifteen contenders.
The Cox supporters believe that
after several days of futile ballot
ing it may dawn upon the delegates
that the candidate of 1920 may prove
the solution Of their problem in 1924
Their argument is to say the least
sincere. They say that about the
only objection to Cox is that he lost
by such large majority four years
ago. Yet all Democrats are agreed
that no Democrat had a chance in
1920.
There is no denying the fact that
a certain element of Cox strength
lies in the fact that hundreds of the
delegates who will attend the New
York convention also attended the
San Francisco convention and there
voted for Cox for the nominat
They also followed and supported
Has Made No Fight.
Gov. Cox has made no fight for the
nomination. But the Ohio delegation
iS ms and 1T Will prove a very en-
thusiastio delegation when il begins
to speak in the convention. A big
demonstration is being planned when
the former candidates name is placed
before the delegates. 1t will be as
serted that Gov. Cox kept the faith
-FOUR years ago when many others
deserted, and that he is entitled to
another chance.
Meantime the friends Of Gov. Al
Smith have been busy perfecting an
organization to further his aspira-
tions for the nomination. They are
Charles F.. Murphy has rid the Smith
candidacy of anything smacking of
bossism, and are making much of
the fact that Franklin D. Roosevelt
who was Gov. Cok's running mate on
the national ticket in 1920. has under
taken the management of the Smith
campaign.
Not Worried by Brennan.
The Smith organization processes
to see no worriment in the face of
the fact that George Brennan, dicta-
TOT or Democratic affairs in Illinois
refused to commit himself to the
York attending the funeral of Mr..
Murphy. Mr.. Brennan. they say, is
somewhat embarrassed by the fact
that William Randolph Hearst,
through his Chicago newspapers
warmly supported the Democratic
ticket in recent state and city fights.
Gov. Smith is anathema to Mr.. Hearst
Therefore, Mr.. Brennan says that the
Illinois delegation is uninstructed.
Gov Smiths friends believe, however
they can rely upon him when the
voting begins.
On the Republican side, President
Coolidge gradually but surely is as
suming the role the leaders of his
party have urged upon him. Four
weeks ago the writer told of the dis
position within the party to have Mr..
Coolidge name the temporary and
permanent chairman of the Cleveland
convention. to write the party plat
form and to select his own running
mate.
In 1904 when Theodore Roosevelt
was planning with George B. Cortel-
you, chairman of the Republican ma
tional committee, the details of the
convention which was to nominate
Mr.. Roosevelt, the colonel dismissed
the vice presidency with the state
ment that the delegates ought to have
something to amuse themselves with
There evidently are to be no such
chances taken this year.
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