Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1920 — G. O. P. CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE [ARTICLE]

G. O. P. CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE

When Governor Cox spoke in Albuquerque, N. Ml, a few days ago, Mr. Carl C. Magfee, editor of a stanch Republican paper, the Morn-

1 Ing Journal, • asked the candidate some questions. Governor Cox answered them, and then in turn asked Mr. Magee the following question: i Did not 'two gentlemen named Headley and Smith, representing Will H. Hays, national Republican chairman, call upon you a few days before my arrival and ask you not to emphasize my welcome in New Mexico and to handle my meeting here as lightly as possible and to minimize Its effect, and add that they were traveling ahead of me to Interview Republican papers for that purpose? To which Mr. Magee returned the following honest, straightforward answer: | Two men of such names did interview us and did so represent themselves. They did make such a request and such' a statement. We refused their request. These quotations are taken from Mr. Magee’s own editorial report of the occurrence.

If there is anything meaner than the conspiracy of silence, in which the Republican campaign managers j are thus proved to be engaged, one would like to know what that meaner thing can be. It is a deliberate effort to keep a presidential candidate from getting his case to the people. A heavy majority of newspapers in doubtful states are Republican in politics, a circumstance which gives the Republican party a greater advantage than even its enormous campaign chest. The party managers are trying to use this advantage, not to persuade, Which is legitimate and right, but to suppress and smother the case of the opposition. It is a dastardly trick and Carl Magee deserves the thanks of the nation for exposing it. Nor does this case stand alone. The other day Senator Harding spoke at Des Moines, la. A man in the audience asked: Could the league of nations, if the United States were a member of it, call this country into war without the consent of congress? To which Mr. Harding replied at once: CERTAINLY NOT! The capitals are the Journal’s, and well deserved. The whole attack on the league rests oh the false assertion that it would “drains Into Europe’s wars” and is a “surrender of national sovereignity.” Mr. Harding has uttered this last remark time after time. But he is an honest man at heart, in spite of the company he keeps; and when the sudden question caught him off his guard, he told the truth in his reply. Some of the most important Republican and assistant Republican newspapers have left that question and answer out. of their report of the Des Moines meeting! A campaign of falsehood, backed by a conspiracy of silence —that is the g- o. p. program. What will the American people think of it when they learn the truth, as iit the end they must? —Chicago Journal. * -. The “Mr. Headley” referred to above is generally understood to be L. W. Henley, formerly secretary of the Indiana Republican state committee but who for several months has been in the service of the national Republican committee working j under the direction of national , Chairman Hays.