The Morris County chronicle., 1902-09-05
CONGRESSMAN FOWLER'S
EXCELLENT RECORD.
Has Long Been Recognized as One Of the
Leaders in the House.

Strongest Support Any Financial
rIeasure Has Had in Congress.
Democratic Attempt to Lessen His
Faithful Work Already Boone
rang in Fifth District.
The Banner, in common with other
Democratic papers of the Fifth District,
re- published from the Washington,
N. j., Star an alleged report of Con-
gresham Fowler's work in Congress. 1t
is SO filed with wilful misst Elements
that the following review is pertinent at
this time.
Mr.. Fowler was first elected to Con-
gress in the fall of 1894. At the
opening session of the 54th Congress
he attracted general attention to him
self as new member, by o speech
in favor of the single gold standard
"a courageous position then to as
sume and maintain, as there were
orly two other Republican members
at chat time who had the courage
TO DOl0y declare themselves.
In the following year he introduced
a general financial rand currency bill,
in which he sought to attain the fol-
lowing objects: The establishment
of the gold standard, the retirement
of the demand obligations of the
government, the funding of the debt
into two per cent. gold bonds, a
a system OF credit currency and
branch banks.
Nothing is slower or more diff :
cult than financial and currency re-
form; yet this measure, the pioneer
of its kind, has already produced
two concrete results. An attempt
was made to establish the gold
standard by statute and the debt has
been funded into two per cent. gold
coin bonds-Mr. Fowler S infiu-
enca 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 recognize
ed as an authority on the financial
question, was called upon to do
YGOIubu WOIh ny LID poA Wy 1Au
the invitation of the Republican State
Committe of Wisconsin he opened
the campaign in that state, speak
ing there for four weeks. He then
in response to a similar invitation
from the state organization of In
diana, spoke in that state for one
week. His effective work is we'll re-
membered in these states and did much
toward piling up the magnificent
majorities by which they repudiated
the heresies of free silver.
In 1897 the Indianapolis Monetary
Conference met in answer to the
demand of the country for the best
Thought on the financial and currency
situation. There MIR. Fowler, rep
resenting the Elizabeth Board of
Trade, held his place as leader of
reform. His views were adopted
as those of the conference and
through the wide dissemination
given them by the executive COM
mite have, day by day and year
by year slowly but surely been edu-
eating the people in right thought
In 1898, at the Omaha Exposition, a
monetary congress was held, and three
days were devoted to a discussion of
gold, silver and paper currency Mr..
Fowler was selected to debate ia favor
of bank currency against Hon. A. j.
Warner of Ohio. who spoke in favor OF
fiat paper money; and it was generally
conceded that his facts and arguments
for sound money were swerable.
In the second national fight, that of
1900, against free silver and Organism.
Mr.. Fowler took conspicuous part He
was among those who opened the cam
paign in Maine. He spoke repeatedly
throughout the eastern and central
states and particularly throughout New
Jersey, disregarding the interests of his
own campaign in order that he might
advance the public welfare. AS a result
of McKinley's reelection the so called
''Gold Standard" act of 1900 was passed;
and another step taken towards the goal
of national honor for which Mr.. Fowler
had labored so assiduously from his very
entry upon public life.
Thus, in Congress and out, he was
ever faithful to the cause, preparing the
way for the time when the country
would be ready to consider and finally
adopt comprehensive financial and
currency system, founded upon princi
pies, tried and found true by all the civ
ilized nations of the earth
All this time Mr.. Fowler had been
continued as member of the Banking
and Currency committee OF the House OF
Representatives, of which he was con-
ceded to be the leading member De-
cember last he became the leader in fact
being selected as chairman of the com
mittee by Speaker Henderson. Commit
tee work in Congress does not show for
much in the public light, but it is the
work that counts. After months of hard,
unremitting labor, calling alike for
statesmanlike tact and the knowledge of
an expert, Mr.. Fowler, by the unani-
nous direction Of the Republican MEM
bers of the committee, being IL ont of
II, reported the new financial bill,
which has made his name known and
famed throughout the land,
This in itself was a notable achieve
msnt. a notable advance So sensitive is
thought on financial subjects, so set in
their convictions are the advocates OF
various plans of reform. that hitherto it
had been impossible to obtain the con
currence of more than three members Of
the COMMITTEES to any particular meas
ure
The Fowler bill straightway became
one of the most important measures of
the session, attracting quite as much
comment and discussion as any one of
the other prominent measures intro.
duced The press of the country consider
ed il gravely and at large; and Is verdict