New-York tribune., 1909-08-24
CANNON ARRAIGNED
By FOWLER.
Conspiracy to Defeat Tariff Legas-
Lation Alleged.


sought reappointTnent Mr. Fowler declares the
Speaker opposed him account OF his efforts in
behalf OF yeform in the House rules. He defends
bis own record. ana then launches into a caustc
criticism Mr.. Cannon's attitude toward financial
and currency legislation. lae charges that Mr..
cannon and Air Aldrioh entered into a conspiracy
10 defeat the recent tariff legislation.
During the last three months" Mr..
Fowler writes. Il have observed from time 10 time
In the press Of the country certain news Items dis
Saraging my ability IN certain directions. which
have every reason 10 believe have emanated from
sou.
The general tone OF these items. and. in some
Instances the very words. the same used by you
IN my single interview with you in regard 10 the
chairnanship OF the Banking and Currency Com
snittee. You then used this language: It IS doubt
ful whether you could set agreement out Of the
comnittee. composed Of twelve Republican ana six
Democratic members
Further 10 explain his position. Mr. Fowler
quotes in fun letter he wrote 20 Speaker Cannon
on May s. In the letteE-he had this to say about
dis ability TO bring about agreements bills:
After Speaker Henderson had made me chairman
OF tho committee 4 introduced a comprehensive
covering nearly every feature of my bill Of
as Republicans Joined in its support from sense
of patriotic duty. believing IL was founded upon
fspe 81 fbe Whole psone ,I, as i's iiS' 'e
Il is true that PaEgett, who Is member Of the
Monetary Commission, behalf of the minority Of
the committee. apparently simply for the purpose
report, in way Challenging the principles OF
tie bl. but approved OF II Substantially from be-
j prepared my report upon that measure vita
lo26o0O copies Of it 10 people living throughout the
United States. sending one 20 every lawyer, every
list OF more than 100000 farmers. This report was
. textbook as / was Informed al the time.
At every term OF Congress since there has been
reported from my committee ny RepuoHcan votes .
financial and currency measure looking toward
of this position has there ever been any adverse
Republican votes until IN 1908, when certain men.
committee, voted against reporting my bin. That
measure, however, was nevertheless reported by
However, ii may be Of interest 10 know that
cratic members Of The COMMITTEES at that time that
they had had caucus and that with one excep-
neoessay, one after another vote 10 report the BIZ
IeoDie and therefore, their patriotic duty 10 do so
fsther than that the bin should fail in the commit
From this broad and uniform ooncurrenoe Of onin-
sss can o,,, onc,S ,bst ,h % 1,eyaters M he g M,
various committees have invariably been impressed
First-That / have been honest and patriotic in
my views and recommendations 10 the committee
with which have been dealing during all these
DEFENDS Tus RECORD
Tie then reviewed in that letter HIS work for the
last fourteen years in behaif OF currency reform
declaring that IN his study OF the question here and
abroad aud in keeping tho American public Informed
az the results he had expended I'm all nearly $4,000.
And, with his conclusions, he said all banking
economists In the main agree as far he knows
Referring IN the letter 20 his former support OF
Alr Cannon he said:
committee by Speaker Henderson that you first be-
came candidate for Speaker. Early in your can,
you believed that you were entitled 10 the great
Again when the soesaa SS p"6 prior TO
TIC organization q the last House were discussing
& ,5e position that party loyslty 70 party organiza-
a
Their constituency. should vote for you, and am
ilo9 q msny q those Who had not previously
pleaged themselves against you berause of local
Al the close OF this letter he ADDS that il was at
his request that the American Bankers Assoca-
uon appointed its currency commission in 1906 20
prepare reforInatory currency legislation.
Coming 10 ny. Caslnon's own record he says.
pon the lAth OF April lS7S. you voted FOR a bill
which Is described by John Sherman IN these
words; TT provided Tor an expansion OF an ire
is saGses r5ssiaent Grant vetoed it, II was the So
January u 1875 the act for the resumption Of
!sonse by vote OF 196 IS. but you did not vote
on October % 1877 you introduced q bill ITO re-
peal ne time clause Of the resumption act"
,n ,5s 5AGsemoer ,s ~ 80 you made speech declar
alone as in irredeemahe paper. You had much 20
say shout gold repudiatonists'
i sa M NoNsmber q ls!3. you voted for a bin 10
slorize the T e5 q5 Sae - mTe%samRaon % act which au-
"L mites states bonds ana cancel greenbacks.
onetzaoa u silver s1 sG5 iPI b s 81o 1oT or hs s re-
44Tg p voted To pass il over the veto President
., on n, August = isss you voted against the repeal
" ~ sne silver purchase act and voted again against
& sllung IN Jackson Park one evening. about len
ssd % him; We v'iu get gold standard ieeisla-
ton under present conditions unless We can get
rhe House and also get one appointed on The psrt
~ the Senate TO STUDY the question this sumner
and 20 report a. Congress in the fall"
ths hsSs Go,smi,tees Tere a9po.nted you opposing
the House, and although YOU did al in YOUR power
10 prevent tho adoption OF the report when n was
nnd eod standard act of March i iss Tes
INC result Of tho suggestion made by me
Speaking OF his attempt 10 get Cannon TO allow
no consideration OF the legislation prepared bv the
bankers ne quotes Tho Speaker as saying:
What IN - does this bowling in Wall Street
amount 10? The country doesn't care what hap
pfnh 10 tbose ---- speculators Everything is an
right out West and around Danville The country
doesn't need any legislation. Then. I don't take
any stock IN your --- asset currency"
AIR. Fowler adds:
am sure that all Trustworthy authorities will
fsy 1hat a. least one-half ana possibly two-tlirds
direct were cue 70 the fact that there was gen tl
SrealsS dasn % % oSr nSn6 nayments and complete
sonnasnoe was 50 shocked 10 destroy completely
Mhsteyer this additional loss was-one- half or
i,- -iss OF ~ ss lesses-I charge 70 you per
House and had gone 10 the Senate these losses sas
failed pass it; as the matter now stanas ,ss hs9
lie az your door. ''es
lie then passes 70 tho killing Of the Fowler hrl
and makes some comment on the Aldrich-vreeland
hAL Then he summarizes his compliments 20 the
Sneaker in the following language:
This is your record upon our financial and cur
fe,cy iegislauoD. challenge you 70 md a sinsie
snoranoe political coEardioe or ssTaeef9 ss9re 9i
dictate 9be .,nsSrSa, s aId geL sr. you assume 10
civilized country.