The Topeka State Journal

COX OF OHIO
In selecting Gov. James M. Cox of Ohio as its candidate for the presidency the Democrat party probably did the wisest thing it could have done.
To have nominated anybody connected, even remotely, with the national administration would have been a serious mistake.
There can be no doubt that the Wilson administration is "in bad" with a large number of voters, not excepting the Democrats themselves.
Mr. McAdoo, the only other candidate before the convention who seems really to have had a chance, was popular with his fellow Democrats and with labor, but his handicap of being a son-in-law of the president would have been hard to overcome.
The nomination of Palmer, the next strongest man, was unthinkable.
Governor Cox has a personal history and political record which measures up well with that of Senator Harding, his opponent. Both are from the same state and the governor, possessing the advantage of both state and federal patronage, may be expected to run the senator a close race for the Buckeye vote. Whatever the result the next president is certain to come from Ohio.
Born on a farm, Governor Cox attended the public schools, became a teacher, then a newspaper reporter, then an editor, then secretary to a congressman, then owner of a prosperous newspaper property, then a member of congress for two terms, and then governor of Ohio for three terms the only Democrat ever elected to that office three times. The only Republican with a similar record was Rutherford B. Hayes, who afterwards became president.
Of the Democrat candidate, the Youngstown Vindicator says editorially:
Ask any forward-looking man of Ohio, of either party, about the social legislation for which Cox stood sponsor, and he will tell you that it is the soundest and sanest body of progressive legislation which the past ten years has produced. Ask a labor union leader about Cox and he will tell you that no man or group of men owns him, but that he is always on the square. Ask the business men of Ohio and they will tell you he is the rare type of politician that understands business, and that he has independence and courage for any emergency.
Of his record as war governor, the same paper says:
When our country entered the war, Governor Cox instantly threw himself, with characteristic energy, into the task of organizing the manpower, the money power, and the producing power, of his state to carry forward the great cause. With unerring judgment he collected about him the best executive talent of the state, regardless of party, and with its aid he so conducted the extensive war activities of the hour that all Ohio people eagerly insist that he proved himself to be the greatest war governor which the crisis produced.
In the midst of his many activities, he found time to visit every camp in which Ohio soldiers were stationed to inquire after and provide for their welfare, and whenever an Ohio regiment went abroad he was at the port of embarkation to encourage the soldiers and to comfort their friends.
The last official face which the young crusaders of Ohio saw, as they sailed forth on their high and perilous enterprise, was the face of their own governor, bearing its promise that all that was humanly possible would be done for their welfare and for that of the friends they were sorrowfully leaving behind.