The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-24

Elizabeth, n j.. Aug. 23.-A sensa-
tional attack upon Speaker Joseph G.
Cannon is made to-day in an open letter
addressed TO the Speaker by Representa-
tive Charles n. Fowler. Of Elizabeth.
Mr.. Fowler was formerly chairman Of
the House Committee on Banking and
Currency. Speaker Cannon refused to
reappoint him, as Mr.. Fowler had been
one OF the prominent insurgents" in the
House
A portion Of the Fowler arraignment
directed to "Uncle Joe" reads:
"Do you suppose. sir. that 1 did not
appreciate fully the probable conse-
quences Of my act when l undertook 10
play my part in securing this reform?
COf the banking laws) DO you suppose
that ] was not aware Of your ignorance.
prejudice. inordinate conceit. favoritism.
putrld preferences. ana that, like all such
characters possessing absolute power.
malice is the main spring Of your every
action under such circumstances
Plan TO Avert Panic.
Mr.. Fowler declares that Cannon op-
posed his plans to avert the panic Of
1907. and adds:
You literally hooted the idea Of a
panic and inquired: What the -- does
That bowling in Wall Street amount to?
The country doesn't care what happens
10 those - spectators. Everything is
all right out West and around Danville.
The country doesn't need any legislation.
Then l don't take any stock in your
- asset currency
"As usual your ignorance and preju-
dice were all-sufficient then But the
panic came. as every man who had any
Intelligence upon the subject knew It
would.
Nov. sir. mark this: The bill pre-
pared by those representative bankers.
which met only with your sneers and
contempt, and known as the bankers
bill, provided for about S950.0OO.OOO OF
aredit currency, called in that bill ma
donal bank guaranteed credit notes
IF that bill had been on the statute
books when the pressure came there
would have been no general suspension
Of banks throughout the country, no gem
sral breaking down Of the exchanges. as
All the banks could more than have met
the demand for currency.
Il am sure that all the trustworthy au-
thorities will say that one-half. and pos
sibly two thirds Of all the losses in the
crisis of 1907 direct and indirect. were
due TO the fact that there was general
suspension Of bank payments and com
plete breaking down Of our exchanges.
that the public confidence was so
shocked as to destroy completely normal
conditions for many months.
This IS your record upon our financial
and currency legislation. challenge YOU
10 find a single living man with so rotten
4 one. II IS a record OF ignorance or
political cowardice, or a disgracefuI hy-
orid OF the two And yet, sir, you as
sumo TO dictate the currency and fnan-
cial legislation OF civilized country"
Accuses Conspiracy on Tariff.
After accusing Cannon OF conspiring
with Senator Aldrich to pack the con-
ference committee on the tariff bill
against the House bill, Mr.. Fowler
charges:
u have gone into these details 10 lay
bare your miserable, contemplate false
pretense. and to expose your duplicity.
treachery, and perfdy 10 that legislative
body over which you preside. whose bill
you were bound TO defend, and not to
destroy.
rs 1t possible that you, the Repub-
lican Speaker of the House Of Represen-
tatives, and Senator Aldrich, chairman
Of the Finance Committee Of the Senate.
entered into a conspiracy to secure the
adoption Of the Senate bill in general
and the highest rates in both bills
throughout, for the purpose Of discredit-
Ing the President by repudiating his
pledges and the platform Of the Republi-
can party?
Taking all the facts as they appear
In the case, a lawyer-an intelligent
criminal lawyer-would say it looked like
a conspiracy. You seem to have meas
ured the conditions with accuracy and
10 have calculated the distances to the
various points of agreement carefully
and you seemed 90 be almost on the
point OF consummating your understand
ing when the great unknown factor be-
came the determining force
DiShOnOrHbIe Piece of Business.
Though this scheme failed it exhibits
'Cannonism' in it's highest and most per
feet development. I challenge you TO
cite In all our political history a more
dishonorable and disreputable piece OF
business, unless. perchance, you cite
something in your own career Of which
The people are not yet advised"
Outlining a programme by which the
House could free itself from this one
man power. Mr.. Fowler continues:
The Republican party will not brook
or condone your contemplate trickery
and treachery your disgusting favoritism
and vengeful malice. your brutal des-
potism. and daringly desperate methods. |
II the Republican party wins the next
Congressional election It will be only
upon the grave of 'Cannonism'
BlackIstone's floral designs. execution
ally beautiful. Choice blooms. 18th and II. |