Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-27
OLD GUARD SLOWLY
LEARNING IT'S LESSON
Will Likely Look to Far
West for 1920 Presidential
Nominee and California
and Idaho Senators Re-
garded as Probabilities.
BY BURL ARMSTRONG.
fin tho Salt Lake Teleqram.)

It was long time before Hoodoo
Bill became reconciled to the taxi.
He struck to his conservative, slow
plodding horses until 1t became estab-
lished beyond question that gasoline
would replace oats as the fuel of the
future.
Hoodoo Bills reluctance to recog-
Inize the inevitable is like the Old
lGuard's perversive blindness to the
Ieignal that has been. wigwagging its
warning now for some little time.
II the Old Guard Of the Republican
party continues to disregard the dam
IGer signals. it will be bumped off the
track for Ill time and Democracy, now
lfirmly entrenehed in the national de-
licenses, will fortify itself behind bull
Iwark Of patronage and party endeavor
Iron which it may take 20 years of
campaigning to effect dislodgement.
The Republican party must look to
1.-THE west in 1920 for its Moses.
And there are only two striking fig
ures of national importance and recog-
milton which can readily qualify.
One is Hiram w. Johnson OF Cali
fornia.
The other is William f. Borah OF
Idaho.
EAST MUST BE SOOTHED.
The east must be soothed by the
exotic breath OF the golden state of
California or be swept off its feet by
the healthy invigorating breezes of the
open spaces of the gem state of Idaho.
I believe that Johnson and Borah
will be the central figures Of the drama
TO be enacted at the Republican ma
tional convention in 1920, and that an
fastener will be selected for vice
president as running mate of one or
the other.
Borah is we'll known through his
long service as United States sena-
tor; he is conservative, yet he com
bines that element of conservatism
with advanced progressive ideas.
His progressivism is without the
finge of anarchy. The white clouds dc
not soar around the pinnacle of his
ambition, for his feet are firmly i'm
planted on terra firma. He is accus-
toned to the unfailng accomplish
mcnts Of time and vet he is not con-
tent to wait for destiny to deliver.
Borah is regarded as one of the mos
level headed mon in the United States
senate: he has won the hearts of tht
great body Of progressive minded Re,
publicans and yet he has kept aloe
from the minority of rattle-brainet
ProgressiVes.
Fills ability as a campaigner com
mends him rs a candidates; lie has woi
confidence in the east, he breathes til,
very spirit of the west. has ridden hgl
In the councils of the more liberal win,
of the Republican party, and is regard
ed as anything but a radical by thu
conservative wing.
Borah is born leader He come
from Illinois, and it WAS there II
passed his hcNhocd He came out t
Idaho and Won fame rs a rancho
while he was earNing a niche for him
self at the bar.
As a constitutional lawyer he has II
peer in the United States and as a
orator he stands eminent in tina
wholesome healthfu form of orator
that is refreshing departure from tn
old declamatory type.
Borah talks the language of com
mon sense.
JOHNSON UNLIKE BORAH.
There there Is Hiram Johnson. II
is as unlike Borah as Taft is dis
similar to Dobs.
Johnson will be fearful figure i