The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-10
RAINEY ELECTED
TO ANANIAS CLUB
President DisregardS Speech
on Cromwell.
HOLDS CHARGES UEFOUNDED
Panama Minister Files Formal Pro-
test st the state Department on Ad-
dress OF Illinois Member of House,
and Is Told the Nation should
Not Be Held Responsible.

By direction OF President Roosevelt.
Secretary Of State Bacon yesterday added
4 new member to the Ananias Club.
The victim was Representative Henry
T Rainey, Of the Nineteenth Illinois Con-
gresslonal District Mr.. Rainey is q
Democrat
n reply to the formal protest fled at
the state Department By c. C Arose
mena, Minister from Panama to the
United States. Mr.. Bacon said that the
president attached so little Importance 20
Representative Rainey's recent speech In
the House Of Representatives criticiEing
President Obaldia OF Panama that he had
not until yesterday read the speech.
Now that the President has read the
speech. Mr.. Bacon added, the Chief Ex-
scutive instructed him 70 say that none
Of the allegations contained in the speech
had any foundation In fact. Incidentally,
this government acceded TO q request %
Panama that Mr.. Rainey's remarks be
dissvowed officially.
AssaiIed ObaIdIa,
Mr.. Rainey's speech was delivered in
the House OF Representatives several
weeks ago. He referred TO President
Obaldia in bitter terms. and charged that
President ObaIdia and William Nelson
Cromwell. Of New York. counsel OF the
Panama legation and fiscal agent OF Pan
ana in the United States. were in league
70 rob the Panama treasury
Acting under Instructions received from
his government, Mr.. Arosemena yester-
day fled a formal protest at the state
Department, complaining that the ale
cations made in the speech were a Sc
ries Of reflections upon the personal
honor and integrity Of the President and
the people OF Panama
Mr- Arosemena's letter called attention
10 two public addresses in the House on
January Is and . last. which, he said,
Constitute q direct attack upon the
President OF my country, as well as upon
the fair name and administration OF the
republic OF Panama" and he entered
the solemn ana emphatic protest Of my
government against said attacks. and
this violation Of international courtesy
Reply of Bacon.
Secretary Bacon's reply follows:
The President directs me 70 say in an
sEe- 70 your communication Of February
,. 1868. that remarks complained OF were
made in the House Of Representatives.
Under our Constitution We have. for what
We regard as wise reasons. provided that
for any speech OF debate in
either House they (the Senator's and Rep
resentativesl shall not be questioned in
any other place"
This provision We regard as essential
10 secure full liberty OF speech 70 the
elected representatives of the people. and
We feel that such liberty Of speech should
be preserved, even though Il may Occa-
sionally be abused
1t ought to be understood. however
that the utterances Of individual members
are rot 70 be taken as expressing the
views either OF the government Of the
United States OF of the House in which
such remarks are made.
"As regards the statements IN question
made by Representative Rainey. the Pres
ident attached 50 little importance u
them that he had not even Teau ,nsE
until your protest came He has nOW
read them and none Of them concerning
which he has knowledge have any fOuBda
ton in fact
The President wishes me to recall u
your attention that the attack was made
even more upon Americans, including TIT
PTesiden9-elect. than upon the officials o
Panama The President need hardly sal
that this government disavows all re
sporsbilitv for the remarks OF Repre-
sentative Rainey 70 which you refer