The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-10-31
THE VOICE OF HIS Hor1E.

The Elizabeth Journal reviews Mr..
Fowler's career as follows:
Mr.. Fowler was first elected to Con-
gress in the fall of 1894 At the open
ing session of the 54th Congress he at
traCted general attention to himself as a
new member, by speech in favor OF
the single gold Standard courageous
position then to assume and maintain,
as there were only two other Republi-
can members at that time who had the
courage to boldly declare themselves.
In the following year he introduced q
general financial and currency bill, in
which he sought to attain the following
objects: The establishment of the gold
standard. the retirement of the demand
obligations of the government, the fund
ing of the debt into two per cent. gold
bonds, system of credit currency and
branch banks.
Nothing is slower or more difficult
than financial and currency reform; yet
this measure, the pioneer of its kind,
has already produced two concrete re-
suits An attempt was made to estab.
lish the gold standard sby statute and
the debt has been funded into two per
cent. gold coin bonds Mr. Fowler's in
fiuence in this legislation being clearly
shown by the fact that the act funding
the debt followed his plan in precise
terms.
When the Presidential election of 1896
drew near Mr.. Fowler, recognized as an
authority on the financial question, was
called upon to do yeomans work by his
party. His effective work is we'll re.
mem bered in Wisconsin and Illinois
81 10
magnificent majorities by which they
repudiated the heresies of free silver.
In the second national fight, that of
1900, against free silver and Bryanism,
Mr.. Fowler took conspicuous part.
AS result of McKinley's reelection
the 80 called Gold Standard" act of
1900 was passed. and another step taken
toward the goal of national honor for
which Mr.. Fowler had laoored so assid
uously from his very entry upon public
life.
All this time Mr.. Fowler had been
continued as member of the Banking
and Currency committee of the House
of Representatives, oil which he was
conceded to be the leading member.
December last he became the leader in
fact. being selected as chairman of the
committee by Speaker Henderson. Com
mittee work in Congress does not show
for much in the public light, but it il
the work that counts. After months of
hard unremitting labor, calling alike fol
statesmanlike tact and the knowledge
of an expert. Mr.. Fowler, by the
unanimous direction of the Republican
members of the committee. being II out
of II, reported the new financial bill
which has made his name known and
famed throughout the land.
| This in itself was a notable achiev,
ment, a notable advance. So sen,
sitive is thought on financial subjects, sc
set in their convictions are the advo
Gates of various plans of reform, tha1
hitherto it had been impossible to obtair
the concurrence of more than three
members of the committee to any par
ticular measure.
The Fowler bill straightway became
one of the most important measures Of
the session, attracting quite as much
comment and discussion as any one oi
the other prominent measures intro
duced. The press of the country con
sidered it gravely and at large and its
verdict is written in the leading editor
ials of all the prominent newspapers,
which, with not more than a half doZeL
exceptions, praised its principles, scope
and method, and called upon the repre-
sentatives of the people TO enact it into
law.
Representative who, through theil
enthusiasm and industry, thus become
identified with a great issue, have al.
ways been recognized as the most usei ul
members of Congress. Mckinley and
Dingley were returned again and again,
their constituents believing that they, in
that way, contributed worthily to the
public prosperity and welfare. And
such confidence is always reciprocally
advantageous; for the more prominent
! member becomes in the eyes of the
nation the more influence he has for the
advancement of his district and State.
But Mr. Fowler has never been a
spG cialist in the narrow sense of the
term. All the multitudinous requests
and claims which make the routine life
of congressman a busy one have re
ceived his prompt and careful attention
Such matters may we'll be left to the
verdict of his constituents of both
parties who have sought his kindly and
faithful assistance. But IN two in.
stances of local improvement Mr..
Fowler's record merits more than pass
ing notice.
During the seth Congress Mr.. Fowler
gave his persistent effort in securing a
resurvey of the Kill Won Kull and Ar
thur Kill, convinced that the prosperity
l.. = l. l. ~.