The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-09-04
REPRESENTATIVE Fowler Of New
Ierssy Addresses Open Letter
.. ., to Speaker.
CHARGES OF TREACHERY
AND BRUTAL DEsP0TIsM
Declares .Cannon $ Record Is Rot
ten, Dishonorable and Dis +.
reputable. a.. u, q. !.

NEW YORK, Sept. 1.-The most
sensational attack ever made by re-
sponsible party upon a public man
dn the United States in modern times
is contained In an open letter ad-
dressed to Speaker Joseph G.. Cannon
by Representative Charles N. Fowler
of Elizabeth, N. J. .
Representative Fowler boldly charges
the existence of conspiracy between
the speaker Of the house ana Senator
Nelson w. Aldrich Of Rhode Island
for the purpose Of controlling all I'M
portant national legislation and of de-
feating both tariff and currency re-
FORM -,-ge s.t<:.fE s. +
For several years the New Jersey
congressman was chairman Of the
house committee on banking and cur
'rency. At the close of the recent
special session Speaker Cannan de-
cltned to reappoint Mr.. Fowler to that
Important craftsmanship. Such action
is almost unprecedented.
Became An lnsurgent.
Despairing Of securing what he be-
Hevesy issnacessary legislation for the
reform OF the currency and banking
laws Of the country as long as the
house is under control of the pres
emit rules as interpreted by Speaker
Cannon. Mr.. Fowler announced him
selfN candidate for speaker at the
opening of the special session. He ex-
plains that he did this, not in the ex-
pectation Of being elected, but solely
for the pupose Of bringing squarely
before the pople the issue of genuine
currency and banking reform as dis
tinguished from the legislative pro-
gram on that question agreed to by
5Aldrich and Cannon. This conduct
made Mr.. Fowler an "insurgent' in the
eyes of "Uncle Joe.'
After reciting from the official rec
ords the speakers support of unsound
money measures in4congress up to the
present time, MI. Fowler reminded Mr
Cannon of the latter's opposition to
remedia1f Legislation proposed by the
New Jersey man to avert the panic OF
1907 He reminds him Of how he was
pleaded with to permit consideration
OF the bill prepared by Fowler with
the assistance of fifteen Of the great
est bankers in the country, and says:
= Has Rotten Record.
If that bill had been upon the stat
ute books when the pressure came
there swould have been no general sus-
pension of banks throughout the coun-
try, no general breaking down OF ex-
changes, as all the banks could have
more than met the demand for sur
rency.
II challenge you to find single 1iv-
ing man with so rotten a record upon
our financial and currency legislation
1t is a record Of ignorance or political
cowardice, or a, disgraceful hybrid OF
the two. And yet, sir, you assume to
dictate the financial and currency leg
dslation of civilized country"
Contemplate, False Pretense.
~ have gone into these details to lay
bare your miserable, contemplate
6a1se pretense and expose your dupltc-
dty, treachery and perfidy to that leg
ts1ahve body over which you preside
whose bill you were bound to defend
and not destroy.
IT'S 1t possible that you, the repub-
aican speaker Of the house of repre-
seRtatives, and Senator Aldrich chair.
man Of the finance committee of the
senate, entered into a conspiracy tc
secure the adoption Of the senate bill
In general and highest rates dn both
bills throughout for the purpose of dis
his pledges and the platform OF. the
republican party?
Taking all the facts as they ap-
pear In the case, from start to finish
q lawyer, an intelligent criminal law
yer, would say that it looked like {
conspiracy. You seem to have meas
ured the conditions with accuracy an,
to have calculated the distances to tn
various points OF agreement CAREFUL!
and you seem to be. almost upon tn,
po1n of consummating your undertake
Ing when the great unknown facto
became the determining force:
Dishonorable and Disreputabls.
Though this scheme failed, it ex
hibits 'Cannonism" in its highest AM
most perfect development:
7 challenge you to cite in all oul
political: history a more dishonorabl
and disreputa;ble piece Of business un
less. perchance, you cite something ii
your own career of which the peopi
are not yet advised" -.
These pledges have become neces
sary because Of your assumption an
abuse Of power by which you and you
confederates have already brought tn
republican party almost tocertain de
feat, possibly disruption and destruc
tion unless "Cannonism,' with all 1t
corrupting, degrading and paralyzin
influences is torn up root and branch
J. The republican party wifi not broo
nor condone you contemplate ttricker
and traitorous treachery your disgust
Ing favoritism and vengeful malic,
j your brutal despotism and daringl
desperate methods. <;4 tf Il
Is. ] II the republican party wins tn
next congressional election, 1t will onl
be upon the grave Of .Cannonisrn. 4 & 4