Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-08-28
FOWLER FIERCELY
ATTACKS CANNON
Jersey Representative Charges
Conspiracy tORuIeCCngTsSS.
MALICE IN EVERY ACTION

Declares "Unele Joe" is In a Plot With
Senator Aldrieh to Control Leeisls-
tien-chsrees Speaker With Favor
itism, coneeit and Putrid Prefer
snees.
One OF the most sensational attacks
made by a responsible authority upon
public man ia the United States IN
modern times is contained in an open
letter addressed 20 Speaker Joseph O..
Cannon by Representative Charles ~
Fowler. OF Elizabeth. n. T.
Representative Fowler boldly
charges the existence Of 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 tarir 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
10 reappoint MT Fowler 70 that i'm
portant chairmanship. Such action is
almost unprecedented
Desparing OF securing what he be
lieves is necessary legislation for the
reform of the currency and banking
laws % 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 lie
explains that he did this, not In the
expectation OF being elected. bat 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 20 by
Aldrich and Cannon This conduct
made Mr.. Fowler an "iusurgent" in the
eyes OF Uncle Joe"
Referring 10 bis course in that re-
spect Representative Fowler says in
his letter 60 the speaker:
DO YOU suppose. sir. that did not
appreciate fully the probable conse-
Quence Of my act when / undertook 20
play my part in securing this reform?
aware OF your ignorance. prejudice. in
ordinate conceit favoritism. putrid
preferences. and that like all such
characters possessing absolute power
malice is the handspring OF your every
action under such circumstances? ?"
After recifing 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
20 remedial legislation proposed by the
New Jersey man 20 avert the panic o.
1907. He reminds him of how he was
pleaded with 20 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
deliberately conspiring with Senator
Aldrich to pack circumference commit
tee on the tariff bill against the house
bill Mr.. Fowler adds:
Il have gone into these details To
lay bare your miserable. conference.-the
false pretense and TO expose your du-
piicity. treachery and perfidy to that
legislative body over which you pre-
side. whose will you were bound 10 de-
fend and not destroy.
"Is it possible that you. the Repub-
lican speaker OF the house OF repre-
sentauves. and Senator Aldrich. chair
man of the finance committee OF the
senate, entered into a conspiracy 10
secure the adoption OF the senate bill
In general and the highest rates in
both bills throughout for the purpose
OF discrediting the president by repu-
dating his pledges and the platform
OF the Republican party?
Taking all the facts as they appear
In the case. from start TO finish a
lawyer, an intelligent criminal lawyer,
would say that IL looked like a con
spiracy. You seem to have measured
the conditions with accuracy and TO
have calculated the distances 20 the
various points Of agreement carefully.
and you seemed to be almost upon the
point Of concentrating your undertake
ing when the great unknown factor