Inflexible; Flexible

Near-candidates, like near-beer, seldom satisfy the public. Wrinkles, furrows, creases and downright ruts have carved their way across William Edgar Borah's face as, during the past generation, his perpetual near-candidacy for President got him nowhere. Last week with the recklessness of 70 years he decided to change his tactics, to step out, not as a full strength beverage, but as a sort of 3.2% candidate. Surely after so many near-attempts, he was entitled to have one final fling at intoxicating the public.

Down to Washington traveled a Republican delegation from Wisconsin to ask the septuagenarian from Idaho whether they might have the privilege of entering his name in Wisconsin's Presidential primary. Solemnly he bowed in acquiescence. When the Wisconsin politicians babbled to the Press, the Press rushed back to Senator Borah for confirmation. Said he: "I am going to do what I can to get liberal delegations from as many States as possible. If the liberal forces wish to put my name at the head of the ticket. I have no objection. If they want to put the name of some other liberal at the head of the ticket that will be all right with me."

Lest these words should not prove sufficiently arresting for statesmanship, the Senator prepared a formal statement for public consumption:

"My primary objective is a convention of liberal delegates which will write a liberal platform and name a liberal candidate. To that end I shall devote my efforts. If in any State or district the liberal forces think it will help the liberal cause to pledge the delegates to me, I shall cooperate fully with that plan.

"If, however, it is thought better to pledge the delegates to some other liberal, I shall cooperate just as fully. In other words, inflexible as to the objective, flexible as to the tactics.

"As I see the political situation in this country, a man would be seeking political immolation to take a nomination upon any other than a liberal platform. So the first thing to do is to get a convention committed to liberal principles."

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