The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-01-01
Idaho Scion Turns From League
Opponent to Champion of
European intervention.
SCRAPS ISOLATION POLICY
Developments, He Says, Causes
His Change in Attitude
on Question.

BY WILLIAM E11LlE SlMNG.
WASHINGTON. Jan. about
1900 years ago Saul of Tarsus. per
secutor of the Christians. was lnirac-
uously converted on his way to Da-
mascus.
From that minute on, the man who
had held the clothes of those who
stoned Stephen, was the most earnest
preacher and the greatest pro-
FOUNDER of Christianity.
Senator Lenroot charges you will
have to go back to Saul to find a
fitting parallel to the conversion of
Senator William E. Borah, Repub-
lican of Idaho. from an '1rreconcila-
BILE" opponent Of the League OF Ma
tons to the leadership of those who
would have the United States take a
hand in Europe
1T was not q miracle which
brought about my conversion, -
Senator Borah told me today. 1T
was not a conversion at all, but a
development.
L. s. Has Duties
Even in my fight against the
league l made it plain that the United
States has its duties to the rest of
the world duties which it could not
shirk
ut was merely a matter OF how
these duties We're to be discharged. /
was opposed to The league because it
pledged us in advance TO a definite line
of action-force In the last resort
and / wished to keep this country free
to act i'm each emergency AS il arises.
The question is not only European;
it is American. II affects almost every
home In the land The farmer. the
business man, the working man, near
ly every one of us, IS concerned.
Since 1919. American farmers have
lost. in depreciation In the value Of
their crops. $500. 600, 900. This is
more than England, France and Italy
combined owe US.
Europe Living on Hope
Certain nations Of Europe are liv-
Ing on hope. They believe relief is
Just ahead. Take this hope away and
there is no telling what would hsppen.
Public opinion Is emphatically In
favor of America taking action to help
stop tho disaster"
Picking up a. large batch Of tele-
grams his secretary had just brought
in, Senator Borah added:
These are proof of what I say.
They are mostly from farm organiza-
tons, all over the country. The people
of this country want US TO take a
hand Never doubt it,"
AS If to prove Idaho's scrapping
Senator's contention, the Senate gal
leries were packed to the doors during
his fight for American Intervention.
Gets Silent Applause
And as he would score point after
point against Senator Lodge. Republi.
can floor leader, by whose side Borah
ONCE had fought a winning battle
aNinst the league, waves Of what
might be called silent applause ran
round the hall And there were fire.
quent raps for order
Today Washington stands almost
aghast at what, to the popular mind
and even by his fellow senators, is
called Borahs conversion"
Everywhere it is admitted that the
administration policy Of Isolation"
has been definitely scrapped, confer
ence or no conference.
Whether Washington continues Sc
cretly pulling the strings in European
capitals as at present, or comes out
in the open and frankly intervenes
as Borah asks, the administration is
now committed beyond hacking down
to some form of cooperation with the
nations of Europe.