Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-22

onstration of President Wilson's determination to preserve
peace at all hazards, the business interests of the country are
coming to feel that with him in the White House for another
four years they would enjoy a period of safe and sane admin
istration under conditions to which they have been able easily
to adjust themselves.
So long as business remained stagnant and the industries
of the country were paralyzed republicans could count with
practically absolute certainty upon victory in the presiden-
tal election next year, but with the return of prosperity they
will be robbed of their paramount issue in the cry that a high
tariff is essential to the prevention of calamity, and they must
depend more upon the personality of their candidate.
Under such conditions Senator George w. Norris of Ne
braska believes the Republican party can still win, if the two
factions of the party are prepared to unite on a candidate of
real ability and with a disposition to deal with the issues on
their merits. He believes neither Roosevelt nor Taft will be
a candidate next year, and this will probably be according to
the fitness of things, for with either as the standard-bearer,
old sores would be opened and division would be the inevitable
result.
1t is significant that while Senator Norris is something
of a radical he includes Senator Weeks of Massachusetts as
among the men with whom the republicans could win. He
says that despite the regarding of Weeks as a reactionary in
some parts of the country, this criticism has at times been
unjust. In support of this contention it is shown that Weeks
has manifested great independence of action. The Massa-
chusetts senator voted, for example, for the currency and
banking measure now in operation, against most of his party
associates, and while he opposed the administrations ship
purchase bill he secured the passage through the Senate Of
provisions that would have gone far to provide this country
with the merchant marine generally demanded.
Senator Norris also warmly praises Senator William E.
Borah of Idaho. Senator Albert B. Cunmins of Iowa and Sen
ator Theodore E. Burton of Ohio. He is inclined to conine
the list of possibilities to men like these, because of the ques-
ton Of availability. He says: "The Republican party must
be held to progressive policies, since the nomination of a re-
dictionary of the type of 1912 upon a reactionary platform
This means that in the estimation of this progressive re-
publican, who desires to see the two wings Of the party come
together in 1916 in order to ensure success, reactionary repub-
icans like EGhu Root of New York, Myron T. Herrick of
Ohio, Charles W. Fairbanks of Indiana could not hope to unite
the party, particularly in the West, and assure success at the
polls.
In presidential discussion the name of Justice Charles
g.. Hughes always comes to the top, but wholly without his
connivance or consent. Mr.. Hughes would unquestionably
enjoy the distinction of occupying the presidency, but there
are various considerations which initiate against his active
candidacy for the party nomination. He might accept a prac-
tcally unanimous nomination, but in all human probability the
number of favorite sons from different States will make such
a nomination out of the question. He might be willing to go
into the convention with the Empire State soidly behind him,
but with Root and Whitman representing the two wings of
the party in his home State he can hardly hope for unanimous
support in New York to say nothing of Barnes;
Everybody recognizes the fact that with Hughes as the
republican candidate success would be practically assured,
but with the convention system in operation his nomination
in effect will be out of the question. However, Hughes will
unquestionably have material support in the national conven-
ton, ready to push his name, if there is the slightest en-
enlargement.
There looms in the West one man who would almost in
evhably become his party's candidate for the presidency. but
for the important political consideration that he comes from
a comparatively unimportant State which is in no sense pivot
al, and that man is Senator Borah. Yet circumstances may
cconspire to lead the party to ignore the fact that Borah comes
from Idaho instead of New York or Ohio or Indiana or Illinois,
deserving of representation in the White House.
Borah is held to suggest Lincoln in his mental and moral
makeup more than any other man in public life in America
to-day: He is one of the most eloquent speakers in the coun-
try. He has repeatedly demonstrated his belief in social JUS
tce by champiOning the cause of the oppressed, but he be-
leves also in justice for both sides. He admires the trainers
of the constitution of the United States as men who under
stood the science of government as no other single group of
men ever understood it," He believed, however, in the pop
ular election of United States senators, and took an active
part in adapting the constitution to modern conditions in this
connection as we'll as through the income tax amendment.
Senator Borah is an anti-monopolist, but he insists that
justice should be done corporations by making the Sherman
law apply to specific cases instead of leaving every separate
offence to be dealt with by the courts or a trade commission.
He does not distrust the courts, being opposed to the recall
of Judges. On the other hand he breads the increasing CEN
traiization of power and the weakening of State autonomy,
an attitude of mind which would appeal with especial force to
Vermonters. AS the States create monopoHstc combina-
lions so they can dissolve the same, and he holds that the
States have the remedy for monopolies in their own hands.
A writer in the Boston Transcript also tells how Borah
risked his live to save from a mob a cOlored %bootblack, who
had become involved in a disorderly crowd at a ball game. and
yet was ready to champion the summary punishment of the
riotous colored soldiers at Brownsville, declaring their con-
duct to be morally if not technically, treason in it's most ag-
gravated form" Borah prosecuted relentessly the strike
leaders accused of the assassination of Governor Steuenberg,
and on the other hand for seven years he has been the most
valiant and successful campaigner in the United States SEN
ate in behalf of humane legislation for the working classes.
Borah was a supporter of Theodore Roosevelt in the pre-
liminary campaign for the presidency, but he would not leave
his party when the latter failed to secure the nomination. He
is an ardent believer in pan-Americanism, but he stands ag-