The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-12-16
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

country, Senator Borah's attitude In
the recent campaign and the remark
able success which attended his candi.
dacy for reelection, has given him a
position before the country and in the
party which by many of the shrewdest
politicians is considered to be the mos,
enviable occupied by any Republican
the nation today. The big eastern
newspapers are having considerable to
say of his chances for leadership and
all dwell upon his indepanden position
and the remarkable endorsement CIV
en- him by his home people when he
went before them with his own record
as his platform leaving it for them
to decide whether or not it was good
Republicanism. The Washington Star
a few days ago, in first-page article
discussing .ne chances for leadership
among Republicans of the two factions
of the party, had this to say of Sen
ator Borah: 'Who is going to pluck
the standard from the dust, check the
retreat and reform the line of battle
for another stand? That is the ques-
tom the politicians on Capitol Hill
are asking each other. Senator Borah
OF Idaho, young, rescurceful, compe-
tent, already has advanced some sug-
tgestions. He. 1t Is said, win be among
those considered for leadership. He
was early in the field with a state
ment pointing out the mistakes of the
party and recommending policies.
While he supported Roosevelt at Chica
go as against Taft, he refused to fol-
low Roosevelt in his bolt from the
party Then followed discussion of
the chances of Senator LaFollette,
Governor Hadley of Missouri and 9TH
ers, but in the case of each some pro-
bable or possible objection was raised
which does not seem to obtain in the
case of Senator Borah. He has said
In one of his interviews that a great
party must rest upon a great princi-
pie and great cause. He has some
we'll defined ideas as to the needs of
the people and will be undoubtedly in
the front rank in the work of recon
struction, if he is not in fact the
leader.
The Sixty-second Congress OF the
| United States, composed of a Repub-
lican Senate and a Democratic House,
has begun it's concluding session. The
most important matter now before this
body is the Impeachment trial of Judge
Robert Archibald, Of the Court of
Commerce, against whom charges have
been brought by the House of Repre-,
sentatives. The Senate sits as
court to try Judge Archibald, and a
subcommittee Of the accusing judi
ciary committee, composed of seven
members Is acting as prosecutor.
The welcome accorded Addison T.
Smith, Congressman-elect, on his re-
turn here by the President, members
of both houses, the department officials
and by all classes Of employees Of the
government, was most cordial. His
long connection with national affairs,
and the unusual occurrence Of an at
tache OF the Senate being elected tc
Congress aroused the keenest interest.
Mr.. Smith was called here to close
up the official affairs of the late Sen
ator Hepburn, which will keep him
busily occupied until the opening Of
the new Congress. Members-elect are
accorded the same privileges in the
Departments as a full fledged mem
Der, and in addition the Thanking pri-
vilege on all official letters, so that
he has already assumed many of the
responsibilities which naturally fall
on Member of Congress.
With the death of Senator Hepburn,
Of Idaho and the retirement of Senator
Bailey of Texas, with the present ses-
sion two of the most able statesmen
are removed from public life. They
made most remarkable record in the
Senate, and are recognized as being
the most accomplished lawyers and
brilliant debaters who have occupied
seats in the Senate in a score of
years. One a Republican, the other
a Democrat, they were in accord on a
great many of the fundamental princi-
Piles of Government Both were i'm
bued with the greatest respect for the
wise craftsmanship Of the moulders
of the constitution, and both were in
siste9t that its provisions should be
strictly interpreted.l
Judging from the war Congressman
French is waging against the removal
Of the Government Assay Office from
Boise, the people of Idaho. need not