Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Cox, James Middleton
COX, JAMES MIDDLETON, an American
public official, born in Jacksonburg,
O., in 1870. He was the son of Gilbert
and Eliza A. Cox. His father was a
farmer and his early days were spent at
Jacksonburg on his father's farm. His
first schooling was obtained in the country
schools of the neighborhood, but he
later removed to Middletown, where he
again attended the village school. For
several years he taught school and at the
same time wrote for the local newspapers.
Removing to Cincinnati, he
became a reporter on the staff of the
“Inquirer,” and during this service he
made the acquaintance of Paul J. Sorg,
a wealthy tobacco manufacturer, and
when the latter was elected to Congress,
Cox became his private secretary.
Following the conclusion of this service, he
purchased the Dayton “News” of Dayton,
O., and, with Mr. Sorg's help, built it up
until it was a very profitable enterprise.
Five years later he purchased the
Springfield, O., “Press Republic.” These
two papers formed the news league of
Ohio. In 1908 he was elected to
Congress, and on the expiration of his term,
was re-elected. He served on the
Committee of Appropriations and gained the

conviction of the necessity of a budget
system for the State and Nation. During
his second term in Congress, he was
nominated for governor of Ohio, and,
after an aggressive campaign, was
elected. At the same time there was
adopted a new State constitution and in
connection with the application of this
instrument, Governor Cox inaugurated
many reforms of his own, including a
model rural school measure, and reforms
relating to taxation and financial reform.
At the expiration of his first term, he

retired from public office, having been
defeated, but he was re-elected again in
1916 and again in 1918. His administration
of the office of governor was notable.
In addition to the measures noted above,
he put into effect the Workmen's
Compensation Law, Mothers' Pension Law,
Child Labor Law, and the Budget Law.
His administration attracted wide attention
and he became one of the strongest
candidates for the Democratic nomination
for the presidency in 1920. He was
nominated on the 44th ballot at the
convention at San Francisco, on July 6th.
Following his nomination he at once began
an aggressive campaign of speech-making
throughout the country, and,
from this time until Nov. 2, visited
nearly every State in the Union. He was
defeated by Senator Harding, the Republican
candidate, and at once resumed his

duties as governor of Ohio, serving until
March 4, 1921. See
.