Gold standard
Fowler entered politics as a Republican, and was instrumental in 1895 in securing the nomination of Jerome Babcock in the 1st Chautauqua Assembly district. In 1896, he joined the Free Silver Republicans, a minority faction opposed to the large majority of Republicans who supported the Gold standard. He was Supervisor of the Town of Harmony from 1896 to 1899, elected on a Republican/Democratic fusion ticket. In 1898, he was nominated by the Republican 1st Chautauqua district convention on the 51st ballot for the State Assembly.