The Washington times., 1912-06-08
COMMITTEE GR|LL[D
BY SENATOR FOR
LACK OF COURAGE
Borah Declares Members
Are Cowards for Not Vot-
ing Publicly.

CHICAGO, June S-Senator Borah
yesterday paid his respects to the Ma
uonal committee In most emphatic
manner. He had again attempted to
provide for a rollcall upon the demand
OF ten members of the committee. The
majority attempted to prevent him
from speaking In behalf OF his motion
by moving to lay II upon the table.
Il will not be gagged this early In
the fight!' cried Borah, and he con-
tinued to talk. Victor Rosewater, act
ing as chairman. called for a vote and
declared the Borah motion tabled. and
still Bo,ah talked. and the committee
surrendered and let him proceed.
He told them they were towards; that
when men are SO ashamed Of what they
intend to do that they are not willing
that their names should be published
in connection with their actions, the
public is justified in believing they in
tend to commit theft.
Charles F. Grooker objected to oBr-
abs language, bu: Borah did not modi-
fy IL: and the others sat still, because
they knew Borah was telling the truth.
Senator Borah's speech was the
strongest the committee has yet had
10 llSten 10. ne bdlu.
II do not make this motion with any
expectation, even II 1t Is carried, Of
assisting the candidate with whose in
terests 1t Is known that I am allied.
I do not presume for a moment that
1t will result in the seating of any
delegates VINO will not otherwise be
seated. or of unseating any one who
will not otherwise be unseated. un-
derstand perfectly that those in the
majority here have the votes to seat
whom they would seat and will do SO,
whatever the manner of procedure of
this committee may be.
Il make this motion for another
reason. We are representing here a
great party organization. We are
supposed to represent the millions
who constitute the rank and file oil
the party. We meet under extraordi-
nary conditions and under circum-
stances in Some respects most unfor-
to be done in the open and every vote
recorded. with an individual respon-
sibility behind 1t. l cannot believe
that this committee is going to seat
seat; but II you are going to do SO.
for the sake of your party do II open
ly and above board and put your in
dividualitv and your courage. though
Are you ready to answer to your
constituency when you so home? Let s
make a record that cannot be assailed
at least for cowardice. II YOU believe
ought to be seated, upon what possible
theory can you decline to put your
selves upon record? Do you want a
record behind which You can hide and
sponsibility. where. by reason Of di-
vided responsibility, you can plead that
you could not help the action Of the
committee, Are you going to do some
not defend. and which. as men pro-
Tossing to be honest men, you cannot
look your constituents in the face and
uphold"
At this point an effort was made TO
take Borah of his feet by moving to
lay the motion on the table. Borah
declined to be muzzled- and said ne
would not submit to gag rule. and that
dertaking such tactics; that he had a
right to address the committee, and he
proposed to do 80 so long as he was
not physically taken out
A long wrangle and shouting OF differ.
ent persons at the top of their voices
continued while the chairman was put.
ting the motion to lay Borah's motion
on the table. Borah continued his speak.
inT Ing, after the huO-oub died down. and
What are you men afraid Of? what
is It that you are going to do? II these
delegates are entitled to seats. why
should you conceal your record? Have
you lost your courage? Are you ashamed
OF what is going to happen?
I"I do not hesitate TO say that mer
who have not he moral courage tt
record in the open every vote which
they cast IN matter SO vital to the
party are unworthy e represent the
great Republican organization. II yor
have legitimate delegates here suffi
cient to nominate your candidate. every
Republican in the country will say al
right, the ma jority rules; II you have
then you are not afraid to cast youi
vote and have It recorded. II you have
not the legitimate majority of delegates
and you propose to nominate him re
| gardl0ss Of 1hether YOU have or not
then YOU had just as we'll not hold ~
| election-you are wasting your time ant
destroying your organization.
The great body of the Republican
| party have been trained under the rul,
of the majority, but they expect US, a.
| their representatives sitting here in
quasi judicial capacity, to give them ,
| convention composed of delegates who's
| seating we can honestly defend, not onI,
| against the attack that must come from
| the opposition, but against the criticism
that must come from those people VIII,
| insist on fair dealing"