Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-20
BoRAH's INDEPENDENCE.

Seator Borah Of Idaho has achieved a repufa
ton as all objector. He opposed the Versailles
recently he opposed the four-power treaty. He is
also opposed to the bonus bill which is now before
the senate.
\ In a letter to the American Legion post at Wal
lace, Idaho, which, is published in the Wallace Miner,
Mr.. Borah acknowledges receipt of a telegram from
the post condemning his attitude on this legislation,
and without going into the merits Of the bill he sets
forth what he conceives to be his duty as a public
servant when called on to decide on matters of leg
islation which come before him. The essential
parts of MIR. Borah's letter are as follows:
II have taken the position I have after great con-
sideratlon and with much reluctance. I understood
perfectly the criticism it would bring and the con-
de,nnation it would invite. I would not, under such
circumstances, have adopted such a course had | not
ielt it was a right course: Believing that my posi-
ton is a righteous one.1 cannot change it.
A yet | would do anything within my power
Which l telt was iii accordance with my duty here
to retain the friendship and respect of the eS>service
men. There is no body ofmen in my state for whom
| have greater respect or admiration. Why should
| offend them, either from personal or political rea-
sons?
"If l wanted to stay here at the price of nv
convictions, this would have been one of the first
purchases for political power which I should have
contracted-would have been one of the first com
promises | should have made. 1t would have been
most agreeable personally and it would have been
~ oouDAiIoe POIllAdIlS. J. 1 Is YOUR DTlV-
ilege to condemn my course. But l beg YOU to
know that it was taken with as much personal re-
greet, yes, with more personal regret, than any posi-
ton | have taken i'll the senate. I felt l could not do
otherwise and discharge my obligation to the peo-
pie as a whole and to the country.
Il observe in your telegram the threat which
you implicitly make as to future political punish
rnent. 1T was wholly unnecessary for YOU to make
this threat. 1t reflected no credit upon YOU and it
has had no effect whatever on me. Wen YOU come
to that tight in which you propose to inflict punish
ment, you will doubtless be able to say MANY things
IN the way of censure upon my public service. But
one thing neither you nor anyone else will be able to
say, and that is that | ever sought to purchase politi-
cal power by drafts upon the public treasury, or that
| chose to buy a continuation in office BY putting
81, 10000 0 900 upon the backs Of the American tax.
FPayers. | haven't much respect for the man who
buys office, even though he pays for it with his own
money. But the most Shiny creature which dis
graces American politics is the man who buys office
lie treasury and charges his .venal obligations to the
taxpayers.
1T | thought this measure a proper one, I could
and would vote for it. But believing, with thou
sands of ex-service men who have written me. that
It is not a proper one, if | should vote for it it would
be a simple matter of barter in which I use the peo-
pies. money to buy somebody's vote: in which the
account of my political expenses Would be charged
to the taxpayers.".
There are many people who find themselves
unable to agree with Senator Borah on many Sub
jects: The Herald has regarded many of his acts
and opinions unwarranted. But we do not believe
his sincerity is to be challenged. His condemnation
OF the practice, entirely too common, of irving to
buy votes with appropriations out of the public treas
ury is entirely sound, and it is unfortunate that it is
not more frequently and more ~forcefully stated.