New-York tribune., 1909-02-13
RAINEY TAKEN TO TASK
Continued srezn f1rst page

nails OF crime. These gentlemen" he said, are
knowE. Their names are known, their aliases
are known, their haunts are known and their
plans are known"
Does the gentleman object TO stating VINO
they are7" inquired Mr.. BurIeson Of Texas
Mr.. Lowering protested that he was laboring
under great difficulty because Of the absence Of
Mr.. Rainey from the chamber. He admitted
that he did not inform the Illinois member that
he was TO speak on this subject. II want TO
say he added that these men have been run
down and brought to book. and IL turns out that
many Of them ex-convicts and they stand
good chance of returning to the penitentiaTy-
He pressed by Mr. shacklefoyd, of Mis-
souri, for information as to who those convicts
were. but Mr.. Lowering would go no further than
to say that before long they would be produced
In court Their names, he said, had been
brought before the grand jury, both az Washing
ton and New York, and at the proper time would
oecome known to the general public.
How do you happen TO be familiar with the
secrets OF the grand 5ury7" Mr.. shacklecord
asked but before Mr. Lowering could answer
1dr- Gaines, OF Tennessee, inquired IL he were
not warm personal friend Of William Nelson
Cromwell Mr.. Lowering said that he was Re
plying to questions by MT. Shackieford the
Massachusetts, member said he personally was
not client Of Mr.. Cromwell, but was member
OF a corporation which had retained his SER
vices He refused to tell how long Mr.. Crom-
well had been SO employed. merely stating that
he was not putting himself in the position of
being Intercepted by court OF justice.
Further referring to Mr.. Rainey, Mr.. Lowering
said: This gentleman has been made victim,
or he is too willing to asperse such fair names
as those of Charles P. Taft Douglas Robinson,
William Nelson Cromwell, Roger Farnharn and
several others" It was, ne said. shameless
prostitution" Of the privilege OF free speech
which members enjoyed on the floor Of the
House
On the suggestion Of Mr.. Gaines Of Tennes-
see that Mr.. Rainey had been sent for. and that
the speech should proceed 10 further until he
had arrived, Mr. Lowering yielded the floor tenn
porarily.
In a short time Mr. Rainey entered the cham
Der and said that his Baltimore engagement
would prevent him from remaining throughout
Mr.. Coverings remarks, but he would answer
later should he find it necessary.
OFFERED TO DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
Continuing. Mr.. Lowering declared that the
evidence complete and sufficient ito convict
the blsckmailers who have tried to work their
game not only on the gentlemen have named
but on both political parties" Last fall. he
said. an effort was made to sell the stories to
ths Democratic campaign committee, and GER
tain leaders of that party took the matter un-
der consideration, but they not used be-
cause they could not be substantisted. He
charged that for nearly two years before that
time these same men had been pursuing
Cromwell with the expectation that he would
pay them a large sum OF money, varying from
5000 TO $4,000. They thought he would pay
to have these stories suppressed" Mr.. Lowering
declared that those persons were always met by
Mr. Cromwell with an indignant refusal land
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 deeply interested in Mr. Taft's
campaign, thought hs would submit 20 pay
something rather than have any publicity at
that moment They said 20 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 Ell their
demands upon Mr.. Cromwell, that they took
their nefarious wares to Mr.. Mack. chairman OF
the Democratic National Committee, and offered
them for sals for campaign purposes" While
they we're not accepted. he said, members OF the
Democratic party entered into agreement
with ATr Rainey "'to exploit the subject on the
aoor Of the House This he has attempted 10
do bv introducing a resolution OF inquiry" He
charged however, that SIR. Rainey, "singularly
enough" had taken no steps to bring about any
investiration Has he fallen DOWN" hs in
ouired Has he failed TO secure his proofs?
Have his informarts forsaiEen hirn7 He said
that "after these professional hlackmaiers-
known
fessona1-had failed to extract money from any
- .bese sources they did in their desperation
ospss them 20 be published, and the: appeared
in Tho New York World
~ lowering could not say whether This
x.rc-,a.. Maid for the stories. and he said that
whether the gentleman from Illinois got his In
t-,,,o+ior from The New York World di-
-.c+I,, from these blackmaiiers does not mat
ter"
RAINEY MAKES A DENIAL
Risine In his place. Mr. Rainey declared that
he had received no information from either
source 81 know nothing Of any blacHrnellers,
ha asserted Neither have received any in
formation from The New York World
Mr.. Lowering coolly replied that Mr.. Rainey
would have full opportunity TO answer him.
Observing that Mr. Lowering was reading his
speech, Mr. Rainey inquired: did the gentle
man prepare the manuscript or did William
Nelson Cromwell do so7
every word 1 prepared myself. has he
ever seen q word Of it," Mr.. Lowering replied
with emphasis.
Did he furnish the gentleman with the facts?'
Mr. Rainey persisted. but he again was met
with the statement that he could answer In his
own time.
In the whole Panama transaction, Mr. Lover
ing said there were no secrets. except such as
suspicious minds have contured up or were in
spired to imagine" He had. he said never
known Mr.. Cromwell to do g single improper act
in connection with that any other transaction
whatever, either IN the United States France
or on the isthnlus. Everything that Mr.. Crom-
well cid, he said, was honorable. straightfor-
ward and without any self-seeking interest be-
,a,S,u hat rAarIxy fs--.