Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1907-04-18
Senator Borah's Indictment
lmpairs Usefulness.
OBJECT LESSON FOR VOTERS
Should Use Great Care In Se-
lectlng Officers.
April 10, 1907.

EOl6Or Free Pre66:
The mere fact that United States
Senator Borah has been indicted by
. United States grand jury special
ly summoned to investigate alleged
land frauds by some of the lumber
corporations Of this state is a very
lamentable occurrence in more
senses than one. The mere fact
of an indictment being found will
be very detrimental to the senator,
and hie usefulness to the state for
his entire senatorial term which
has just begun) is bound to be i'm
paired. 1t is immaterial whether
the indictment is withdrawn, or
whether the senator is acquitted in
. court trial, the fact remains that
the indictment will forever remain
stigma upon the character of
Senator Borah, and to that extent
his usefulness as prospective pub
lie servant is gone for good.
But out of evil good may come if
the people will but apply the facts
as they find them. The time has
come in the history Of the Ameri-
can people when they must, in self
defense, give more Of their time
and attention to public affairs and
the selection of their public officials.
1t is time to place q ban upon the
servants Of corporations who aspire
to public Office. 1t is as true today
as it was when our good Lord de-
clared that no man can serve two
masters. The reckless habit Of
picking up Tom, Dick or Harry
because he is a corporation attorney
and endorsing him for senator
ship or q governorship has had its
direful result in filling the most
limpOr tant offices in state and ma.
ton with the representatives ol
corporation interests, while the in
terests OF the people are absolutely
unrepresented. But there are in
dications that the people are NJ
longer going to stand for this clas'
Of representation. The case o
Senator Bailey of Texas is case il
point.
As the whole world knows, th,
corporations have always made it |
practice to retain the leading law
yers at large salaries to look ou
for their interests. Senator Boral
is q case in point. He acted as at
torney for the biggest corporation
of all-the Mormon church. II
is also attorney for the Barbe
Lumber Company, which is accuses
Of grating the public domain, an
in connection with which the in
dictment against Borah was found
It is time for all our young me
who aspire to public life to kee
their independence and not allov
themselves to be retained by col
porations.
When William Jennings Brya
settled in Lincoln, Nebraska, wit
his bride, Q lawyer with reput,
tion to make, he demonstrated ar
usual common sense upon this pa
ticular subject. He associated hin
self with the leading law firm I
that city, but he drew the contrac
with his partners which exclude
him from the most profitab
branch of the legal business. Il
partners were the leading railroa
and corporation lawyers of Il
state, but Bryan never would ha'
anything TO do with the railroa
branch Of the business, not even
the request of his partners.
thus deliberately excluding raj
road practice Mr.. Bryan was ev'
more particular than Abraha
Lincoln, who won his greatest ca
ss attorney for the Illinois Centr
railroad. Let our young lawye
ponder this brief lesson in pub
morality and let them resolve new
to become q corporation sla,
They may, as such, be sent
Washington to represent their j
terests, but in . few brief yea
their very names will be forgotte
while that Of Bryan will go |
sounding through the ages as t
apostle Of q higher and better pu
lie service by, for and of
people. No man can serve +
. masters. A. F. PARKER.