Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-13
LOWERING SAYS EX-C0NViCTS
PR0BED CANAL SCANDAL
RED-HoT DEBATE INDUCED IN
BY LAWMAKERS
Penitentiary Awaits Witnesses for
Defense in New York Libel Case,
Declares Irate Friend of
Roosevelt
2
TBy Associated Press.l

canal affairs Which formed the SUBJECT
of his recent speech, and that eX-con-
victs investigated the stories of fraud
and corruption pertaining to the ac-
quirement of title by the United States
to the property, was the charge made
in the house by Mr.. Lowering of Mas
Sachusetts.
''May be-" he said, 1.-The World did not
originate all the scandalous stories it
published, but it's columns were public,
and we do know that the World gave
credence and circulation to Them
Mr.. Lowering declared "the perpe-
traitors of these false statements are
known and the story of their doings re-
veals chapter in the history of black
mailing that is rare in the annals of
crime.
''These men," he said, "are known
Their names are known, their aliases
are known, their haunts are known,
their plans are known"
docs the gentleman object to stat
ing who they are?" inquired Mr.. Burle-
son of Texas.
''Mr. Lowering protested he was
laboring under great difficulties be-
cause of the absence of Mr.. Rainey
from the chamber. He admitted he did
not notify the Illinois member he was
to speak on this subject.
IT want to say he said, THAI these
men have been run down and brought
to book, and it turns out that many Of
them are eX-convicts, and they stand
a good chance of returning to the pen
itentiary.'
He was pressed by Mr.. Shackleford
of Missouri for information as to who
these convicts were, but Mr.. Lowering
would go no further than to state that
before long they would be produced in
court. Their Names he said had been
brought before the grand jury, both
at Washington and New York, and
at the proper time would become known
to the general public.
Friend of Cromwell
''How do you happen to be familiar
with the secrets of the grand juries?'
Mr.. Shackleford asked, but before he
could answer Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee
inquired if he was not a warm personal
friend of William Nelson Cromwell.
Mr.. Lowering admitted he. was.
Responding to questions by Mr..
Shackleford the Massachusetts member
said he personally was not a client of
Mr.. Cromwell but that he was a mem
ber Cf corporation that had retained
his services.
He refused to say how long Mr.. Crom-
well had been so employed. He mere
ly stated that he was not putting him
self in the position of being interrogated
by court of justice.
Further referring to Mr.. Rainey Mr..
Lowering said:
This gentleman has been made a
victim or he is too willing to asperse
such fair names as those of Charles P.
Taft, Douglas Robinson, William Mel
son Cromwell, Roger Farnham and sew
eral others
1t was, he said, a shameless prosti-
tuition" of the privilege of free speech
which members enjoyed on the floor of
the house.
For this utterance Mr.. Lowering was
promptly called to order by Mr.. Law
renee of Massachusetts,, his colleague,
who was in the chair.
Mr.. Lowering protested that he had
mentioned no names except that of Mr..
7ainey and those which had been
spoken of in the house and in the pub
lie press.
On the suggestion of Mr.. Gaines of
Tennessee that Mr.. Rainey had been
sent for and that the speech should
proceed no further until he had arrived,
Mr.. Lowering yielded the floor tempo
rarily.
After waiting a reasonable time and
Mr.. Rainey not having returned to the
chamber, Mr.. Lowering resumed his re-
marks. He had not proceeded far when
he was told that the Illinois member
who was scheduled to make Lincoln
speech in Baltimore, had been over
taken at the railroad station and was
on his way to the house. Mr.. Lowering
again suspended his remarks.
In &, short time Mr.. Rainey entered
the chamber and stated that his Balti-
more engagement would prevent his
remaining throughout Mr.. Coverings
remarks, but that he later would make
answer should he find it necessary.
Continuing, Mr.. Lowering declared
that the evidence was complete and
sufficient ito convict the blackmailers
who have tried to work their gamey not
only on the gentleman / have named,
but on both political parties"
Refused to Buy Them
Last fall, he said, an effort was made
to sell the stories to the Democratic
campaign committee and that cerain
leaders of that party took the matter
under consideration, but that they were
not used because they could not be sub
stantiated.
He charged that for nearly two years
prior to that time ''these same men
had been pursuing Cromwell with the
expectation that he would pay them a
large sum of money. varying from $4,000
to $25. 600. They thought he would pay
to have these stories suppressed"
Mr.. Lowering declared that these per-
sons were always met by Mr.. Cromwell
with an indignant refusal and the reply
that they might do what they pleased
with their stories, for they were nothing
but lies. Those same people, he said,
finding that Mr.. Cromwell was deeply
interested in Mr.. Taft's campaign,
thought he would submit to pay some
thing rather than have any publicity
at that moment. They said to him, Mr.
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 Mr.. Cromwell, that they took
their nefarious wares to Mr.. 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 en-
tered into an agreement with Mr..
Rainey ''to exploit the subject on the
floor of the house"
This he has attempted to do by in
PRODUCING a resolution of inquiry"
He charged, however, that Mr..
Rainey, "singularly enough had taken
no steps to bring about any investiga-
tion. Has he fallen DOWN." he in
quired. HAS he failed to secure his
proofs? Have his informants forsaken
llim?'
He said that "after these professional
blackmailers had failed to extort money
from any Of these sources they did, in