Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-10
RA|NEY IS J0CULAR
Says He Seems to Be in the
Ananias Club.
REGARDS 1T AS AN HONOR
But Not Such a Great Distinction as
Formerly.
DISCUSSES BACON'S DISAVOWAL
Panama Minister Protests Against
Recent Speech in the House Re-
fecting Upon obaldia.

purchase has drawn forth a rebuke from
the State Department in an official reply
TO the Panama governments protest, was
inclined today to assume that he had been
elected to the "Ananias Club This was
ba sed on the statement in Secretary Ba-
cons letter as to the Presidents view
of Mr.. Rainey's speech. Mr.. Rainey made
a statement today In which he said that
he did not expect President Obaldia of
Panama or President Roosevelt of the
United States to agree with him. He
added that 1t is only necessary to arrive
at some fact uncomplimentary to the
present administration to be elected to
the Ananias Club. provided the candidate
has the courage to make the facts public.
In the Ananias Club.
In his statement Representative Rainey
said
Il seem To have been elected member
of the Ananias Club at sight. i am ac-
ceptng with becoming modesty the new
honor that has been conferred on me-
Better men than | belong to this distin-
guished organization. On account OF the
very large membership this organization
has at the present time, 1t is not as much
of an honor to belong to 1t as III was
three or four years ago. On account OF
the fact, however. that there may not be
as many additions to the Ananlas tiup
after the 4th of March as there have been
in the recent past. and on account of the
fact that so many distinguished citizens
belong to this organization. l am very
glad to be admitted now to membership.
Enough for One Session.
With the last three weeks l have
been denounced by the general assembly
of Panama and also elected to member
ship in the Ananias Club, which ought
to be honors enough for one session of
Congress.
Il did not expect President Obaldia and
his administration to agree with my esti-
mate of him and ] did not expect the
President of the United States to agree
with me in my estimate Of him.
The requirements of membership in the
Ananias Club are exceedingly simple. and
IL wonder that more do not accept the
opportunity to join. In order to be en-
titled to membership 1t is only necessary
to be industrious. to exercise diligence,
and to arrive at some facts not compli-
mentary to the present administration
In addition to this. you must also have
the courage to make the facts you have
ascertained public.
Later on in the session | will have
something else TO say on the floor of the
House about my Panama canal investi-
cations. l prefer to wait, however, until
my speech has been answered. l under
stand that several members on the re
publican side expect to answer it"
Minister Arosemena's Protest.
In a speech in the House a few weeks
ago Representative Rainey reflected some
what severely on the action of Presi-
dent Obaldia of Panama in connection
with the canal transaction. The Pan
anna government. through its minister
here. Senior Arosemena, made formal
protest to the Secretary of State against
such attacks on the chief executive of the
friendly government.
In his protest, Mr.. Arosemena men
toned no names, simply calling attention
to two public addresses in the HOUSE.
which he says constitute direct attack
upon the president of my country, as well
as upon the fair name and administration
of the republic of Panama" He request
ed a disavowaI of the offensive remarks
concerning the president and republic OF
Panama, such as may be deemed Just
and commensurate with the deep and
unwarranted injury inflicted on Presi-
dent Obaldia. The letter continued:
The republic of Panama is bound to
| that of your eXcellency not only by ties
of fraternity and by fervid admiration for
its institutions, but also by the lnSep-
ara BILE bond of common interest in the
Panama canal. located within its boun-
DIARIES, and it is a source of profound re-
greet to my government and myself that
Occasion has arisen for calling attention
to the occurrences to which | have re-
ferrcd: but their character is SO eXtraor-
binary that even the warm devotion of my
country TO that of your excellency does
not permit my government to disregard
them.
Confidence in Cromwell.
Your excellency will not that l AM
instructed to include in the protest the
counsel of this legation and fiscal com
missioner of Panama in this country. I
have not referred to him in the fore
going protest solely in Difference to his
request that refrain from so doing since
he, as a citizen of the United States. does
not desire that any foreign government
should intervene in his behalf. | should
however. fail in my duty if l did not eN-
press the perfect confidence of my gov
eminent and people in his personal nteg-
rity and official uprIghtness.
William Nelson Cromwell, it is under
stood, is the counsel of the Panama Legal
ton referred to.
Secretary Bacon's Response.
Secretary Bacon wrote TO Minister Aro-
semena in reply to the protest. as follows:
1.-The President directs me 10 say in
answer to your communication of Febru-
airy Q, 1909, that the remarks complained
of were made in the House of Representa-
tiyes Under our Constitution we have,
for what we regard as wise reasons, pro-
yded that for any speech or debate in
either house they 1.-THE senators and rep
reSentatlNeSb snail not De questioned III
any other place.
This provision we regard as essential
10 secure full liberty of speech to the
/ elected representatives Of the people: and
we feel that such liberty of speech
should he preserved even though it may
! occasionally be abused.
Statements Disavowed.
III ought to be understood that the III
| terances of the individual members are
| not to be taken as expressing the views
either of the government of the United
| States or Of the house in which such
| remarks are made. AS regards the state
| ments in question made by Representative
| Rainey, the President attached SO little
| importance to him that he had not ever
| read them until your protest came. He
| has now read them, and none of them
concerning which he has knowledge have
any foundation i'll fact.
THE President wishes me to call II
YOUR attention that the attack was made
even more upon Americans. including the
presjdent-elect than upon the officials OF
! Panama. The President need hardly say
| that this government disavoWS all re-
sponsibility for the remarks of RepreSen-
| tative Rainey to which you refer.
Typewriter Inventor Dies.
1 n