The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-10-17

be alarmed. / am not going to make
a speech. / have earned my vacation
on that subject. I intend to take it.
"a recent change in the congress
sional districts of this state has
brought Mr.. Fowler into your dis
trict, or you into his, and desire
to congratulate you upon that fact
He has for several terms represented
his former district in the House of
Representatives. and is now candi-
date for reelection from the newly
formed district. / should regard
failure to return him as a distinct
public loss, and wish to tell you why
l think SO.
Paramount issue is an express
sion which has been in use for some
years past. You all know what I
have been thinking, speaking, writ
ing and voting. ] speak, write and
vote just as think the paramount
interests of my country require.
"Some years ago the tariff was the
paramount issue. You all know that
l was then something of tariff
kicker. But in 1896 there came a new
paramount issue. / did not hesitate
for one moment what my duty was.
threw past questions behind me. I
preferred to live under a government
that would not offer free license to
mob rule, a government under which
a contract meant an obligation, q
government under which a promise
was something to be performed.
wholly and not halfy, government
under which dollar meant 100 cents,
and not 90 cents or less, govern
ment under which courts are respect
ed and have power to administer
justice.
"We are told that the paramount
issue of the two campaigns of 1896
and 1900 has been buried. By those
who make that statement 1t is applied
to one question only-the gold
standard. l know that vast major
ity of intelligent, thoughtful, serious,
progressive Democrats have thrown
the silver issue behind them. But /
tell you that the question is not set
tied. I tell you that if the rhetorical
agitators who raised that question,
by appealing to prejudice. passion and
Ignorance, were in power. the danger
would be just as great now as it
would have been in 1896 and 1900
And for my part, intend to fight the
or particle of the black threatening
cloud left IN the political horizon.
'That is why [ advocate Mr..
Fowler's election. / have never
heard him speak, never met him be-
fore. But have watched his course
in Congress. You know something
of my own labors on that subject in
both written and oral discussion.
hnf
watched his course fairly and intelli-
gently For myself, say to you that
Congressman Fowler has brought to
bear an amount of labor, study and
clear understanding that has not been
excelled by any member of either
house of Congress, and | believe you
can count upon the fingers of one
hand the number of men in this
country, either in Congress or out of
it, who understand the subject as
we'll as he does. The subject is not
light and easy lesson. His labors
on that snbject have not been parti-
san. They have been scientific on the
high and broad plane of patriotism
and national interest. He is more
than merely worthy of the place he
has filed. He is an honor to it, and
hope that you will, by your votes,
permit him to be an honor to us.
"Some are contending that trusts
are the paramount issue. 1 am not
going to discuss the trust ques-
tion. AS a question prefer to call it
the question of monopoly. There is
some prejudice and some insincere
demagogism against all corporations
as such. This is unreasonable, some
times unreasoning. and if carried
into full effect, would be disastrous.
Modern production, transportation,
exchange and distribution cannot be
effected without corporate organiza-
tion.
"But some corporations, by appear
ing to aim at monopolies, have not
only given much alarm, but have
given real ground of complaint. l
shall not discuss the matter in detail.
But I ask you that if you demand
active, even aggressive proceedings
against any corporation or combina
tion, for violation of any law, statute
or common law, where can you find
two men who have shown themselves
bolder and more faithful on that sub
ject than the President and his
| learned attorney generalP Witness
the suit against the Northern Secur-
tiles company, the Presidents recent
speeches, and the attorney generals
late speech at Pittsburg.
81 have told you that have
watched carefully Mr.. Fowler's s course
in Congress. There is another gentle
man whom / have been watching
carefully for more than a year. l
was in the far west when President
Mckinley was assassinated. He
fingered between life and death It
was plain that the Vice President
might any day become the Presi-
dent. found that everybody loved
Theodore Roosevelt. Republicans
and Democrats We'd with each other
in expression of personal regard.
But some of both parties asked: is
he little impulsive, little quick |;
is there danger of precipitating
international relations?
II answered that if he should find
himself clothed with the powers and
responsibilities of the Presidential
office he would prove to be careful,
considerate, conservative. 1 told
them that he was frank and out
spoken, had opinions of his own,
and the courage of his opinions,
that he was brave, firm, sincere
i and just, and years experience
has confirmed my estimate 1t is
too soon to talk much about 1904.
But if the two years to come do not
spoil the record of the last year, Of
al I