The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-07-21
SENATOR BoRAH AT THE FRONT


the interesting, If extremely belated,
discovery that the leadership of the
senate has passed to William e.
Borah Of Idaho. Senator Lodge is
nominally the Republican leader, but
he has been little in evidence since
the treaty fight ended. The long ill
ness of Senator Penrose, and the
growing indispotition of Senator
Knox for sustained intellectual eff
fort, have aided in shattering the
old steering-group, Of which Mr..
Smoot is also a familiar figure. So
the way was opened for new leader
ship, and Mr.. Borah, whether con-.
sciously or unconsciously. has taken
it. But, pace Mr.. Sullivan, 1t was in
1919 and 1920 that the intellectual
prominence OF the senate passed to
him, at the very time that Mr.. Sui
Ivan and the New York Evening
Post were phophesying the complete
defeat of the "irreconcilables." When
the history of that remarkable leg
islative struggle, which seemed so
hopeless at the beginning, is written,
1t will show that for steady driving
ahead, resOluteness of purpose, re-
markable strategy and absolute de-
termination to succeed, the palm be-
longs to Senator BOrah,
1t is this very resoluteness Of pur-
pose, coupled with incessant labor,
which makes Mr.. Borah so formid-
able. No other senator sticks more
closely to his job and declines more
invitations to appear in public and
to enhance his reputation. He never
loses an opportunity, or trick; his
sizing up of the situation at any time
Is so remarkable that his prophecies
are amazingly correct. Wall Street
comedies that as constitutional
lawyer he Is today surpassed by none
in congress unless 1t is Senator Knox.
He never was really spectacular; he
grows less and less so. He has made
no dramatic play for the spot light
IN the disarmament fight and no APP
peal to sentiment Or emotion. He
has just plugged away at his resolu-
tion, confident of it's success, but or
ganizing and planning steadily and
quietly behind the scenes. His power
reaches into the House as WE'LL he |
has exerted great influence there
upon the fight for small army; and |
he can be relied upon to continue
1t until his country is freed from the
burden and the abomination of a
large standing army.
The disarmament Campaign has
been only one of Mr.. Berah's varied
activities this year-all requiring
courage and nerve. This he served
notice in ringing, words upon the
North Carolina Republicans who
lave been trying to drive the negroes,
'ut OF the party that he would rather
cave it himself than life one finger
% aid them in their undemocratic
Ind un-American purpose. Always
lighting for free press and free L
peech, the senator has recently
acked on to the latest sedition bill II
ONE proposals in the form of an
which he offered as a
eparate bill last February. They
all Tor the automatic dismissal of
ny federal official violating the
light OF assembly,, or contravening the
rights of any individ-
that, if enacted,
1ould. stop the official lawlessness
nd crime which have so disgraced
ne country since we entered the war.
lmilarly, Senator Borah has been y
ctively trying to have the obnoxious s
'ar laws abrogated. It was this =
anne senator, too, whose protests q
ompelled his party and the presi- g
ent-elect to abandon the usual in y
uguration splurge, for which act Mr..
larding was so warmly praised. Just
ltely ne has taken strong stand
pom the bonus question and has y
lgorously opposed the latest bill in Il
at defiance of the soldier vote. His a
roper and sound protest against the v
ppointment of Mr.. Taft as chief =
lstice OF the United States we COM y
tented upon last week. q
Thus, because of his ability and "
,urage and his sense Of what issues ii
le public is feeling keenly about, d
r. Borah has come to be the most 81
rective and virile figure in the n
'nate. In the last few weeks he has fl
zen dangerously near clash with h
le president on several issues, If s,
lily because, as he warned the SEN s.
e last winter, he will not abdicate b,
IS Judgment and subordinate his al
ews to anybody else's. When he in
kes a position he holds it and is W
raid least of all of the White Il
ouse. II any revolt starts in the OF
'per house against Mr.. Harding it CT
likely to begin near the senator kl
ON Idaho, and no man is other &C
an a formidable antagonist who I'll
n play so logged, so patient wait h,
6 game. He introduced his pro- CT
'sal for disarmament conference gt
It'll Japan and England on Deem e,
r IA last. He ignored innumer- 20
lie efforts to sidetrack it, includ- 4.
g various hints from the White
ouse, and saw it unanimously
opted by the senate on March 21 =,
ID accepted by both houses June 20 D.
lere is beginning to be something -
the surety of progress of a glacier 81 q.
out Mr.. Borah's undertakings and -
president would be wise to 20 .,
II nj n L.