In this little volume, I have attempted a review, as fair minded as lay in my powers, of salient facts in the life of one of America’s conspicuous citizens. I can not in my own judgment class Governor Cox as at present more than that—one of a rather large group of America’s conspicuous citizens. Not a eulogy of a presidential candidate, but a record of the facts with which the American public should be familiar—this was my purpose.
And yet, I shall not deny that in this simple objective I hope for a further result. That result must come if better knowledge begets better judgment.
Such a pitiful mass of mere comment we meet everywhere about men in public life! Campaign pyrotechnics, political bombast, editorial puffs—or bitter attacks, untruthful insinuations, appeals to blind prejudice!—and only here and there, amid all such chaff, a kernel of fact!
Hence this presentation of the life of Cox—not opinions about Cox, not words surrounding Cox, but the facts inherent in Cox, what he said, what he did, what life he has lived to this day.
I should welcome nothing more than a similar presentation of the life of Senator Harding, written by a sincere admirer, yet one whose admiration does not make him blind to objective truths.
That I admire the man Cox is evident from this volume. This admiration is based partly upon my observations thru personal contact and partly upon my observation of the things this man has done. His record as governor is truly remarkable and it may be that we shall yet discover in this simple, plain Ohio newspaper publisher, one of America’s historically great men.
But far more than in the man Cox am I interested in the principles for which he stands. He is the exponent today of all our forces of liberalism. And liberalism in my opinion is a synonym for true Americanism, not the rhetorical Americanism of phrase makers, but genuine Americanism.
A well-known Boston business man a few days ago accosted me thus:
“Mr. Babson,” he said, “you are known as an adviser for business interests, an expert on finance, an authority on investments. Why do you ally yourself with political interests that are hostile to all our financial interests?”