100 years ago in Spokane: Presidential candidate Cox rails against corporate campaign funding

James M. Cox, the Democratic candidate for president, gave a fiery speech before 4,000 at the Interstate Fairgrounds in which he claimed money for a controversial Republican campaign fund had been raised right here in Spokane.

Cox alleged March 31, 1920, a group of businessmen met at the Davenport Hotel – including W.H. Cowles, the publisher of Spokane’s newspapers – and pledged to this fund.

The fund had generated a national storm of controversy because it was seen as an early example of corporate money being used in politics.

“In violation of the laws of America, corporations are making contributions to the Republican campaign funds,” Cox said. “… It is time to put a stop to corruption, to send somebody to the penitentiary in America.”

The chairman of the Spokane County Republicans later issued a statement saying Cox’s assertions were only about “10% right.” Cox told the crowd he wanted the facts about the transactions and suggested Cowles and Lane be subpoenaed “to tell the truth.”

Before the fairgrounds, Cox also gave a speech to hundreds of voters gathered at the city’s Union Station.

His speech was aimed at “first voters” – young people – and at least 500 of them were in the audience.

“You boys won the treaty of peace,” he said, referring to soldiers returned from Europe. “While you stood watch on the Rhine, a treaty of peace was made with Germany. It is proposed now by the candidate of the opposition party that your treaty of peace shall be scrapped and a separate treaty of peace shall be made with Germany. I regard the suggestion of a separate peace with Germany as nothing short of a dishonorable and dishonest transaction.”