Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-09-26
IDAHO SITUATION
CAMPAIGN GUIDE
State, Finally Reached by
Economic Blight, More
Hopeful for Democrats.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

BOISE, Idaho, September 26-Every
competent judge agrees that Idaho at
this time is either Democratic or else
will be very close. About the cause
there is complete agreement and this
unanimity about the cause throws pc
culiarly strong light on the whole presi-
dental campaign through the country
Idaho was literally the last community
in the United States to feel the depres-
sion. For year or more after bad
times were general elsewhere Idaho
was immune. 1t was only after times
had begun to mend elsewhere that the
worst of the depression struck this State.
The climax here came in the shape Of
serious bank failures only little over
a month ago, after bank failures else
where had practically ceased. There
fore, Idaho is today at once in the pit
of business depression and at the peak
of political discomfort. The situation
is like a microcosm showing the rela-
ton that exists between these two con-
dltlOnS everywhere in the country. 1t Is
carried out with enthusiastically OF detail.
In some counties in Idaho the princi-
pal crop is sugar beets. The price of
this crop is high enough to be relatively
satisfactory. These counties, therefore,
everybody agrees, will provide normal
Republican vote to a less degree. Ris-
ing prices of wool are alternating some
of the depression and by that aSsuag-
ing some of the political discomfort.
The Determining Factor.
Idaho thus provides perfect illuStra-
ton of the extent to which the times"
ton everywhere. You can talk for
hours about the campaign and never
hear the word prohibition alluded to,
nor any other issue mentioned as i'm
portant in the campaign. 1t is fully
apparent that Republican fortunes
throughout the country have improved
in proportion as in most parts Of the
country the depression has receded, and
will improve in proportion as conditions
continue to be better.
1t is only collateral to the campaign
to mention another aspect of Boise and
Idaho. In the big cities of the East
and elsewhere a good many folks must
have given thought recently to what
and where might be better condition
OF life. They must have wondered
where there might be greater Security,
more satisfaction in living. Boise with
practically every bank closed, is, one
feels like saying, better place to be
than New York or Chicago at the height
OF prosperity.
Comparison of Conditions.
A man who. in the great cities, lives
precariously in three or four cubicles
of an apartment can in Boise water his
big front yard with 100 feet of hose.
In every material or educational salts
faction family in Boise with ST 500
a year is better off than one in New
York or Chicago with $4,000. Some
thing of the distinction of the town is
in the uniquenesS Of its leading citizen.
During the forenoon Senator Borah
works in an office on the fifth floor of
the First National Building. to which
comes a stream of kilograms and let
tiers from all over the world. Occasion
ally from the plain. small Office, in his
role of chairman of the Foreign Rela-
tons Committee of the Senate, he has
given out statements which have been
heard in every capital in Europe. In
the afternoons he closes his office and
sits on the porch of a brick house set
we'll back from a street of shaded
homes. Just now, of course, his routine
is disturbed by anxiety about Mrs.
Borah's illness. Borah and the town he
came to as young lawyer Al years
age. compose an engaging detail of
American Life.