Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-26
Rainey Charges That a Con.
spiracy Exists.
NAMES CROMWELL AS HEAD
Claims That Obaldia Was Elected to
Further the Scheme.
PROMINENT CITIZENS ACCUSED
Startling Speech Delivered In the
House on Resolution Providing
for an Investigation.

Representative Rainey OF Illinois today
in the House spoke in support Of his reso-
luton providing for an Investigation by
Congress OF the Panama canal purchase.
Mr.. Ra:ney traced the history of the
proposed canal four hundred years back
and warned that we have already started
in the direction of the rocks upon which
the French companies were wrecked.
The Libel Cases.
Referring to the governments libel suit
against the New York Wcrld and the
grand jury Investigations now In progress
in this city and in New York. Mr.. Rainey
said:
IF we are to carry this project through
to a successful conclusion We must avoid
graft 1t is not the part Of wise states
manship to dispose of. resolutions asking
for an investigation Of any phase OF the .
canal question with the sweeping ana
absolutely unsupported official declara-
ton that there ia nothing to investigate.
II Is not the part Of sound craftsmanship
and true patriotism to attempt to revive
the obsolete common law remedies OF
two hundred years ago. and to employ all
ment In attempting to crush newspapers
which have had the courage to call at
tention to a questionable transaction in
with the canal"
Cromwell Denounced.
Mr.. Rainey was particularly bitter In
his denunciation of Mr.. Cromwell. gen.
eral counsel for the New French Panama
Canal Company. and counsel and direc-
tor Of the Panama railroad, which 10
owned by the United States government.
He also was unsparing IN hts attack
upon Don Jose Domingo De Obaldia. Pres
ident Of Panama.
Against Mr.. Taft, now en- route to the
Canal Zone, Mr.. Rainey directed the ac-
eusation that on the occasion OF his last
trip to Panama in Mayl The did nothing
on the isthmus except to openly push the
candidacy Of Obaldia for the Presidency.
threat to seize the republic Of Obaldia
was not elected. was contained in letter
written by Mr.. Taft to the then President
Amado. and that to prevent this Arias.
Obaldia's opponent, withdrew
Lodge Arraigned.
Reference to President Roosevelt's re-
cent attack on Senator Tillman was made
by Mr.. Rainey. He said that for some
weeks the secret agencies of the govern
ment had been at work investigating the
senior senator from South =. Carolina.
They have" he said, discovered that
he used his frank Inadvertently in pri-
vate correspondence. and so deprived the
z cents. and the matter was considered
important enough to be embodied in a
special message from the President TO
Congress. The senior senator from
Massachusetts,. / believe. is still invited
to White House dinners, is the Presidents
friend and adviser and the cabinet maker
for the incoming President. ! have not
heard of any secret service agents d1s-
turbing the senior senator from Massa-
yet he is directly. individually
and solely responsible that there was
taken out Of the Treasury OF the United
States over $1.O00.OOO." referring to pur-
chase Of steamers for the Panama rail-
road.
DISBURSEMENT of Amador.
"A year or two after the independence
Of Panama continued Mr.. Rainey. the
officials of the little republic commenced
to absorb ideas of patriotism peculiarly
to Mr.. Cromwell. Mr.. Crom-
" ell determined to displace DIR. Amador
and the other leaders Of the constitution
party Of Panama and put In as president
some more plant parsonage. less devoted
to high ideas, and of course in such an
emergency as that his attention was
directed to his old friend and ally,
Ohaldia. He was a man after Cromwelrs
own heart. So it was determined that
Odaldia was to become President Of
Panama.
Subsequently he said. 'Obaldia's OPP
ponent withdrew on account of the inter-
ference of Secretary Taft in the elections"
and Obaldia was elected.
1.-THE plan of Mr.. Cromwell and his as
sociates." he declared. was to absolutely
appropriate to their own use the revenue
Of the republic and to steal the forests
and the public lands"
Mr. Rainey declared that there was
pending, and about TO be adopted, In the
general assembly Of Panama 1.-THE most
mitted to any government" by which
G. Ward of New York was to
be largely the beneficiary. He called
attention 20 what he said was the failure
of Arnold Shankln. the American con-
SUI general at Panama. to make report
requested by the bureau Of forestry last
wear because 'he evidently feels he owes
his position, there to William Nelson
,ronwell.'' and charges that certain IN
terested parties were seeking TO levy
tribute upon the people OF Panama and
indirectly the people of the United states
in connection with these timber land
deals.
the gentlemen are who are attempting
in this way to impoverisf the republic
Of Panama." he said. and he mentioned
William Nelson Cromwell. Roger l. Farm
ham, w. S. Harvey and Charles r. Tart.
The Pending Treaties.
Mr.. Rainey charged that Mr.. Cromwell
md Mr.. Farnham have been actively en-
gagged here for two or three weeks
treaties affecting Colombia
Ind Panama pending before the Senate.
He said that If the plans Of Mr.. Crom-
we'll and his associates go through, and
Z these treaties are confirmed. there will
,e no revenues in Panama out of which
O pay the million dollars or more in
lemnfty to Colombia. payment Of which
s guaranteed by this country
..The United States government will he
.alled upon to pay II ALL" he predicted.
and IL these plans for the spoliation of
Panama proceed to a successful cOnclu-
ion it will not be long until immense bur-
lens of a different character connected
With Panama will be imposed upon our