The Morris County chronicle., 1910-05-31
THE FOWLER LETTER.

THE FOWLER LETTER.
Those familiar with the situation in
the, fifth congressional district, who
will take the trouble to read theletter
written by Congressman Fowler and
published in our news columns to-day,
willagree that In such an untimely, un-
just and evensvicious attack on United
States Senator Kean as is made, seri-
Gus political blunder has been commit
ted. The character of the attack, so un-
supported as it is by such evidence as
intelligent menwill demand before they
take seriously the charges which are
contained in the letter, will come as a
surprise even to the friends OF Mr.. Fow
ler, who, even though they have long
been familiar with his views of Senator
Kean.. must have credited him with
more political foresight and common
sense, to say nothing Of justice and fair
play, than to jeopardize his own politi-
cal future for the sake of giving vent
to feelings Of personal animosity.
Every man who has any understand
ing of the political situation in the fifth
congressional district, possibly even
State Treasurer VOORHEES, himself, has
believed, for a week or more at least,
that Mr.. Fowler would secure a renom-
ination as a candidate for reelection to
the house of representatives. The OPP
position talked about, whatever Mr..
VOORHEES, may have believed 1t to be,
has probably never at any time this year
been serious. As far as Union county is
concerned the attitude of SenatorK
is understood to have been opposed to
any move which would arouse political
differences within the party. There has
been no wavering In this policy. Except
for the somewhat unsympathetic state
ment made by the county chairman and
the interview of Mr.. Voorhees,, not a
word has been heard against Mr.. Fow.
Ter from anyone prominently connected
with the politics Of the fifth congress
sional district. Up to to-day, except
for the facts mentioned, it has been
plain sailing for Mr.. Fowler.
1t is not to be expected now, how
ever, that those who have been so bit
terly attacked by Mr.. Fowler, the
friends Of those men, and those who
have been associated with them in
politics, twill take off their coats and
work with enthusiasm for his nomina-
tion or reelection. That would be ex-
pecting too much of human nature
The result is that in year in which
the situation calls for a united front,
the republicans Of the fifth district
face decidedly unpleasant mix-up-a
condition OF affairs which any person
understanding politics at all will say
would have been avoided by any can
didate for office who had the best in
terests OF the party at heart.
The attack on Senator Kean is built
upon such flimsy basis that the force
of the criticism and invective is broken
at once. That the crime" " of which
Senator Kean and State Treasurer
Voorhees, are accused was committed
to secure the latter reelection is, of
course absurd.
The only explanation for all the vio-
lent accusation. railing, ridicule and
censure which is slcontained
in this letteris that way down at the
bottom there is a personal grudge,
which has long been harbored, and
about which the public is not con-
cerned at ALA matter of business
and not of politics. Or else the spirit
Of insurgency, whether making for the
advancement of better government Or
not-a spirit which is full of suspicion
of the patriotism of others, abnormal
ly bitter and keenly alive to opportun-
ity for conflict has taken hold of the
from the Fifth district
so strongly, and so mingled with hisiI
disappointments, that he isl
not always himself when; imagining
another political commotion at hand.
Journal.