The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-27
Illinois Congressman Makes a Bitter Attack Upon PrOn-
 inent Public Men
PURCHASE OF CANAL IS
 CALLED GAME OF GRAFT
Congressman Rainey Includes In His Attack William Nelson Cromwell, Taft, Roosevelt and Others,
 Who Were Associated.
By PATTERSON sTEALEY.

by WA EhSON . EHEEfs
 Washington, January 26.=(Special) Representative Rainey of Illinois de- livered to the House this afternoon his long g-heralded speech the Pan- anna canal It was vigorous on- slaught upon William Nelson Crom- we'll and those associated with him in the purchase of the canal. The speech left little doubt in the minds of those who heard it of the correctness of the accusations made by MT. Rainey. He brought out many new import ant points which he had obtained through his investigations in New York city and also included the per- tinent features of speeches which had been made upon the subject by the late Senator Morgan of Alabama and other authorities.
 With the insertions Mir. Rainey will make the speech is considered a very complete document. Mir. Rainey brand ed MT. Cromwell as a spoliator, buc- caner and a despoiler. He charged that with Cromwell have been associ- ated Roger L. Farnwell, W. S. liar vey and others in gigantic effort to "steal and appropriate to their own use the revenues of the Panama canal
 Stupendous Graft.
 The House has rarely listened to such an excoriation of any individual and group of individuals as was Rain ey's. He minced words; he dragged in name at every step in his story and professed to prove the existence of the most stupendous graft combine known in history. The speech of the Illinoisan occupied more than two hours. Commencing at the inaugura- tion of canal work by the French company he traced the property step by step up to the present date. Un- equivocally he charged the Panama canal attorney with being "a party to an attempt to collect from the United States fraudulent claim of over S2,- O00 000 chief manipulator in the mach nations which brought about the Pan anna revolution; the power behind the throne which fostured plan to ab- solutely appropriate the revenues of the republic and to steal the forests and public lands; combine whose intent is not only to rob the republic of Panama but indirectly to rob the treasury of the United States"
 Rainey Applauded.
 From the very outset of his remarks r. tention of the House and he was fre- 1uently applauded.
 Incensed at the remarks Of the Ill., inois senator, MT. Stevens of Minnesota, declared it to be extremely regret table that any member of this House feels called upon to rise in his place and islander the ruler of friendly republic and defame the administra- tion of his own government"
 He had proceeded that far when he was called to order by Mr. Shack leford Missouri, who objected to the use of the word islander" The chair admonished MT. Stevens, who promised to keep within the rules. He urged that 1t was no business of the Amer ican government what any other gov ernment did with its possessions or it's property, provided 1t does not af- feet our interests Tt is our business" he said ito look after our own citizens and our own administration"
 Stevens Defends Taft.
 He declared that there was no found ation in fact for the statements that there was any interference by Sec retaryi of Wart Taft or any officers of the United States with the Panama election any more than was involved in the keeping of order. He also at- tempted to refute the statements of MT. Rainey regarding President Obal- dia and declared that he was not with out a political party.
 The steamships referred to by MT. Rainey said Mir. Stevens, were legit- innate purchase and were doing val uable service in keeping their trans continental lines from robbing the gov- ernment. He knew of no work, he said, which was being prosecuted as effectively and as honestly as that of digging the canal. He secuted the talk about graft and declared that those having the undertaking in charge were proceeding without any sef-in- terest and in spite of detractions at home, in newspapers by public men and by others who have other ends to serve."
 MT. Stevens was followed by MT. Kuestermann (Wisconsin), who ex- pressed his disapproval of what he said were the slighting remarks against the President made by MT. Rainey. 41e paid a tribute to the President and said that while the chief executive had his faults he would be recorded as one of the greatest presidents the country has ever had.
 History of Canal.
 Mr. Rainey traced the history of the proposed canal 400 years back and de- clared that we have already started in the direction of the rocks upon which the French cOnpdnleS were wrecked
 Referring to the governments libel suit against the New York World and the grand jury investigations now in progress In this city and in New York, Mr. Rainey said:
 e'If we are to carry this project through to a successful conclusion we must avoid graft It is not the part of wise states rnanship to dispose of resolutions asking for an investigation of any phrase of the canal question with the sweeping and ab- q volutely unsupported official declaration
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