Part 41 (1/2)
Dear Tumulty,
I have read your letter of September twenty-sixth with a sincere effort to keep an open estions you edof any kind will proceed from the White House with my consent
It pleases me very much that you and Creel are in collaboration onanswers can bethat you will press those materials on the attention of the Speakers' Bureau of the National Committee It is their clear duty to supply those n If they will not, I am sorry to say I know of no other course that we can pursue,
The President
C L S
An inside view of the cox can]
I conveyed this information to the President He shook his head This told estion and would in no way interfere with the Convention To the end he steered clear of playing the part of dictator in the e of every occasion to show that he was playing an impartial hand is shown by the documents which follow The associated Press had carried a story to the effect that Senator Glass had notified certain delegates that Governor cox was persona non grata to the President When Governor cox's friends got -distance telephone and asked me if there was any foundation for such a story and after Governor cox himself had talked withnote to the President:
4 July, 1920
DEAR GOVERNOR:
Simply for your information:
Governor cox just telephoned rieved at the stateht, and which he says prevented his nomination He says that Glass made the statement that the President had said that ”Governor cox would not be acceptable to the Administration”
He says he has been a loyal supporter of the Administration and has asked no favours of it He also says that Mr Bryan has been attacking hionisravated since the Jackson Day dinner, when the Governor went out of his way to disagree with Mr Bryan in the e reservations
He thinks, whether he himself is nominated or not, this action of Glass's has hurt the Democratic chances in Ohio He says he does not ask for any statement from the Administration, but he would leave it to the President's sense of justice whether or not he has been treated in fairness
Sincerely, TUMULTY
The President readstateton, 4 July, 1920
When a report was brought to Secretary Tu circulated in San Francisco that the President had expressed an opinion with reference to a particular candidate, hestatement:
”This is news to me I had discussed all phases of this convention with the President and had been in inti its continuance, and I am positive that he has not expressed an opinion to any one with reference to a particular candidate for the Presidency
It has always been his policy to refrain froht be construed as dictation”
The proceedings of the Convention finally resulted in the noreat pleasure at the no been a devoted friend and admirer of his, and he was certain that he would not desert hiue of Nations
When Governor cox visited the White House and conferred with the President, the Governor assured the President that he intended to stand by him The President showed deep emotion and expressed his appreciation to Governor cox Governor cox afterward told me that no experience of his life had ever touched hih which he had just passed at the White House He spoke of the reat spiritual purpose that lay back of his advocacy of the League of Nations Turning to me, he said, ”No ue of Nations and not become a crusader in its behalf” Governor cox may have entered the White House that day as a politician He left it as a crusader, ready to fight for the cause
As the caressed we attempted to induce the President to issue weekly state consideration he concluded that in view of the Republican strategy of trying to ue of Nations, the issue, it would be better tactics for him to remain silent He broke his silence only once, a week before the election, in a ue of Nations as the para when one conferred with hiain he would turn to anda may seek to do I areat issue and that we can confidently look forward to triumph”
I did not share his enthusias reports to him that were in the least touched with pessis
Then came the news of Governor cox's defeat and with it the news of the defeat of the soleue of Nations