Evening star., 1932-06-03

Surprise is registered by the country
as Senator William E. Borah of Idaho
announces that he will not attend the
Republican National Convention. His
customary independence is recognized,
While his attitude on prohibition and on
relief measures is seen as the basis Of
his utterance. 1t is widely believed that
he will not oppose the nominees of his
own party.
The Senator is quoted by the Rock
Island Argus independently as stating
thai "he ou,d not conceive of the two
parties going to their conventions with
cut having adopted relief program" "
and that failure to adopt such program
would call third parry into existence
if anything would" The Argus con-
cludes that it is mot inclined at pres
ont to take this third party possibility
very seriously The Chicago Daily
News tindependent) makes the point
that Senator Borah virtually comedies
that should Congress enact a substan-
tial relief and employment measure
interest in the third-parly movement
would languish and die
Referring 10 speculative interest
which is an accustomed accompaniment
to the uttsrances of the distinguished
Idaho Senator, who for years has been
life" the Nashville Banner Gndepend-
ent) offers the comment: The fate of
the Bull Moose movement twenty years
ago conveys too plain warning to the
Republican insurgents for them to seri-
ously consider the proposition to launch
new political organization. EAen if
such an effort were made, there is no
probability that Senator Borah would
be an advocate Of it. He WILL doubtless,
continue to preserve a veneer of party
regularity sufficiently visible to satisfy
q constituency which desires the SEM
blance, if not reality, of party identity"
* X
THE Senator still throws a long sha-
dow" remarks the Toledo Blade dnde-
pendent Republican,. while the Omaha
observing that he lis footloose and
fancy free" holds that he may not go
so far as to bolt" as few insurgent Re-
publicans have the hardihood of George
w. Norris" The Charleston IS. CO
Evening Post Democrat), states that
nobody expects he will go over to the
enemy" and the Danbury Evening News
independently. calling him "an admir-
able figure, who is sturdy, learned. in
corruptible. in some things valiant"
concludes that his marked inability to
play ball with the rest of the team de-
tracts from his significance and influ-
ence." The Hamilton (Ohio) Journal
independent Democrat), quoting the
Senator's statement that his highest
claim for credit is for what may have
helped to prevent" offers the Judgment:
Much legislation is i'll conceived. 1t is
hastily drawn, and processes to have
aims which sensible people know cannot
70 hU nf
Hence the need of men who will apply
their critical faculties to ambitious prof.
ects. It is often of the greatest impor-
tance to have members Of the Legisla-
lures or Of Congress who will not vote
blmdly with a party. but will subject
proposed measures to keen analysis, dis
secting their weaknesses and pointing
out consequences which the bill draft
ers have overlooked, Intentionally or
otherwise"
Mr.. Borah appears virtually" ac-
cording to the Cleveland News (Repub-
Ncan), Ito serve notice on the party
that If it adopts resubmisison plank
which Is by no means a wet plank-he
candidates pledged to 1t. His implied
threat is even stronger than that OF
joining third party. Mr.. Borah is a
|, power in politics; he is too big a man
to assume so petty an attitude. In srite
of his well known independence. he has
helped his party out in more than one
emergency, just as it has helped him
Probably no man could have rendered
the yeoman service he rendered in the
last campaign when he camped on the
trail of Gov. Smith throughout the
West. And yet the party to a large ex-
tent has made Mr.. Borah. Decidedly