Show f Last Writer to See Borah Borall t Recalls How Idaho's Lion Kept Mum in 36 Campaign I So t I Didn't Favor Landon He lIe Played Ball Dall With Home State Dems PenIs By Dy ROBERT RODERT S. S ALLEN Co Coauthor with Drew l' l Pearson aon oj The ol-The The llou Go Co tI aJ by Newspaper r Union WASHINGTON The Z The The Senate Senate Sen Sen- V 1 ate just doesn't seem the I same without Senator Borah He lie was the first leader I came to know intimately as a cub Washington reporter 15 years ago and I saw him last the day before his fatal accident acci ned dent I 1 think I am em the last newsman news news news- newsman man man he talked to It was late in the afternoon I knew that the Presidents President's message on en the Finnish loan was due the next day and I dropped into Dorah's Borah's office to get his views Wrapped Inan in inan inan an army blanket he was lying on I Ia a couch reading an article on trade treaties He lie motioned me to a chair which I 1 pulled up near him On the marble mantle manUe directly over him wa was waa a striking new photograph of himself which he liked ver very much Dut Duty Came First Borah Dorah looked well but frail and recalling that during the Christmas holiday he had told me he was wu thinking thinking think think- ing of taking Mrs Borah south I 1 said What about your trip I guess that's off oft Robert Robert he replied Mrs Borah Dorah wont won't stay if I X dont don't and I cant Why not notT Things arent aren't so active now A few weeks of warm weather er and sunshine would do you a lot lotof lotof of good Yes Yee but I cant can't leave Those trade treaties are up and Ive I've got gotto gotto gotto to be on hand to keep an eye on developments Its It's a close fight and we cant can't take any chances I would like a little rest but I feel its it's my duty to stay on the job and oppose this act What about the Finnish loan I asked a very distressing dilemma ma for me Robert he said ald My heart goes out to those gallant people people peo pea pie but at et the same time I 1 have grave misgivings about lending money to anyone in Europe Once we let down the bars bare we cant can't for foresee tore fore see aee what it may lead to We must keep out of that mess mesa regardless of our personal sympathies Dilemma of eI 1936 1938 I remember another time when he was in tn a dilemma It was in 1936 1938 That spring at the age o of ot 71 and for the first time In his long career he decided to make a serious try for forthe forthe the he presidency There was considerable consid erable popular response but the machine machine ma ma- chine politicians politician were against him lie He went to the Cleveland convention conven lion tion handed empty and ed-and and he knew it Ik I The night Herbert Hoover made I I tr trA A vv HE llE IE W WATCHED ED LANDON LANDON- Senator Borah Boral waited for lor All Alf London's Landon's campaign before prejudging prejudging prejudging pre judging him Mm but ho lie later laler confided con con- Ii ded I 1 am not for him his speech which speech which he secretly hoped would stampede the delegates I I countered Borah leaving his hotel It was wac past midnight hot and sticky Come along Robert and walk with me he said Its cooler out here bere So we walked about the deserted streets ant he talked about Hoover the convention and All Alf Landon Doubted London's Landon's Ability nominate Landon tomorrow tomorrow tomor tomor- row he said The stage is all set Hoover tried to run away with the convention tonight but they dont don't want any of him It will be Landon and Knox you mark my word And then what are you going todo to todo do do Senator I dont don't know Ill I'll wait walt and see what Landon says But Dut what Im I'm wondering is what can he say He lIe knows nothing about national or foreign for tor- eign affairs I am told he is a nice gentleman but the country needs more than that in the White House Housein in these times I dont don't want to prejudge prejudge pre pta judge Landon I shall hear him out but I have a strong hunch I will not support him He lie Didn't Either Ruben i Borah's premonition was was right Three months later I spent a day with him In hi Boise as he campaigned for hi his sixth senatorial term We had a long talk that night in his room before he retired I remarked that I hadn't heard him say a word during the day about Landon And I dont don't intend to say anything any thing about him Borah replied quietly I am not mt for him Are you for Roosevelt Well Robert he sale said Ive got gota a lot of Democratic friends in Idaho and I think they know where here I stand And then with a gentle genUe smile he added a pretty good goodnews goodnews news new story isn't it IU It certainly was It was the big scoop of the campaign |