Hon. John A. McMahon, was Mr. Cox’s counsel in the case. All who know Mr. Cox or Mary Harding Cox realize that they would do only what they thought was best under the circumstances.

The youngest son, now thirteen, is with his mother in New York and the older son, about sixteen, is a student at the Culver Military Academy in Indiana. The daughter is married and lives in Dayton, her husband being in the employ of her father on the Dayton News. Mr. Cox believes in doing the best possible under all circumstances and trusting the results. He never discusses the case and makes no explanations. Further light is thrown on the case by the fact that Cox did not meet his second wife until five years after the divorce was granted from his first wife.

The Governor’s Wife

One day in March, 1916, after a hard season’s work in connection with publishing his two papers, James Mr. Cox motored down to Hot Springs for a little rest and change. There he met Miss Margaret Blair who was stopping at the hotel with her aunt. Both were from Chicago, Miss Blair being the daughter of Mr. Thomas Blair, a prominent Chicago business man. Miss Blair apparently had that love for politics and out-door life which appealed to Mr. Cox. Miss Blair was very athletic, rather than musical. She could ride, swim, play golf, sail a boat and loved the rough life of the woods and farm. Mr. Cox stayed at Hot Springs for a whole month. After that he made many week-end trips to Chicago, even during his gubernatorial campaign. At the inauguration ceremonies in January, 1917, Miss Blair was seen in a prominent seat. She and the Governor were married in September, 1917.

They have recently had one child which has been named Anne. It was eight months old when Mr. Cox was nominated for the Presidency. Mr. Cox named it after his oldest sister, Mrs. John Q. Baker, to whom I have already referred, and who did so much for him in his early days. Before dropping the subject let me say that Mr. Cox was married to Miss Blair by the Reverend Washington Gladden, one of the most honored of Congregational preachers. Gladden died in 1918.

In this connection permit me to add that Mrs. Cox is an earnest Christian woman and a regular attendant of the Episcopal Church.

While Governor, Mr. Cox has three homes; namely, the Governor’s mansion at Columbus; Trailsend, a very beautiful country estate of about 65 acres, two miles from Dayton on the Middletown road; and the old Homestead where he spent his early boyhood days. This old place was originally 111 acres and was at one time sold out of the family; but just as soon as Mr. Cox had the means, he purchased it. He since has restored it, so far as possible, to its original appearance and increased the area to 250 acres. He conducts it himself now as a real farm and is stocking it with a fine grade of Holstein cattle.

Unlike many boys who are born on a farm he still has a love for farm life. Whenever he gets a half day of freedom, he goes out to his farm at Jacksonburg and looks at the cattle. He loves them dearly and is never so happy as when he can be amongst the animals. Mr. Cox feels that everyone who can possibly afford it should have some active part in production. He is very much interested in agriculture and the producing of food stuffs. He believes that the cost of living will be reduced only by all producing more and consuming less. It seems to be a matter of principle with him to run his farm and render some real service, not only in producing food stuffs, but also in improving the quality of live stock.

He has strong opinions regarding fundamental economic problems. Altho he makes no pretence to scholarship in economics, he is sound on all economic questions. This is discussed more fully in the latter part of this volume but I cannot help now mentioning the matter so far as it applies to production, both industrially and agriculturally. James M. Cox believes in everyone working, whether rich or poor, and believes that not only the cost-of-living problem but also the social problems will be solved thereby. Absentee ownership and idleness on the part of both rich and poor are at the bottom of our social troubles. He insists that this question of production is really a moral question and should be taken up by all lovers of righteousness. To quote him:

“The need today is more religion, but this religion must be expressed thru integrity, industry and service, rather than thru blue laws or verbal resolutions.”

Member of the Masons

James M. Cox is a member of the Jefferson Masonic Lodge of Middletown, Ohio. Among the many letters which came to him after his nomination for the Presidency was one from the lodge which he seemed to prize most highly. He commented on the fact that the Middletown Lodge had furnished Ohio two Governors.

Although interested in all forward looking movement for the betterment of mankind, Mr. Cox is very fond of the old things. The Jacksonburg farm where he was born has been fixed up by him in a most interesting way. All the old fire-places have been opened; a mammoth one, eight feet long and five feet high, is in the dining room; while great four poster beds are in each chamber. The entire house is—in fact—furnished with old fashioned furniture. The present care-taker was about the place when James M. Cox was a boy and he tells me that he “nursed him.” On the walls in the living room are oil paintings of his grandmother Graig and grandfather Gilbert Cox, the one who built the church. One look at the faces of these two fine old people shows clearly from where he inherits his honesty, courage and energy.

CHAPTER V
PUBLIC CAREER

James M. Cox’s public career commenced in a small way when he was working for his brother-in-law, Mr. Baker, on the News-Signal in Middletown, Ohio. Political events were always the most important events in Ohio. Hence to be a successful reporter to an Ohio paper, required a political sense of fitness and knowledge of things. This sense young Cox readily developed.

It was this interesting political work which he had in Middletown that was lacking in Cincinnati. Altho the job on the Cincinnati Enquirer paid much more and would have been preferred by many men, it did not appeal to Cox on account of it lacking constructive interest. Mr. Cox never showed much interest in business for the sake of making money. He seemed always to like to do things—the harder the better.

Work in Washington

The political life of James M. Cox really began when he reached Washington one morning in 1894. This was a real event for him, and altho disappointing in many ways, gave him an insight into political life which he had never been able to have before. Washington impressed him with the great possibilities of service thru holding a public office but he felt any such office was beyond him. Hence he returned to Dayton because he believed it gave him greater opportunities for usefulness.

The first editorials which he wrote for the Dayton News were in the interests of the people of Ohio. He apparently grasped every opportunity to fight for legislation which would make the great mass of people healthier, happier and more prosperous. He was not a part of the vested interests which were so strong in Ohio. On the other hand he did not put forth the radical propaganda of which many writers are guilty. From the time Mr. Cox first reached Washington in 1894, he was a close student of national political affairs. He