Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-10-27
SENATOR BORAH ON ISSUES OF
NATIONAL IMPORTANCE AT
TWIN FALLS.

Senator bOldn oDtttns
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: The beginning Of all good gov
eminent under our system is the in
terest and activity OF the common cit
izen in matters of public concern.
Neither the benefcence of genius nor
the wisdom Of statesmen can supply
the absence Of this force for clean and
efficient government. The streams of
national power should have their
source among the real builders Of its
wealth. The miner, the mechanic, the I
merchant, the laborer and the farmer
manifesting an earnest and sustained I
interest in political organizations con-
stitute the best guarantee we can have /
that we are not to be disappointed in /
the solution of the problems with I
which it is ours to deal.
No one would underestimate the |
value of the cultured or the learned I
or unnecessarily disparage the tend /
ency of today to seek the knowledge |
of the expert in the science Of govern
ment.
But nothing under our system can
take the place of the wholesome and |
uplifting influence which comes from
the aroused and sustained interest of
the millions Of men and women who
crowd the field of industry. Govern
ment deals not with speculative phi
losophy nor with theories but deals
essentially with the passions and appe.
tites. the wants and necessities, the
contentious and ambitions of men. 1t
is for this reason that the man who
mingles his thought with his labor is
INDISPENSABLE at the council board
where policies are adopted and stat
utes are framed.
Political parties are therefore not
only a convenience but indispensable
agencies in the successful administra-
tion of government. Not only do they
fix responsibility but they are the only
agencies through which the people can
give practical effect to their demands
BY no other process, it seems can the
immediate operating forces of govern
ment under a representative form of
government be made amenable to the
judgment Of the people. How indis-
pensable, therefore, are these agencies.
How vital it is that they be kept clean
and wholly responsive to the rank and
file. How important it is that all men
identify themselves with some pOlfti-
cal organization. If it is not what
you would have it to be. seek the CO.
operation of others and make it so.
The pharisee is as contemplate in
politics as he Is in religion. The man
who stands aloof from all political
organizations knowing as he does that
in the correct and righteous determi-
nation Of these political problems is
involved the happiness Of countless
thousands is a moral coward. l count
it the highest evidence of good citi-
politics. that they give their influence
to make their party faithful and eff
cient in dealing with these matters and
vigilant and loyal in guarding the well
fare of those upon whom rest most
heavily the burdens of our industrial
life.
Progressive But Not Radical.
A political party If it Is to be SER
viceable and constructive must neces-
sarily be progressive party. There
may be place in the political arena
for a party of criticism, there may be
a sphere in political life where men
can afford to be content with things
as they are, but a political party which
takes upon itself the vast responsible
ity Of government, of dealing with the
forces OF Industrial and moral growth
must be a progressive party. It's ira
ditions and past achievements are val
liable only as a guide to the footsteps
of the political pioneer and as an in
spiration to men to put forth theil
best efforts. The human race has no
ceased its march. Mankind is no
content to sit down like a profligat'
heir and waste the estate-the pres
ent has its obligations, the future it
calls.
l would not want to see our part,
an irresponsible or radical force, deal
ing in unwise and fanciful expert
ments of government. But 1 want t
see 1t at all times faithful to the rul
of the greatest good to the creates
number; not the foe of business o
the enemy of industrial growth; no
the tool of factions or the slave of an
man or class Of mems ambitions; bu
a great, powerful, progressive organi
cation, sensitive to the demands @
humanity and the necessities of on
industrial life, meeting in a bOlC
hopeful tolerant, progressive way tn
problems of the hour. 1 want part
which believes with an unchangin
faith in the self governing capacity {
the American people-which recoe
nizes that the American nationality
made up of all men, rich and poo
great and small, seeking in diver
ways their industrial betterment an
all alike entitled to the shelter of jul
and equal laws a party which hole
its first great duty to be the enac
ment Of good laws, and secondly
fearlessly enforce them.
Applied to New Conditions.
Nowhere is the value of the pr
gressive spirit more essential in pol
tics than in dealing with old and e
tablished principles and applying the
to new conditions. The Republics
party believes in a protective tart
1t has no less faith in the worth
that policy now than it has had in Il
past. 1t will put forth its efforts
retain it at all times. But that
may retain and secure its full bene
70 AllcIlCdn INDUSTRIES ana AnlcIlCi
labor 1t Is important that we Meth
permit its abuse nor shut our eyes
changed conditions. The time W
when it was not very material as
the amount of the duties levied or II
posed. so long as it was a protect
duty. When competition was UNI
strained the American market pla
was sufficiently safeguarded by tn
great law. 1t was safe to assume tn
however high the duty, cOmpetiti
at home would bring prices to
proper basis. In many fields of
dustry monopoly has repealed the Il
of competition. The force viii
once protected the consumer has be
eliminated by great combinations
many places and many ways. RecS
nizing these conditions, the tariff 1
should be written in the light of
nav facts rThara should he an hf