The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-05-04
AT COEUR D'ALENE.

IN Tue absence OF HIST mana iniOr-
nation The Tribune is still somewhat
III the dark as to exactly what took
place at Occur d'Alene when Idaho
delegates to the national Republican
convention.
One thing that most liberal Repub-
is that OF the eight delegates who rep
resent Idaho, only one, Senator vii
liam Borah, is at present Hiram
Johnson man. II Is not at all IN
likely that this one vote is not rep
rcscntative of the total Johnson SEN
timent in Idaho. Johnson probably
has more friends than that in this
state and would, il the voters were
permitted to decide. have received
more than one delegate to Chicago.
One thig that most liberal Rcpub-
licans will rejoice in Is the well mcr
tied rcbukc that was given Senator
Borah. Taking a position exactly an
alagous to that OF President Wilson
when the chief executive Of the Uni
ted States asked the election of A
Democratic congress during the war,
Senator Borah insisted upon the sell
ection of delegation that would be
amendable to his wishes. Such sell
ection meant nothing less than that
Idaho's delegation would have sup
ported Hiram Johnson at Chicago.
Since the convention there has been
not a little talk of the enemies" of
Senator Borah and the part they
played at Occur d'Alenc. The Tri-
bunc believes that opposition came
from many who are not enemies" of
given its rather loose political mean
ing. We hold that Senator Borah Is
a big man, that Idaho is honored by
his presence in the United States sen.
ate and that Idaho Republicans have
an exceptionally able leader in his
person. The Tribune further believes,
however, that no person, no matter
how able, is entitled to dictate the
policies and opinions Of the mass Of
Republicans as Borah attempted to do
in Idaho. Woodrow Wilson tried
the same thing and even his former
staunch adherents are repudiating
many things he has done, fearing that
standing upon his record means dis
aster at the polls next November,
Borah, politician that he is, should
have realized that he could not sue
cessfully do those things that even
Wilson failed to accomplish.
So far. we have not observed that
Mr.. Borah declined to accept a posi-
ton at the head of the ldaho delega-
ton in spite of the fact that it is ov-
erwhelmingly opposed to his presi-
dental preference.
OF John Harris position, The Tri-
hume is not so we'll informed. 1t is
quite apparent that he is to continue
as national committeeman. And The
Tribune believes that his retention in
that position is a serious blow to
Idaho Republicanism 1t doesn't mat
ter that Mr.. Hart may have been
able to vindicate his war record had
the matter ever come onto the floor
at Occur d'Alene; many people, ig-
tends them to be, cannot forget the
the war. In all sincerity. The Tribune
believes that if Mr.. Hart can clearly
that situation, he should have done
so, or been permitted to do so, at
Occur d'Alene Indeed. it was not
two weeks ago that telegram from
Senator Borah to county leaders here
conveyed the information that Mr.,
Hart was not candidate to succeed
himself. At Occur d'Alcne. it was
contcnded that IL he failed to be re-
selected to the position he now holds
as national committeeman, it would
amount to virtual conviction on the
charges made against him Oh the has
is of his war record, 1t seems to us
that Mr., Harris proper procedure
would have been to state his case
clarity the situation to the best OF
his ability and then step down and
out. Politics which prompts the
Occur d'Alene procedure is not good
politics from the public standpoint,
Some merited criticism has been
made of the fact that at the conven-
ton, many vexious problems were
smoothed out by political methods in
temporary manner and that the
fundamental difficulties are aS Mar
from settlement as they were when
Republicans selected delegates to at
tend the convention. II is quite evil
dent that considerable portion OF
those who attended we're not suffic-
ientiy in HARMONY with the stand pat
politicians to make harmony possible
and to prevent something akin to 4
bolt BY insurgents. steam roller meth
DDS were employed, We doubt whet-
her there was ever any possibility OF
threatening party integrity in Idaho.
And we do believe that more salts
faction would be felt by the rank and
file IL clean cut, open and above
board fight had been made, and some
xh:.r dsf;,;<e accommodated Under