Cox—The Man

by Roger Ward Babson

Unlike many business men, Mr. Cox has practically no outside interests. He has concentrated upon his papers endeavoring to give them the very best within him. This concentration has also had the additional advantage of keeping him independent. Although interested in the Ohio Cities Gas Company, he has no entangling alliances with railroads, street railways, banks or industrials of any kind. He is dependent upon prosperity; but he has no favorites. He wants every industry to prosper. Hence, perhaps, his campaign motto: “Peace, Progress and Prosperity.”

A Crusader

Cox always had the Crusader’s spirit. He says, however, that he deserves no credit for it, but crusaded because he enjoyed the struggle. Apart from his quarrel with the National Cash Register people, he had a conflict with the Appleyard Traction Syndicate, which owned the Dayton, Springfield & Urbana Street Railway Company, and which later built the Central Market Street Railway in Columbus. Being myself then interested in selling the bonds of these companies, I personally came into contact at that time with the “crusading” of the Cox newspapers. The properties had been financed with Boston money, and we naturally did not like the attitude which Cox then took, through his papers, against us. Although I felt keenly at the time and still feel that Cox overstated the case in his fight, I am now convinced that we were wrong. At any rate, he succeeded, while Mr. Appleyard has now passed on and the traction business is about gone.

The people of Ohio say that it was Mr. John Q. Baker who made Mr. Cox the true and courageous man that he is. I once spent a day with Mr. Baker. We visited together Mr. Cox’s old home at Jacksonburg, and then motored to his beautiful residence at the outskirts of Dayton. If I am any judge of men, Mr. Baker is one of the finest God ever made. Although he has only one child—who is married to Professor Howard, of the Psychology Department of Northwestern University, Chicago—he is very fond of boys.

He is a great believer in honesty, work, and promptness. He says that he always urged “Jimmie” to avoid the loafers. “Don’t hang around the loafers,” he would say, “they never do anyone any good. Aim high—always have an aim. He who has no aim in life never amounts to anything.”

So James M. Cox had an aim. Mr. Baker gave him biography to read. The man became infatuated with Jackson, Lincoln, and Jefferson. He determined to be like them. Hence, when Mr. Sorg offered him the choice of entering the newspaper or the tobacco business, James Cox took the former—according to his original purpose—at a much smaller income.

Human Nature Student

In addition to possessing great integrity and courage, Mr. Cox is a wonderful student of human nature. He has remarkable judgment and intuition. These very necessary and practical traits acquired during years of business experience he has put into his public work. This has been especially noticeable in connection with his appointments. Also in his handling of labor troubles. Also in the work which he has done with the state institutions, and in interviewing those seeking pardon.

One of the last made a great fight for freedom. Petitions were circulated in his behalf and many people sought the Governor for his release. Finally the Governor sent for the man. He also was impressed by his appearance and was almost on the point of pardoning him when he noticed that he could not hold the man’s eye. Thereupon the Governor took him by the hand, looked him in the face and said: