COX, JAMES MIDDLETON (187o— ), American politician, was born near Jacksonburg (O.), on March 31, 187o. After being educated in the common schools he worked in a newspaper office, and for a short time was a country school teach er. Later he became a reporter on the Cincinnati Enquirer. In 1898 he purchased the Dayton News and five years later the Springfield Press-Republic, subsequently named the Daily News. In 1923 he purchased the Canton Daily News and the Miami (Fla.) Metropolis, which later became the Miami Daily News. From 19o9-13 he was a member of Congress for the Dayton dis trict. He was governor of Ohio 1913-15 and 1917-21. His career as governor was notable. Among the reforms introduced under his guidance were a workmen's compensation law; the elimination of the sweatshop; the establishment of a State industrial com mission for dealing with questions of labour and capital ; the pro vision of a minimum wage and a nine-hour day for women; mothers' pensions; a blue-sky law (q.v.) protecting investors from unscrupulous promoters ; the initiative and referendum ; the es tablishment of a State tuberculosis hospital and the extension of safety devices on railways and in mines. He was energetic in suppressing violence in connection with strikes, his general policy being to hold local authorities responsible without recourse to the State militia. He favoured the abolition of the Federal inherit ance tax, believing that the State alone should have jurisdiction over inheritances. He was a strong supporter of President Wil son's policies and especially of the League of Nations. He was charged with opposing prohibition, but repeatedly declared that all laws must be enforced. At the Democratic national conven tion in 192o he received the presidential nomination, but was overwhelmingly defeated by Harding, the Republican nominee. The electoral vote was 404 for Harding and 127 for Cox. The popular vote was 16,152,20o for Harding and 9,147,353 for Cox The vote in Ohio, the home State of both candidates, was 1,182,022 for Harding and 780,03 7 for Cox.