The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-08-26
WELL.KNOWM LAWYER
ANALYzES SITUATION
PROMINENT MOSCOW ATTOR-
NEY GIVES HIS VIEWS AS
TO FRENCH'S ATTITUDE

The frequent mention of the name
of Congressman Burton L. French in
connection with the senatorship has
caused much interest in Latah county
where Mr.. French is so we'll and fa-
vorably known. 1t is needless to say
that Latah county will support Mr.
| French for either the Senate or the
| House. This county has been so con-
sistent in its support of our Congress-
man that there is no longer any
doubt about this.
The question the Star Mirror is
most frequently called upon to ans
wer, and one that we can't answer is
"Will French be a candidate for the
senate?" Congress has been kept in
session so much that Mr.. French has
not been able to visit Idaho for a
long time except the few days last
spring and his friends are consider
ably in the dark as to his plans.
VIM. E. Lee is generally under
stood to be rather close in touch with
Mr.. French. Mr.. Lee has been a
member of the state committee for
several years and has been one of
Mr.. French's staunchest supporters.
He was asked for a statement and
dictated the following:
81 do not know what Mr.. French's
intentions. are. He has not COM
them to me. Ny own
views are that he will not be a candi-
date for the Senate. 1t is generally
conceded that he will have no opposi-
ton in the republican party for his
place in the House of Representatives
There will, from present indications,
be three or four candidates for nomi-
nation for senator. The chances are
that Congress will be kept in session
continuously for the next
two or three years, and Mr.. French
could not and would not leave his
duties there to come here and cam
paign for the Senate. This has been
demonstrated on two occasions here
tofore. Furthermore, it costs a good
deal of money to make any sort of
for a senatorial nomination,
and French simply hasn't the money.
Burton L. French is without the least
shadow of doubt by far the strongest
man the republicans could nominate
% contest the senatorship with Sena-
or Nugent, and the betting would be |
lollars to doughnuts that French |
would defeat Nugent. Some of these |
lays, possibly after we have lost the
again the party will turn
o French and it will then be the
proper time for French to consider the /
enatorship.
However | am not certain but that
1r. French can be of more service to
he State in the House right now than
e would be if elected to the Senate.
t should be remembered that practic-
lily with the exception of treaties and
everything that passes
he Senate must also pass the House
efore it becomes law, and import
mt also is the fact that all revenue
ills must originate in the House. 1t
hould also be remembered that the
enate is body of ninety-six men,
ers and that there are more than
our hundred members of the House.
goes without saying, therefore, that
is just as important, in so far as
ational legislation is concerned, to
ave good men in the House as in
le Senate.
"The most important and the most
lfluential committee in the House is
nat on appropriations. This COM
littee holds the purse-strings of the
overnment, and only men with long
ervice and with demonstrated work {
lg ability ever gain membership on )
lis most important committee. 1t {
not a committee of grand-standers /;
+ gallery-players, but of real work.
IS. For the first time in the history s
{ the nation Idaho has member of
lat very important committee, and {
lat member is Mr.. French. Another |
ling, Mr.. French is the only republi- |
an member on this committee from &
Il the states west of Kansas, and has
lerefore not only a great responsible I
ty but an opportunity to display that )
egree of real constructive statesman V
Zip that those who know him we'll are Y
he possesses. Thus it will I
: appreciated how Mr.. French, with L
'actically continuous service in the ).
ouse since 1901, with membership !.
/ the most important committee in !,
e House, may feel that he can bet 4
T serve Idaho and the west in the
ouse; and until such time as there
ems to be a general desire upon the I
lrt of the republican party of the
ate that he wrest the senatorship
ON some. member Of the opposite e.
rty | predict that Mr.. French will c.
efer to remain in the House of !
,+o+ , IL