The San Francisco call., 1909-02-13
LOWERING REVEALS
BLACKMAI[ING PLOT
Says Panama Stories We're
Given to New York World
by Ex-COnvicts
Charges That Rainey Was In
duced to Exploit Them in
the House
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pleased with their stories. for they
were nothing but lies. Those same
people. he said. finding that Cromwell
was deeply interested in Taft's cam
paign. thought he would submit to pay
something rather than have any pub
licity at that moment. They said to
him. Lowering asserted:
Even though there be no truth in
this story, buy and bury it."
1t was at this time, he said, when
they had failed in all their demands
upon Cromwell that they took their
nefarious wares to Mack. chairman of
the democratic national committee, and
offered them for sale for campaign
purposes.
While they were not accepted. he
said, members of the democratic party
entered into an agreement with Rainey
to exploit the subject on the floor OF
the house"
Taunted With Failure
This he has attempted to do by in
Producing a resolution of inquiry" Low
ering charged, however, that Rainey
to bring about any investigation. Has
he fallen DOWN." he inquired. HAS
he failed TO secure his proofs2 Have
his informants forsaken him?"
Lowering said that after these profes-
sional blackmailers had failed to extort
money from any of these sources they
did, in their desperation, cause them
TO be published and they appeared in
the New York World"
Rising in his place, Rainey declared
that he had received no information
OF any blackmailers," he asserted
Neither have I received any informa-
tion from the New York World"
Lowering coolly replied that Rainey
would have full opportunity to answer
him.
Observing that Lowering was reading
his speech. Rainey inquired:
Did the gentleman prepare the man
uscript. or did William Nelson Crom-
well do so?"
Every word I prepared myself, nor
has he ever seen a word of it," Lover
ing replied.
In the whole Panama transaction
Lowering said, there were no secrets
except such as suspicious minds have
conjured up or were inspired to imag-
ine."
If there were no secrets" inter
jected Hitchcock of Nebraska. does the
gentleman justify the refusal of VIII
liam Nelson Cromwell TO answer ques-
tions put TO him by the senate COM
mittee2"
Lowering declared that Cromwell an
swered every question that he was at
liberty to answer in faith to his clients.
but that since that time he had kept
nothing back. Cromwell, he said did
not profit directly or indirectly for any
part he took in the matter beyond his
moderate fee. Looking squarely at
Rainey, Lowering called upon him
here and now" TO produce his proofs.
Will Meet Challenge
Rainey promised that at the first op-
portunity he would make a reply that
would meet the challenge.
In brief but fiery speech Gaines.
Tennessee, declared that in order to
get at the bottom of the case the
Rainey resolution should be passed.
Get Mr.. Cromwell he exclaimed, ito
come before the committee and clean
his hands and get Mr.. Rainey or any
one else he wants to call, and bring
them face to face"
Declaring that Rainey's charges
should not be permitted to remain a
part of the permanent record of con-
gress, Bannon Of Ohio defended Presf-
dent elect Taft and his brother, Charles
p. Taft
Through McCreary, Pennsylvania
William S. Harvey. whom Rainey re-
ferred to as a financial buccaneer," "
entered a denial of Rainey's charges.
II was in the form of a letter which
the clerk was instructed to read. He
had not proceeded far however, when
Bohier of Missouri objected to the fur
ther reading Of the letter, because, he
said, IL imputed a falsehood to a men,
Der of the house.
After the parliamentary procedure in
such a case had been thrashed out the
chair held that the use by Harvey OF
the words false statements" was un-
parliamentary and directed that they
be stricken from the record. Fitzger-
aid of New York then objected to the
reading Of the letter at all, and on the
vote being taken, the house refused to
hear il, and adjourned.