The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-01-20
where he came first - a fiery young
advocate In 1907.
Ill Tuesday


Borah fell Tuesday in his spa
cious apartment home near the Rock
Creek park bride paths where for
years he was an erect and hand
some rider. He was found uncon-
scious on the floor by his wife -
"Little Borah," as she Is known To
capital society. He had few con-
scious moments after that fall.
He was dean OF the senate and ct
noon next March 4 he would have
begun his 34th year OF service there
OF late his voice had not been as
powerful as II once was In the af-
fairs Of his state, the nation or the
world. But the record stands Of the
young Idaho lawyer who faced a
mob and cowed 1t in the Occur
D'Alene: Of the intra-P party battle
to make progressivism synonymous
with Republicanisin; Of his part In
the successful fight to keep this
country out of the League Of Ma
tons; OF his resolution to call the
postwar Washington Arms Confer
ence; OF the fine irnpartiality with
which he lambasted every president
from Taft through Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
Great ISolatlonist
The death Of Borah stills O pene-
trating "isolationist" voice at O mo-
ment when war again has engulfed
much Of the world. That fact may
have some future bearing on our
history.
Borah was q political battler by
trade and instinct, but o foil.coop.
orator. He had few intimate friends.
For few years, II Is true, he was
o member Of the Republican Ma.
tional Committee, but he learned to
say party means nothing to me-"
And he meant that, although he
never brought himself to bolt 0 Re.
publican presidential nominee. II
he did not like them, he Just went
home 10 Idaho and stayed till the
votes were counted.
He fought Idaho party bosses TO
come here and-for o couple Of
terms-he fought them To remain.
Born In Illinois
Born In Illinois, educated OF the
University Of Kansas and for o cou.
pie Of years O lawyer In Lyons, KAN,
Borah hoisted his single at Boise,
Ida, In 1891 and four years later
married the governors daughter,
smart and pert Mamie Mcconnell
who was with him today when he
died.
From that beginning, Borah rose
to become one OF the worlds first
citizens.
The story Is told that Borah end
ed his western trek III Boise be-
cause he saw o drunken young law
yer attempting 10 argue O minor
case. Borah had never tasted al
cohol-never did In his long life
and he concluded that II O young
drunk could obtain q case, the
Boise field was wide open to O youth
with knowledge Of the law and al
oratorical gift which made him
finally, one Of the few public speak,
ers whose platform skill might be
compared with that Of William
Jennings Bryan Or Franklin D
Roosevelt.
Had Maverick Instinct
The Maverick instinct was strong
IN Borah. He Joined forces with
the progressive Republicans In 1907
and died with the insurgent mark
still on him. His first big political
role was as floor manager for Theo-
dore Roosevelt In the fight to pre-
vent denomination OF william
Howard Taft for president In 1912
The Roosevelt men failed and NOV
cd across the street In O ruinp con-
vention which named Theodore
Roosevelt TO head the Bull Moose
Progressive ticket. Borah did not
20 with them. He went home.
There were occasions In later
years when Borah was reported To
DO contemplating O third party
movement. But the reports were
even less than ruinors.
II never considered Joining
third party" he explained some IA
years ago when Progrcssives were
rising against President Calvin Cool.
idge. II never had any intentior,
Of doing II IN 1919. was floor
manager for Roosevelt NJ the Chi.
cago (iei2) convention and the last
thing he said 10 me when lett
him In New York to 80 TO that con.
vention was don't do anything that
would take US out Of the party ]
said I was going TO do oil my fight
Ing inside the Republican party. he
changed his mind. didn't change
mine. Third parties grow Just ike
topSy. You have 10 have something
beside @ personal quarrel 70 create
one. I en- not interested IN third
parties"
And he never was.
Different This Year
But this year might have beer
different for the old man from
Idaho. Sitting on July "a, 1899
In the Senate restaurant with thu
correspondent, Borah discussed
1910 Republican presidential pros.
poets. He said he did not wan
Vandenberg, Of whom he was per.
sonaliy fond, or Taft or Bricker o.
Dewey and that he would not seel