Milford chronicle., 1909-08-27
Jersey Representative Charges
Conspiracy tORUleGOngTsSS.
MALICE IN EVERY ACTION"

One Of the most sensational attacks
made by a responsible authority upon
a public man in the United States in
modern times is contained in an open
letter addressed to Speaker Joseph G.
Cannon by Representative Charles n.
/ Fowler OF Elizabeth. n. J.
Representative Fowler boldly
! charges the existence of a conspiracy
/ between the speaker Of the house and
Senator Nelson W Aldrich. of Rhode
Island. for the purpose Of controlling
all important national legislation and
Of defeating both tariff reform and
currency reform.
For several years the New Jersey
congressman was chairman OF the
house committee on banking and cur
rency. At the close Of the recent spe-
cial session Speaker Cannon declined
to reappoint Mr. Fowler to that i'm
portant Craftsmanship Such action IS
almost unprecedented.
Despairing of securing what he be-
lieves is necessary legislation for the
reform of the currency and banking
laws OF the country as long as the
house is under the control of the pres.
ent rules as interpreted by Speaker
Cannon. Mr. Fowler announced him
self as a candidate for speaker at the
opening Of the special session. He
explains that be did this. not in the
expectation of being elected, but solely
for the purpose Of bringing squarely
before the people the issue of genu-
inc currency and banking reform as
distinguished from the legislative pro-
gram on that question agreed to by
Aldrich and Cannon. This conduct
made Mr. Fowler an "insurgent" in the
eyes Of Uncle joe"
Referring to his course in that re-
spect Representative Fowler says in
his letter to the speaker:
DO you suppose sir. that I did not
appreciate fully the probable cOnse-
quence of my act when I undertook to
play my part in securing this reform?
do you suppose that I was not
aware of your ignorance. prejudice. in
conceit. favOritism. putrid
and that like all such
possessing absolute power
malice is the handspring Of your every
action under such circumstances? ?"
After reciting from the official rec
Ords the speakers support of unsOund
money measures in congress up to the
present time. Mr Fowler reminded
Mr.. Cannon Of the latter's opposition
10 remedial 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 greatest
bankers in the country.
After accusing Speaker Cannon Of
conspiring with Senator
Aldrich to pack circumference commit
ee on the tariff bill against the house
ill. Mr. Fowler adds
81 have gone into these details to
ay bare your miserable. contemplate
alse pretense and to expose your du-
,licity. treachery and perfidy to that
legislative body over which you pre-
ide. whose will you we're bound to de-
end and not destroy.
rs it possible that you the Repub-
lean speaker of the house Of repre-
entatives. and Senator Aldrich. chair
nan of the finance committee of the
enate. entered into a conspiracy to
ecure the adoption Of the senate bill
D general and the highest rates in
9th bills throughout for the purpose
f discrediting the president by repu-
iating his pledges and the platform
f the Republican party?
Taking all the facts as they appear
l the case, from start to finish, a
lwyer, an intelligent criminal lawyer.
-ould say that it looked like a con-
piracy. You seem to have measured
le conditions with accuracy and to
ave calculated the distances to the {
arious points of agreement carefully, /
nd you seemed to be almost upon the I
pint of consummating your undertake b
ig when the great unknown factor (
scame the determining force. f
Though this scheme failed, It ex- 4
bits 'Cannonsm in its highest and (
ost perfect development h
81 challenge you to cite In all our II
llitical history a more dishonorable r
Id disreputable piece of business un- 3
IS. perhaps. You cite something in d
,ur own career of which the people
e not yet advised"