Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-06

from this date on congress will watch
his every move with interest. The
democrats have looked Rainey over
carefully, up one side and down the
other, and have come to the conclu-
sion a man has been discovered in the
ranks that was not fully appreciated.
Up to date, Rainey's Panama canal
speech stands just as it did on the
day he delivered it. There have been
some denials in connection with the
Panama expose. but, according to the
Illinois congressman those who have
denied have taken particular pains to
deny something l didn't say"
While many members of congress
have long entertained the conviction
that many of the transactions in con-
nectiOn with the Panama canal enter
prise would not bear close scrutiny, no
one appeared to be able to get the
necessary facts to substantiate these
beliefs. If member endeavored to
make little investigation for himself.
he soon found himself confronted with
mass of fficial red tape that defied
penetration.
Predicted n Fixxle.
One day word went through the re-
| publican cloak room of the house and
senate that Rainey, a democrat, Of
Illinois was addressing the house on
| the Panama canal situation.
Another fiZzle," said the republi-
cans. There is no scandal in the
| Do
come out of it."
! Some of the majority party remain.
ed to hear what Rainey had to say
His speech didn't listen altogether like
a fizzle, and for the first time there
lwas real fear among many republican
members of congress over the Panama
canal graft charges. The situation
was not improved on the following day
when Rainey announced he was ready
to answer any questions in connection
with his charges. He read a Telegram
from Charles P. Taft in which the lat
ter denied ever having had any trans
actions with Cromwell or anyone els,
on the Panama canal. Rainey real
from the congressional record the par
: agraph in which reference had beer
, made to Charles P. Taft which showct
there was nothing for Rainey to re
, tract
No Aid from Newspapers.
Republican members believed the
had trump card to use agains
Rainey if all other means failed
, Rainey was charged with having 5.
t cured his information from "a we
: known source" the intimation bein
that the newspapers against whic
= proceedings had been started by tn
e president had aided him.
81 have received no assistance froi
any newspaper in the world, declare
Il Rainey Il have conducted my inve
Il legations at my own expense and hay
K received no financial assistance fro
; any source and expect to receiy
f. none"
al Rainey is an impressive. forcef
speaker. and has an attractive perso
atty. He is 4S years old, and w;
born and raised in Carrollton. II
which is within the district he has re
resented in the 5Sth, 59th and go
congresses
. On February Is, 1908, Rainey mao
. a speech on the Standard Oil compar
and the protection it had receive
from the republican party that W;
, used as a campaign document in Il
: last national election. Two millic
Q copies of this speech were circulate
He also exploited the business met
DDS of the watch trust in a speech
!. the house in 1906, of which millio
0 and a half copies were circulated
!. the last campaign.
). 1t was Rainey who introduced Il
i, resolution providing for the remov
of the body of John Paul Jones.
lis own expense Rainey made an e
tended investigation to learn the pro
able burial place of Jones, which W;
mystery for several years. He Fl
o ally located the body in a church yal
of Paris, and had congress appropria
z $4,000 for its removal to America.