The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-10-12


tons He also will make a con-
test for a direct primary in place
of the present convention system.
II will be no easy job. BOrah's
continuance in the senate now
seems to depend upon his success.
His luck and his performance will
be watched with the keenest in
terest and sympathy in Washing
ton, where his proportions and
stature as a public man are more
fully recognized than in the coun-
try at large
'Borah, like Hiram Johnson, is
a product Of the direct primary.
When he can 90 to the electorate
and make his appeal in person he
can be elected. His chances are
greatly lessened, if not foreclosed,
in a convention Idaho at one
time had a primary law. but re-
pealed it to return to the old con
vention plan. The primary plan
of nomination has not raised the
average of public men as its spon-
sors and champions hoped il
would but it remains a better sys-
tenn of selecting candidates for
office than the old conventions,
with all that they implied In Ida
no the interests that control con-
ventions. are railroads. beet sugar.
wool, the Mormon church and
mines When these interests act
in concert they name the candi-
dates. Borah would stand no
chance with them At least so his
friends in the state now feel
For one thing, Borah voted
against the Fordney- McCumber
bill which so heavily protects
wool and woolens Wool is a big
interest in Idaho, and Senator
Gooding. Borah's colleague. was
foremost in fighting for heavy
wool duties The state platform
upon which republican candidates
will make their appeal this No
vember applauds the new tariff
bill Borah seeks to have that de-
claration of party principles APP
prove his stand in opposition to
the new duties. That is only a
part Of his fight
"If Borah is not successful his
failure to return will be a distinct
loss to the senate and to the rep
resentation from the northwest.
That section of the country does
not send able men to the senate.
The failure to do so is recognized
out there. Borah is the only man
from that rich and growing terri
tory i'm recent years who has ac-
quired a national reputation and
standing He has proved his cal
ibre and his capacity. He is es-
teemed and respected by his col
leagues and by those who have
had him under intimate observa-
ton at Washington. including the
numbers of persons who are most
often in disagreement with him.
He provolSes and provides mater
ial for intelligent discussion of
large public affairs. He is one of
the figures in the senate who least
easily could be spared. That is
what Washington thinks of him;
but what Idaho thinks is what will
count. and that can not be deter
mined until the two-year contest
now beginning is ended"
For weeks reports have been pub
she'd that Senator Borah would take
/ active part in the campaign in
aho for the purpose of renewing the
,ht for the restoration of the direct
imary and also to explain his posi-
IN on the Fordney tariff law. partic-
arly the wool schedule. which he
ted against Being a protectionist,
was to be expected that he would
Ike advantage Of the first opportun-
to tell the people at home why he
posed a protective measure of such
al Importance to them. but it was
until the senator reached Boise
' t''t '"AAtNiAN 'RhAiti iAiNN tue ItDoll ]
1t he would carry the fight for the
ect primary to the people that this
Der was willing to accept it as true
= are utterly unable to reconcile the I
'ition of Senator Borah on this G
sstion with his relation to the re- j
'lican party in Idaho The time is =
IT, so far as this campaign is con- a
ned. for the discussion of the direct o
mary among republicans of the C
te with the v.sw 20 influencing the il
ion of the legislature on that ques- {
L. The advocates of the direct pri- S
ry had their day in the convention p
his city and every opportunity was n
an them to make the most of it. e
an overwhelming majority the con- Il
ton declared against a return to II
statewide primary and in favor of f,
present system. The platform %
pied is very definite on the prim-
question. 1t declares for the pres G
continuation, r,-fr,,..,. ..rstr.