Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-23
Fights for Restoration of
Direct Primary Law in
State Of Idaho.
NO THIRD PARTY"
Instead Of Running Him Out of Party,
Bcrah Asserts the State Committee
men viii BE Forced to Give Up
the Ship
lRr Inlfed Press.l

Washington, Oct. '23.-Victory for
the direct primary over the organ
lied opposition Of Republican party
regulars" was predicted today by
Senator Borah, Idaho, VINO is in his
home state fighting for restoration
Of the primary knocked out by the
G. 0. p. organization after Borah's
last election to the Senate.
Instead of being forced out Of the
Republican party by z hostility of
the regular organization in Idaho,
declared in a telegram to the United
Press. sent from his home in Boise,
that "the forcing out will be the
other way" That is, if any one ia
ousted from Republican ranks it will
be the state committeeman who are
fighting Borah.
The Direct primary fight looks
fine" Borah wired. 81 have no doubt
that the next legislature will pass a
direct primary law, and the COVER
nor. whoever he IS, will sign it. The
action of the state organization -
not affecting my pary relationship IN
any way. The forcing out will be
the other way.
81 think you can depend upon it
that so far as the direct primary
/ light is concerned, we shall attain
our object in this state. The Repub.
lican national committeeman came
out in a declaration for it yesterday,
and daily candidates for the legis:a>
ture are declaring for it,
The Idaho situation has been gen
orally overlooked by the political
"dopesters" this year, because no i'm
portant senatorial or congressional
contests occur there. But in some
respects, as party leaders realized
long ago, the Idaho campaign is even
more significant than some OF the
more spectacular fights.
1t marks an effort by Borah's en-
emies TO force him out Of public life,
or at least out Of the Republicans
party. Oposition to Borah was or
ganized long ago by interests that
did not like his vote on the wool and
sugar schedules of the tariff bill.
Borah was notified, in fact, that he
would be thrown out of the republi-
can party in Idaho and then out OF
the senate if he ever ran again.
After Borah was last elected, the
direct primary law was repealed.
Borah went home this year to get 1t
restored. He called on republican
candidates for governor and other
offices to repudiate the platform
written by the republican state com
mittee, declaring for a convention
system. The committee mon assail-
ed Borah notify for this action, and
the platform was endorsed IN the
face of his opposition.
Immediately talk was heard OF a
third party, many of Borah's Idaho
friends are ready to start a third
party movement with him at its head
any time Borah will consent. They
have a lot OF "Borah for President
clubs organized now
Some of Borah's political enemies
here expected him to bolt the party
when he was apparently beaten on
this years chief issue in his state
But Borah expected he would be
beaten by the organization. He is
counting on the Republican voters I"
win for him. over the state commit
tee. If he does not win, Borah will
stand small chance of returning to
the senate two years hence-at
least as a Republican.