The Detroit times., 1909-05-21
had said something about the peo-

| had said something about the peo-
pie and about public sentiment.
Senator Borah answered slowly. as
though weighing each word. as though
careful not TO exaggerate or. underes-
innate
Il find in the senate a disposition
to sneer al anything purporting TO be
a popular course-the expression OF a
popular sentiment" he said. There
is a disposition TO put 1t down to q
spirit that Is demagogic. Ii Is con-
trary to an unwritten etiquette of the
senate-an idea carefully cherished
that the senate is something supe-
rior TO the people. and unintiuenced
by the peoples sentiments"
This sentiment isn't new, Of course.
II is something that all OF us had
thought was more or less true. We
have felt that the senate thought IL
self bigger and wiser than We, the
people. were. Ii is startling to have a
man on the inside tell US in SO many
words, and as though IL was an under
stood thing. that was exactly the way
the "Millionaire's club" which we elect
thinks of us.
We talked about other things-be-
fore and afterwards. The tariff, for
instance. Senator Borah and his sym
pathies were with the members who
were making a fight for revision
downward.
You voted with the regulars for
the duties on lead" suggested.
Yes" he said. And III tell you
why. | have a personal acquaintance
with the independent lead producers in
my state. ! say a personal acquaint-
ance, because | have done their law
business in the past have. OF course,
given up all my law businessmen
taking my name from the firm-since
came TO the senate. And the situa-
ton Is this
Il know these independents are
really independents, and not dummies
put forward by trust A trust? OF
course there's a trust. Does the trust
want a tariff on lead? Yes. But what
about the independent producers i
made study OF the situation, and be-
came convinced that a reduction OF
the duties on lead would make no
serious difference with the trusts
they could do business and survive
either why But the independents
not SO. Without the duty, they would
be completely at the mercy OF the
trust They would have TO sell out.
That would end all competition in the
industry. So voted for the duty"
How. about petroleum."
IL am not convinced that the So
called independents who come racing
down 10 Washington are really such.
In every case which | have investi-
gated, | have found that the so-called
independent oil producer is really only
stalking horse for Standard Oil.
That makes a difference"
| wanted Senator Borah TO talk
further about his impressions Of the
senate, especially along the line OF its
attitude toward the whole people
THE senate Is strangely oblivious
to the real sentiment OF the country"
he said This senatorial courtesy
they talk Of is really an attempt TO
prevent a senator from saying the
things he wants TO say. Many OF the
older senator's would be greatly bene-
flied by a senatorial special which-at
least once a year-would take them
as far west as Idaho. and convince
them that the continent does not enc
at the Hudson river"
How do you like IL as far as you
have gomez" was the way started the
conversation. The question left him
thoughtful.
ITO tell the honest truth" he said.
there are moments when have my
doubts"
"Of what?"
"Of whether the sacrifice is justified
/ left private practice OF $4,000 to
come To the senate. But there Is only
Mrs. Borah and myself in the family,
and our tastes are quiet. | have work
ed as hard during my term so far as
during the most active period OF my
private practice. This is especially
true OF man like myself. whose posi-
tlon Is antagonistic to the majority OF
the membership must be ready
Win my defense. For instance. on
the income tax. | devoted months OF
research to 1t. Had | done the same
work for private concern, | should
have charged $4,000 for It,"
"Al'y show TO get the income tax ,"
Il have hopes"
why did you make the sacrifice
you spoke Off"
There were things in Idaho pon.
tics which seemed to make IL neces.
sary. In the movement for progress.
sive things there. IL seemed that the
only way TO hold our own was for me
To represent that element here. So
came"
DO you think the people appre.
ciate7"
Perhaps not at nrst. In the long