Evening star., 1927-10-14
Selection of Senator Norris
as Standard Bearer May
Not Stand.
STAND ON AGRICULTURAL
RELIEF DELAYS BOOM
Idahoan Declared to Have No IL
lusions as to Republican
Nomination.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Ntou VI tue newly organized ana now
organizing Progressive Republican
group. intent upon picking candi-
date for President.
The group. in which Senator Borsn
himself is playing an important part,
has urged the nomination of Senator
George Norris of Nebraska. recog-
nized as the heir OF the Progressive
| leadership in the Senate of the late
Senator Robert NJ. La Toilette of Wis.
consin. But there has been nothing
final about the choice of Senator Nor
ris AS the Progressive standard
bearer. Indeed. Senator Norris him.
self has declared he is not a candidate.
While apparently willing TO go along
with his Progressive colleagues, he
has evinced no great enthusiasm over
the prospect of an active campaign
for delegates to the next Republican
ma tional convention.
Senate Borah. an outstanding
figure in public life of the country for
years. a progressive but not a radical,
has been in the back of the minds of
many of his admirers as presidential
possibility. He was placed first on q
list OF four men whom Senator Norris
announced he would be glad to sun,
port for the presidential nomination.
The others were Senator Hiram John.
son Of California, former Gov. Clifford
Pinchot of Pennsylvania and Senator
Howell of Nebra ska. Senator Norris
might be expected, therefore, to join
heartily in support OF the Idaho Sen
ator if the Progressives decide. and
Senator permits his hat should be
cast in the ring.
Farm Stand Delays Boom.
The one factor which perhaps alone
is holding up the launching of the
Borah boom today is a. desire to know
Just how far Senator Borah Is willing
to go in the matter Of agricultural
relief. He voted in the last Congress
against the McNary-Haugen bill, with
its equalization fee. doubling its con.
stitutionality. But Senator Borah has
been one of the most outspoken mem
bers of the Senate in the demand for
| LEGISLATION which shall help solve the
agricultural problem of the country.
FIe is OF the West and knows its prob.
lens. He has aligned himself within
the last few days with a group IN tins
Senate which has been vociferous in
its demand for farm relief and. in
deed, for the passage of the NcNary'
Haugen bill.
1t is not at all improbable that
Senator Borah and the other members
of the group may find it possible 70
get together on farm relief plan
1t has been noticeable that some OF
the members of the group are not
making the McNary- -Haugen bill the
final test for presidential qualification.
II that were the case, the members
of the group doubtless would be viii
ling to support such an outstanding
friend OF the McNary.Haugen oil a.
former Gov. Frank o. Lowden OF ILL.,
nois, whose candidacy already has
been advanced in number OF States.
Or they might be willing tn turn 10
Vice President Dawes, another sup
porter of the principle Of the McNary-
Haugen bill. But neither Lowden nor
Dawes is acceptable to them. They
do not measure up as progressives, it
is said.
ROrah CIassed rs Progressive.
Senator Borah. on the other hand,
has been regarded for years as
progressive. He has gone along with
the other progressives of the Senate
in many OF their Legislative fights: His
voice has been potent. He is widely
known throughout the country, wheie
demand upon his time. He is chair
man of the Senate foreign relations
committee, one of the most important
nositions at the Capitol-a secretary
of foreign affairs in the Senate chana'
Der with whom the administration has
to reckon.
few years ago he led the night
against American adherence to srhs
League of Nations. He was bitter
ender. 1t was largely through his
leadership that the Senate found IT,
self in q. position where the treaty OF
Versailles was rejected. He fought
the World Court year ago, along
with others of the progressive group,
and reservations were added which
have caused the member nations ia
withhold a welcome to the United
States.
Perhaps never before has Senator
Borah tied in with the progressive
group to the extent he has gone recent
ly. He has played a lone hand so fire.
quentIy in the Senate, using his own
Judgment. that some of the progres'
sives have lodged his leadership. But
If he is now willing TO assume that
leadership. he probably will find tbs
group ready to follow him. There il =
feeling that the progressiVes can CAPT
talize the great personal following
which the Idaho Senator has built uu
for himself in many parts of tbs
country.
No Illusions as to G. q. r.
Senator Borah probably has no H.
lusions regarding the Republican pres
idential nomination. He halls from q
State with but a small number of
electoral votes, and presidential can
didates are rarely found. il ever, ex-
cept in States which can cast big
vote for Chief Executive. But there
is a feeling among the progressives
that the voters are interested in pub
lie questions today to greater ex-
tent than most OF the politicians cred.
ii; that they would rally to a leader
who gave these issues prominence.
And who could give them clearer in.
depreciation than Senator Borah. they
ask?
Not unnaturally the progressives
are asking themselves how Senator
Borah would appeal to the East, with
its big blocks of delegates in the ma.
tional convention. Senator Borah has
remained always in the Republican
party. He has been progressive, hut
within the party. He did not abandon
the party to follow Roosevelt or La
Toilette. though he sympathized with
many of the aims OF both. Three and
q half years ago he could, have had
the nomination for Vice Pre<idaUk