k to the old Republican fold.

From that time to this he has followed his own way which,
fortunately for the Republican Party, has been within organization
limits, but his relations with his fellows are neither intimate nor
serene. Some of the Republicans, who can be forgiven for not
understanding a man who respects neither party decrees nor
traditions, feel that Borah is so American that he possesses one of
the characteristics of the aboriginal Indian--in other words, that
he is cunning, that he will not play the game according to
organization rules. He has a habit of making too many mental
reservations. I am not quite sure that these allegations could be
supported before an impartial tribunal. I am rather inclined to the
belief that to maintain his position in the Senate Borah has had to
become a shrewd trader.

Fortunately for himself he is too much of a personage to be ignored
or suppressed, and manages to be a power in a party which has no
love for him.

He is virtually a party to himself. He cannot be controlled by the
ordinary political methods. His constituency is small and evidently
devoted to him and his state is remote; he is not compelled to do
the irksome political chores that cost Senators their political
independence. However doubtful he might be as a positive asset his
dexterity and power of expression are such that he would be very
dangerous as a liability. A report that Borah is on the rampage
affects Republican leaders very much as a run on a bank affects
financial leaders. They are not quite sure when either is going to
stop. Borah knows that most of the men with whom he is dealing are
clay and estimates with uncanny accuracy the degree to which he can
compel them to meet his demands.

This method has not always been successful. It was singularly
unsuccessful in the case of Senator Penrose. Borah is the
antithesis of Penrose, whom he dislikes intensely. Several years
ago he interpreted a remark made by the Senator from Pennsylvania
to another Senator as a thrust at his own political ethics, or lack
of them. It was a petty affair at most and Penrose never admitted
the accuracy of Borah's construction, but Borah has had nothing to
do with him since. When the present Congress was in process of
organization Borah announced that he would bolt the party caucus if
Penrose were slated for the chairmanship of the Finance Committee
to which he was entitled according to the rule of seniority. It was
a ti