Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1909 — RAINEY USED AS BURTON TARGET [ARTICLE]

RAINEY USED AS BURTON TARGET

Says Illinoisan Used “Scurvy Politician’s” Remarks. DEFENDS W. N. CROMWELL Representative Whose Charges Formed Basis of Ohio Senator Elect’i Speech Declares on the Floor of the House That He Has Merely Made a Start and That He Has Heavier Artillery In Reserve. Washington, Feb. 23. Asserting that his recent speech in the house relative to the purchase of the Panama canal by the United States government had brought upon him “vilification, misrepresentation and abuse almost without a parallel In the history of that body,” Representative Rainey of Illinois delivered in the house a long reply. He took up the charge that the information upon which his remarks were based was obtained from “ex-con-victs and blacksnallers,” this accusar tion having been made by Representative Lovering of Massachusetts. “Not Yet Begun This Fight.” ‘‘True loyalty to this great enterprise,” Representative Rainey said, “means that you must expose and denounce all graft in connection with it. I want to say to all those who are spending so much time abusing me that I have not yet begun this fight.” Representath e Burton of Ohio elicited Republican applause when he rose to reply to Rainey. “I object,” he said with vehemence, “to conjuring up wrongs and buttressing; them with slander and falsehood, when there are real wrongs to right.” Rainey at once was on his feet and demanded that the words be taken down, while Representative Bartlett wanted the Ohio member ordered to take his seat Withdraws His Words. Burton with a shrug of the shoulders remarked that if what he had said was going to lead to a scene he would withdraw his words, “but,” he added, “they were uttered under very great provocation.” Rainey at first declined to accept the withdrawal, but lated did so. Burton declared that Rainey ought to retract his remarks against President Elect Taft. Rainey’s remarks, Burton said, had been on the level of the scurvy politician. Burton paid a tribute to William Nelson Cromwell, President Obaldia and the others mentioned by Rainey. The Democrats applauded when Burton said It was to the credit of the Democratic national committee that it had refused f 6 have anything to do with the alleged scandals.