The Washington times., 1909-12-13
Senator Rayner Urges That
He Be Brought to Justice
For the Murders.
WOULD PREVENT
INTENDED FLIGHT
Declaration of War Upon Mica
ragua Is Deemed Un-
necessary.

the President and the Secretary Of
State would persist in having ths
great crime of President Zelay;
against American citizens invest-
gated and the arch criminal brought
to justice, Senator Rayner of Mary.
land addressed the Senate TODAY II.
fiery speech in support of his res
olution giving the President all
needed authority for the apprehen-
sion of Zelaya and for bringing him
to trial.
ZELAYA ROUNDLY SCORED.
Senator Ryaner denounced the
crime of the murder Of Cannon and
Groce in the most severe terms. He
scored Zelaya in language Of almost
unparalleled bitterness.
"No civilized country upon the
globe" said Senator Rayner, would
maintain silence in the face of such
an outrage, and it will do no injury.
as this resolution contemplates, to
give the President all the authority
that may be necessary for him 10
proceed in the premises.
BelligeTency Not Involved
The question OF the recognition Of the
revoIutlonists as beuigerents is there
fore not involved in this resolution. nor
their recognition ss de facto govern
ment in the event Of t}e successful
termination OF the revolution"
Senator RayEer said his resolution
was not offered as a declaration OF war
on Nicaragua. but a great crime had
been committed against American citi-
zenship which could not be allowed to
slumber The guilt rested. not on the
people OF Nicaragua, but the dictator
of Nicaragua. This resolution is di-
rected against him Individually" de-
clared Mr.. Rayner
Senator Rayner entered into an eK-
haustive argument TO show that Can
non and Groce were not guilty OF trea-
son and were not spies. and that they
were entitled to protection as prisoners
/ DA NdI anu l-eAI ATTAA AAA-%A~-I-~c III
fiance of law.
Speaking out strongly for tho speedy
! apprehension and punishment OF Presi-
/ dent Zelaya, Cenator RaynOr said:
Public and Private Infamy Charged.
/ This desperate is everything that the
/ Secretary of state says about him and al
great deal more. II the country knew
what is known in official circles in ref
| erence TO his general depravity, il would
/ regard the Secretary's communication as
/ exceedingly temperate, as it shows upon
/ its face the restraint under which he
was laboring in dealing with such a.
/ character. have watched for years
J the revolutionary history of Central Am
: erica. and am familiar with the career
! OF a great many of the impostors and
usurpers and the grotesque and motley
/ leaders that have sprung from their cha
/ otic institutions. but Zelaya is probably
the most despicable figure that has ever
/ arisen in their midst.
! Senator Rayner declared Zelaya was
not simply a higllwayman, tyrant, "a
Lsurper or a professional assassin, but
. al of these things combined
In the school OF corruption, dishonOr.
f. perfdy and crime. he stands without a
I peer. and exhibits in one glow Of assoc
( ciated harmony the pride of every model
md the perfection Of every master I
. have been informed upon the most re-
liable authority that the vices of his
private life are more Infamous in their
indescTibabIe details than the iniquities
of his public career. Such Il creature
as this deserves the execratIon of man
kind"
Punishment of Crime Urged.
"A great crime has been committed" ."
he said. against the rights Of American
citizenship which cannot be allowed To
slumber. The Euilt does not rest u9on
the people OF Nicaragua and therefore
20 punish them would not subserve the
purpose of my resolution This resolu-
ton is directed against the dictator OF
Nicaragua individually. and I want it
entirely separated from any proposed
steps We may take in reference TO our
interference in Nicaragua
Ravuer said that Cannon and Groce,
the two Americans shot to death by
ZeIaya's order. fought with the revo-
lutiouists. They We're simply, when
captured. prisoners of war. ne declared.
and the universal law Of civilized ma
tions now forbids the killing or wound
ing Of prisoners Of war.
lie asserted that the question whether
the Nicaraguan insurgents had belli-
gerent rights had nothing TO do with
this case, and he cited State Depart
ment precedents as 10 the policy OF this
Government in protecting American
citizens. At the time Of the Hungarian
revolt the Austrian envoy designated as
a spy an agent sent by the United
States 20 Hungary. Webster, Secretary
of State. notified the Austrian imperial
J council that II the American agent was