"My Dear Borah"

"My Dear Borah"

Last week, to both parties' alarm, Senator Borah frowned his Olympian frown, waved his Bryanesque backlocks and handed out to Presidential candidates a questionnaire on the great Hush-Hush of the 1928 campaign, Prohibition. It was a sequel to the Borah speaking tour on the same subject (TIME, Nov. 28). It threatened to make a political issue out of a subject in which citizens are actually interested.

Without turning in his Senate seat, Senator Borah can scrutinize at least four of his colleagues whose hearts beat faster when any one mentions the White House. Down front is Ohio's ponderously handsome Willis. Across the aisle are ruddy Robinson of Arkansas and Missouri's smoldering Reed. Right next to Senator Borah is the thin-lipped Utopian from Nebraska, Senator Norris, whose devotion to Logic is only one or two brain-cell-power less than Senator Borah's. All these candidates were to receive the Borah questionnaire, and perhaps Vice President Dawes as well.

Senator Borah took pleasure, however, in submitting his questions first to the round, smiling little Senator who sits behind him to the left, swart Curtis of Kansas. It was an act of courtesy if not of calculation to call on Senator Curtis before the rest. He if any one, is Senator Borah's "leader" in the Senate. If not the most potent, he is perhaps the most candid candidate.

Senator Curtis answered promptly, in terms which made the Borah questions unnecessary to reprint and with a directness which other candidates would find it hard to match. Senator Curtis, the "honest Injun," said:

"My Dear Borah:

"... I personally favor a plank referring to the Eighteenth Amendment and the laws enacted to carry it into effect, and I favor a plank pledging the nominee to a fair, vigorous and faithful enforcement of them. In my opinion, it is the greatest moral issue of all ages, and public sentiment demands that both of the political parties declare themselves unequivocally upon it. Should I be nominated and elected President I favor meeting the issue squarely and believe in the strict and energetic enforcement of the laws to carry out the constitutional amendment.

"I am opposed to a policy which will allow any State to determine for itself the alcoholic content of beverages to be manufactured, sold and transported throughout the country, but I believe the States should join with the officers of the United States in enforcing the laws of Congress, as was contemplated by the constitutional amendment.

"As you are a former citizen of Kansas, I have no doubt you remember my record as Prosecuting Attorney of Shawnee County, Kansas, from 1885 to 1889. You will recall, when I took the office the saloons were running wide open in the City of Topeka and that I had promised, if elected, to enforce the law. This promise was, as you know, fulfilled and every saloon was closed within thirty days, and remained closed for the four years I was County Attorney.

"I believe in meeting the issue squarely and am heartily in favor of faithfully enforcing all our laws, and I am opposed to the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment or the Volstead act."