Evening star., 1940-01-20
Mrs. Borah May GET
Senafor's S Post Until
General Election
Veteran Legislator
Is Paid Tribute by
Home Stute

FTOIu NxOV. 6OtUOuScI1, OIllcl Jus.
tice James F. Ailshie of the State
Supreme Court, other State and
party leaders came expressions Of
regret at the passing of a man who
had represented Idaho in the United
States Senate 80 consecutive years.
The Governor said:
History will record that America
lost a great statesman, and the
whole world, in the death of Sen
ator Borah, feels that an interna-
tional champion of liberty has laid
aside the sword.
Idaho proudly claims him as her
own and points to more than a
third of a century of brilliant sena-
torial achievement. The Nation
echoes the grief of his neighbors
and his friends who knew him as
fearless exponent of truth and
honesty in private and public life.
The world will not soon find one to
fill the void his passing leaves"
Speculation Over Successor.
There was immediate speculation
as to who would be named to sue
ceed Senator Borah, but Gov. Bot
tolfsen, recovering in hospital from
an attack of pleurisy, said he would
make no comment until after fu-
neral services for Senator Borah.
Political observers thought Gov
Bottolfsen himself might resign,
paving the way for his appointment
to the post by 1t. Gov. Donald
Whitehead.
Senator Borah's widow might be
named to carry on until a sue
cessor is chosen at the 1910 general
election.
Mentioned, too, as possible ap-
pointees were Donald A. Callahan
of Wallace, Republican nominee in
1898 who was defeated by Senator
D. Worth Clark, a Democrat; Re-
publican State Chairman Thomas
Heath of Preston, now State Sen
ator, and Ezra Whitla of Coeur
D'Alene, national committeeman.
John Thomas of Gooding, for
mer United States Senator from
Idaho, might be considered from
the standpoint of experience, but
friends say he is not interested in
further public Office.
Tribute From Ailshie.
Chief Justice Ailshie, friend of
Senator Borah for 40 years, paid
tribute to the veteran Senator's
ability as an orator, statesman and
lawyer and added:
'The death of Senator Borah
will be personal grief to every
1dahoan. His multitude of
friends will miss him; Idaho will
miss him; the Nation will still need
him."
Former Gov. C.. Ben Ross, Sen
ator Borah's opponent in 1896, said:
my personal opinion is that
Senator Borah was the smartest
man in the world and one of the
most constructive thinkers of his
time"
Senator Borah had gone before
Idaho voters in four general elec-
tions and had failed only twice to
gain a majority in every county.
In 1918 he lost in Twin Falls County
and in 1896 he lost Lewis County.
He was sent to the Senate the first
time by election of the State Sen
ate-after having failed, by four
votes, to be elected by that group
in his first attempt in 1908. That
first loss was heartbreaking.
But he was a good loser. He con-
graduated the victor, w. B. Hey
burn, and told him he would seek
the nomination again. He did, in
1907, launching his 33-year lone
wolf" career in the Senate.
In 1912 he was nominated in the
Republican primary, unopposed, and
was elected by the Legislature in
1918.
In 1918, Frank L. Moore, Demo-
cratic candidate, carried Twin Falls
County by 113 votes; in 1896, Mr..
Ross won by "a votes in Lewis Coun-
ty. Senator Borah carried every
other county in the State each time
he was elected.
The Constitutional amendment
providing for direct election of Sen
ators-a provision for which Senator
Borah had played an aggressive
role-became effective in 1913.
Defeated Ross in 1896.
In 1886, Senator Borah defeated
the Democratic senatorial nominee,
Mr.. Ross, 128,723 to 74,444.
Twice before 1903 he felt the sting
of political defeat.
He was beaten by several thousand
votes in 1896 after he bolted his
party to become a silver Republican
candidate for Congress.
He also lost the race for city at
torney of Boise, in 1892, two years
after he came to Idaho from Lyons,
Kans.
During his years in Idaho before
election to the Senate, he devoted
much time to politics as campaign
speaker, State Central Committee
chairman and in lesser canacitieS