Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-05-09
BoRAH PROVES HIS METAL.

D EtRESHlNG as coonng breeze,
Az on sitting summer day is the
letter. Of Senator Borah, of Idaho,
which he sent the other to the Poca-
tello, Idaho, Legion Post in reply
to a message threatening him with
reprisal at the polls later on if he
persisted in opposing the soldier
bonus legislation. With a courage
too seldom found in public officials,
Senator Borah wrote the Legion Post
as follows:
~ observe in your telegram the
threat which you implicitly make as
to future political punishment. 1t was
wholly unnecessary for you to make
this threat. 1t reflected no credit
upon you and it has no effect what
ever on me. When you come to that
fight in which you propose to inflict
punishment, You will doubtless be
able to say many things in the way
of censure upon my public record.
"But one thing neither you, nor
anyone else, will be able to say, and
that is that | ever sought to purchase
political power by drafts upon the
public treasury, or that | chose to
buy continuation in office by put
ting four billions of dollars upon the
backs of American taxpayers.
Il haven't much respect for the
man who buys an office, even though
he pays for it with his own money.
But the most Shiny creature which
disgraces American politics is the
man who buys office by paying for
1t with appropriations out of the pub
lie treasury and charges his venaI
political obligations to the taxpay-
ers.
"lf | thought It's measure a prop
er one, l could and would vote for
1t. But believing with thousands of
former service men who have written
me that it not proper one. if |
should vote for it, it would be sim
pie matter of barter in which I use
the peoples money to buy somebody's
vote, In which the account of nv no.
lltlcal expenses would be charged to
the taxpayers"
Much has been said of Senator
Borah in the past in criticism of his
attitude on various public and world
questions, but it has never been said
of him that he was not honest in his
convictions. With Borah it is and
has been principle before party, and
that is why Borah is statesman in
stead of mere politician.
Just now the entire Republican
party is in a quandary over the pend
ing bonus legislation. It's whole
thought is how to act to win the
strongest support and lose the fewest
votes; the question of principle does
not enter even into the discussion
with the majority. Latest news from
Washington indicates that the deciss
ION has about been reached that the
bonus bill had better be allowed TO
slumber for some time; that it will
be wiser to lose some of the Legion
vote and stay solid with the big busi-
ness interests than to lose those in
terests and win a good share of the
soldier vote. And the Republican
party knows which side of its bread
is buttered.
But Borah views big questions
from principle instead of expediency
as his letter to the Legion Post shows
How easy it would have been for
nm to have joined in the crv for tho
bonus, because Idaho has no big bust
ness influences to threaten him.
there Is nothing except a satisfaction
OF doing the bidding of his own con-
science and the respect of men oen-
orally for his courage in FOLLOWING
his convictions for Borah to gain Nv
assuming his position.
Bishop Gambler, of Georgia. had
some splendid things to say about
Borah in last Sundays Atlanta Jonr
nal:
This utterance of Senator Borab
deserves the warm approval of hon.
est men, " said the bishop.
Not infrequently members Of loo
slslatures and members of congress
nave voted appropriations of public
FUNDS to improper objects for no 9th
eF reason than that of winning the
votes OF certain organized groups of
men who demanded money from the
treasury as the price of their support
ouM appropriations are utterly i'm
moral, They are virtually bribes Of