The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-08-23

ing grows from a realization of hi:
accomplishments in the senate. Sci
dom does a first term senator make
himself felt as a vital factor in the
senate. Custom DEGREES that for al
least two years he shall hold his peace
| During the balance of his term he
may rightly exert such influence as
his ability enables. Early in his term
Senator Borah attracted attention He
and his ability were known to the
then president of the United States
Theodore Roosevelt In consequence
he was selected by the president to
defend the action of the chief execu-
tive in dishonorably discharging the
colored egiment-member of which
participated in the Brownsville up
rising which resulted in the murder of
private citizens. Owing to the fact
that the entire regiment refused to in
form against the guilty parties the
entire regiment was dismissed from
the service. After Senator Borah
more sedulously devoted himself to
the needs and requirements of the
west Of course the people of Idaho
were involved and were directly bene-
flied by the action of our junior sena-
tor The first real legislative &C
complshment to the credit of Sena-
tor Borah was the direct congressional
appropriation of $20,0O0,0OO.OO to the
reclamation fund. This enabled the
government to proceed with the pro-
jects under way without waiting for
the moneys received from public lands
to finance these projects. The benef-
icient effect of this piece of legisla-
ton is in evidence in every arid state.
After securing IBIS legislation he took
up the enlarged homestead bill and
was highly instrumental in securing
the passage of the bill. Quickly fol-
lowed efforts on behalf of homestead
ers on government irrigation projects,
with such results as are well known to
the people of Idaho. In addition to
this Senator Borah has exerted wide
influence on the legislation effecting
the nation at large. He has been one
of the real progressives in the senate
We feel that we need hardly remind
the people of Idaho that Senator
Borah is badly needed in the United
States senate. The national home
stead laws are not all that they should
be; the reclamation law needs changes
and the bureau needs overhauling
One thing that Senator Borah will
urge, and one in which he should be
loyalty supported, is that the mistakes
of the Reclamation Service should be
charged to the government and not to
the homesteaders. If the government
has sent out incompetent, negligent
engineers the government should pay
for their mistakes. Heaven knows
that the homesteaders should not be
called upon to pay for dishonesty,
and incompetency. The
Tribune long ago called attention to
the constantly increasing cost of the
Boise-Payette project as estimated by
the government engineers. The re-
of Senator Borah to the SEN
ate will be followed by an investiga-
ton of the Reclamation Service; by
the overhauling of that bureau; and,
let us hope, by the dismissal of Direc-
tor Newell. The State of Idaho is
still interested in the forest reserves.
That policy of government may ma
terially change in case Borah is re-
turned to the senate. OF course there
is the ever present tariff question. The
interests and INDUSTRIES of Idaho must
receive a just protection.
The foregoing apply to the State of
Idaho. In national affairs Senator
Borah is in close touch with the COM
mon people. He showed this by his
action after the Chicago convention.
1t is now up to the people to decide
whether self-seeking politicians-most
of them like the festive mule, hav
ing no pride of ancestry nor hope
OF posterity-shall encompass the
defeat of this able, conscientious
leader and friend of the people. We
believe that the sound sense of the
people of Idaho will finally triumph.
We believe that they will not long
follow, nor to any great extent, pol
itical frefys, who are for the moment
dazzled by their own light.