The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-01-17


sion of the Pettibone trial and upo1
leaving for Washington Senator
Borah announced his Withdrawal
from the law firm established by him
and that he would not engage in pro.
fesional practice SO long as he re.
manned in the senate The correct
ness OF his attitude is only equaled
by the rarity of it's observance. Sem
ator Spooner upon his retirement
from the senate, declared that he
must return to the practice of law as
matter of personal Justice, as he
had thought it best not to practice
while in the senate but as he needed
the income he must resume the work
which meant the laying aside of pub
tic life. With this one exception
there is no instance now in mind but
what senators and representatives
have felt free to supplement their sal
aries with private employment. In
deed, candidates have frequently said
they did not care so much for the
office as for the prestage it would
give them in their private business.
And this is precisely the danger of
1t. The office gives them a prestage
by which they may more easily over
come competitor in private life who
has no such great public position be-
hlnd him. Litigants who go into
court with United States senator on
their side are apt to have an influence
with courts and jurymen out of pro-
portion to the merits of the case as
compared with some poor and weak
person who is not able to secure like
prestige on his side. Similar advant-
ages in favor of the powerful politi
al favorite exist in numerous re-
pects that seem to render it highly
improper to use such honors as the
people have given them for the fur
herance of the private ends of them
elves or others. The only wonder ,
that such improprieties should :
ave been so long unrecognized and <
nchecked. Mitchell would not be in :
he grave, or Burton be an outcast If
he distinction between public office
nd private perquisite had been ),
raWn earlier. Bailey would give his g
light arm today if political morals :
ad earlier interviewed to prevent his {
ccepting attorneys fees from the <
tandard Oil company while holding
le commission of his state as it's =
'deral senator. The right of the man
office to add to his fortune and -
over by exploiting private sources <
wealth is one of the Oldest and x
ost dangerous of the prerogatives of K
e governing class. 1t has never x
lied to result in side rewards, satel- <
es, sycophants and rings through Z
nom the powerful favorite has fat -
ned while the Shaving peasant has -
arved. The Tribune heartily COM e
ends Senator Borah for promptly x
eeing himself from the obligations x
private motives while in the dis Z
arge of a public trust. We hope he Z
n go step further in also point
out by example, If not by pre- J
Ut, the injustice of representing, i
an without fee or hope of reward, =
lividual claimants before the var -
IS departments where there is de- =
ldant or adverse interest to be =
ected. 1t is entirely reasonable to
pose that many innocent persons
re had their rights impaired or Il
pardized by reason of some coun- ~
interest first securing the ear of
enator or representative in push
its case before a bureau. OF =
rse, to deprive senator's of the =,
'ilege of making an ardent n
mpion out of some sutton whose IA
, he has urged before the depart
It's is something of sacrifice, but u
lght not to be too much of sac @s
e to ask, considering all the pub n
Ind private dangers it avoids and -
he safeguards 1t erects. ~