Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-26
Congressman Calls on Voters for
Overthrow of Government
by Edict.
"CANNONISM" MUST DIE NOW
Pride and Patriotism Of Americans
Will Mean the Election of Repre-
scntatives Pledged TO Make the
Speaker Merely a Prcsid-
ing O1lcer.

EiIzabethtown, n. J. Aug. 2s-In an
non OF Danville. III. speaker Of the
House OF Representatives, Congressman
Charles n. Fowler says:
During the last two or three months 7
have observed from time 10 time In the
press Of the country certain news items
dlsrnraging my ability in certain direc-
lions which have every reason to be-
lievc have emanated from YOU.
The general tone OF these items, and
In some Instances, the very words Is
the same used by you In my single in
terview with you IN regard to the chair
manship OF the banking and currency
committee You then used this language:
ut Is doubtful whether you could get
on agreement out OF the committee COM
posed of twelve republican and six
democratic members"
The purpose Of this newspaper propa-
ganda was obvious to any one who IL at
all familiar with your methods, viz. to
prepare the way for n seeming justfica-
ton in the public mind for your con-
duct when you derosed mo from the
craftsmanship or appointed my success
sor.
The reason that you then gave mo,
and which has appeared in the press
Is not at all the true one but only a
false pretense as I shall proceed to de-
nonstrate in two ways:
First: Members who have spoken to
YOU urging my appointment to the chair
manship have told me that your ohiec-
| ton was because had worked with
those who demanded n change of rules
| OF the House. In other words. it was
a penalty imposed upon free thought
and independence.
| Second: It was because I could and
| always have secured agreements since
| I have been chairman that worried you.
and not my failure to do 80 as you
! falsely pretended, that rendered me I'M
| ut in your eyes
desired the craftsmanship Of the
| banking and currency committee and
have used all self-respecting and honor
able means TO retain It. simply because
| II would enable me to advance right
/ thought and possibly prevent the pass
age Of bad legislation. However. chair
manships do not make men, but men
make chairmanships. It was therefore
wholly immateral to me personally
whether YOU appointed me TO the chair
| manship or another.
| I may add that I have never intro
| duced and brought before the banking
and currency committee since have
been chairman, n bill for financial and
| currency reform. which has not been
reported by that committee TO tho
| House.
The fact has been fairly established.
that You know that would get agree
merts. hut what you were afraid of was,
hat thAo
your purposes
DESIRED TO KEEP PLACE.
am sure that all trustworthy au-
thorities will say that at least one
half and possibly two-thirds of all
the losses OF the crisis of 1907. direct
and indirect. were due to the fact
that there was a general suspension
of bank payments. ana complete
breaking down Of our exchanges. that
the public confidence was so shocked
as to destroy completely normal con-
ditions for many months.
CHARGES CANNON FOR LOSSES
| Whatever this additional loss was,
onc-half or two-thirds Of all our losses
I charge to you personally, because If
the bankers bill had passed the House
and had gone to the Senate, these
losses would have laid at their door
II they had failed to pass It. as the
matter now stands, they lie at your
door.
1t was in contemplating the un-
measured losses and terrific conse-
quences to my country. resulting from
the crisis OF 1907. because of your ig-
norance. prejudice and absolutely un-
challenged power as speaker Of the
House OF Representatives that I re-
solved. that so far as In me lay. never
again should such a financial tragedy
fall upon the American people because
the speaker OF tho House Of Kepre-
sentatives absolutely controlled legis-
lation.
Therefore I announced my self as n
| candidate for speaker at the begin
ming OF the 6lst Congress but with
only one thought and that was to ac-
| centuate the platform upon which |
stood. That all political power should
be taken away from the speaker and
that he be only presiding officer,
Just as the speaker OF tho House of
Commons is.
As result Of that movement we
now have calendar day when all
self-respecting members may call up
bills in their own right. and will not
hereafter be compelled to crawl upon
their bellies like crin1ing lizards. to
crave the Indulgence of n recognition
Of the speaker. which being granted,
calls for gratitude. and carries with
IT an obligation. an appreciation Of
which must be shown of course. at the
proper time. or the recipient is writ
ten down as an migrate.
KNEW IT MEANT DECAPITArION.
DO you suppose, sir. that I did not
appreciate fully the probable conse-
quence OF my act when ! undertook
to play my part in securing this re-
form7 DO you suppose that was not
aware OF your ignorance. prejudice.
inordinate conceit, favoritism putrid
preferences and that like all such
characters possessing absolute power.
malice Ia the handspring OF your ev-
cry action under such circumstanc rs !?
DO not forget that l chose my course
In plain sight OF your political guillo-
tine and the political carcasses OF
those You had decapitated; but that 1t
had no terrors for me.
TO the membership of the House and
to the whole country II Ia we'll known,
Notwithstanding your false pretenses to
the contrary. that you were not acting
from n sense OF duty. nor because cc>i..'