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Show II Sensational! Statements Made by Sena- ' tor Gore of Oklahoma During Snves-j Snves-j tigation of AlSegedl Effort to ; - ' Graft Indians SYNDICATE'S REPRESENTATIVE, HE SAYS, ALSO OFFERED BRIBE Or $50,000 Names of Curtis of Kansas, McGuire of Oklahoma and Employee of Department of i Justice Involved V MUSKOGEE, Okla., Aug. 4. What happened in the privato office of Uuit-v Uuit-v ed States Senator Thomas P. Goro at "Washington at noon on May 6 last, formed the basis of sensational charges involving tho names of Vice-President Sherman, Scnafor Charles Curtis of KansaH, Congressman B. S. McGuire of Oklahoma and others, in a hearing before be-fore a special congressional investigation investi-gation committee hero today. During a conference held in that office, of-fice, Senator Gore testified lie had been approached by Jake L. Ilamon, former chairman of the Oklahoma territorial ter-ritorial Republican committee, and also J!ftffSj V former chairman of tho Oklahoma state Republican central committee, and said that he had been offered a bribe of $25,000 or $50,000 to remove- certain legislation pending in congress so that $3,000,000 might be paid to J. V. Mc-i Mc-i -Murray, an attorney of McAlcster, Okla., and his associates. The money was to represent "attorney's "attor-ney's foes" of 10 per cent on $30,000,-000 $30,000,-000 which was to bo secured from a New York syndicate for 450,000 acres of coal and asphalt land now owned by the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians in this state. Grave Charge of Gore. Vice-President Sherman's name was mentioned by Mr. Uamon, Senator Gore testified, as "being "interested" in tho; land deal to tho extent of favoring tho approval by congress of what arc known as the McMurray contracts with V, tho Indians. . What happened in another private Toom in Washington and also where, it was alleged, Ilamon made more "overtures," "over-tures," was told by Congressman C. p. Creagcr of tho third Oklahoma district. dis-trict. Congressman Creagcr supplemented supple-mented the testimony of Senator Gore, lie said that on last Juno 115 he had been invited by Ilamon to meet hi'" !IJ a private room at the Occidental hotel in Washington. , ,. Having gone there, Mr. Creagcr tcsti-' tcsti-' fled, he was informed he could have a "substantial interest" in the land deal if he wpuld withdraw his opposition to tho approval of the McMurray contracts con-tracts by congress. Asked tho question. "Were any figures mentioned as to how much you were to receive?" Mr. Creagcr replied: re-plied: , "No: T did riot let it go so far as that. I made it plain T was not open t'o being influenced in that way. "I had already gone on record . as being firmly opposed to the grantmc of such an enormous fee to uttorneys. McGuire Close at Hand. Congressman McGuire of Oklahoma, who was charged by -Senator Gore as being "interested" in tho McMurray contract, was said by Mr. Creagcr, in his testimony, to have been, at ilio time of his visit, an occupant of the same suite of rooms with Uamon and McMurray at the hotel. Clerks of Senator Gore testified t'o IK having been invited by McMurray and ITamrm to "frog leg" suppers at "Washington, at which tho Indian contracts con-tracts were to bo "talked over." These invitations, it was declared, were all "turned down." On one occasion, one of t'he clerks testified, Uamon said Senator Gore was ""awfully hard on his friends." Senator Gbre, in his testimony, asserted as-serted that the offer of bribery went ho far that Uamon said the $25,000 or $50,000 would nof be paid over in the form of a check or marked money, but that "it would bo all clean, hard cash." Personnel of Committee The committee that heard the charges was appointed by resolution of tho house of representatives to investigate in-vestigate the McMurray contracts, which arc declared to have been made by McMurray individually with 10,-000 10,-000 Indians, each of whom agreed to turn over 10 per cent of their profit from tlie sale of their land, provided tho contracts wcro approved by con-jjross. con-jjross. The committee, licndcd by Congressman Congress-man Charles H. Burke of 'South Dakota, Da-kota, chairman, is composed of Congressmen Con-gressmen Philip P. Campbell of Kansas, Charles B. Miller of Minnesota. John J. Stevens of Texas, and E. W. Saunders of Virginia. Its initial session ses-sion was held today. Congressman Creagcr 'a appearance on the witness stand followed a scries of sensational statements. Among Senator Sen-ator Goro's assertions were tho following: fol-lowing: That Hamon told him that a man "higher up" in the government was interested in the approval of the contractu, con-tractu, and t'hat. therefore, there was no reason why Senator Gore should not be; that when asked who was tho man higher up, Ifamon had replied the vice-president. vice-president. That Ilamon told him Senator Curtis of Kansas was "interested" in the i deal. That Hamon told him Congressman Jr MjcGuire of Oklahoma was "intcrost- v ouV' in the deal. That Ilnmonj told him an employee of tlio department of justice at Washing- ton was "interested" in the deal; that he (Senator Gore), kiiew tho name- of the omployeo but would not divulge his hamo, or the name of his informant, especially because the jattcr would lose his position. That Former Senator Long of Kansas, Kan-sas, acting as counsel for MrMurrav. had gone to President Taft on April 2S to urge tho approval of the contracts, con-tracts, but that tho president had said "it, would take a good deal of argument argu-ment to convince him that the amount of the foo asked by McMurray was justified." Senator Curtis today sent a telegram to the committee denying that he was in any way interested in the contracts ami offering to appear before the committee. com-mittee. Chairman Burke said Senator Curtis .would bo subpoenaed to testify. Sensational Testimony. An account of that part of Senator Goro's testimony referring to Vice-President Vice-President Sherman follows: Mr. Burke: "In j'our conversation with Mr. Uamon, you stated he named a very high official that he said was interested in theso contracts. You omitted his name." Mr. Goro: "I say again that I should very much prefer not. to namo him. I am, however, subject to tho will of the committee." Mr. Burke: "The committee- is here to get tho facts and wo must have all of this conversation." Mr. Gore: "lie suggestod that Vice-President Vice-President Sherman was interested in the contracts." Thomas II. Owen, counsel for Mr. Gore: "In that connection you spoke of an articlo appearing in a Kansas City newspaper that two gentlemen had called on the presideut. I wish you would say who was mentioned in that article." Mr. Gore: "In tho newspaper of April 11, Vice-President Sherman and Senator Curtis wcro named as having hav-ing called to discuss the segregation of coal and asphalt lands. I think before the senate mot the next day tho information in-formation came to me." Senator Gore explained lie believed Vice President Sherman was favorable to the contracts and a short time later ho introduced intro-duced a rosolutlon in the senate that would require further action of congress befdro the contracts could be approved. Creager on Stand. Congressman Creager did not take the stand until lule in the day. Asked if he had over met Uamon, he replied: "Yes, I met him by appointment in his rooms at the Occidental hotel in Washington. IIo invited me there, Haying Hay-ing he wanted to talk over a Httje mat-tor. mat-tor. At that time efforts were being made to have the president approve the McMurray contracts. 1 already had gone on record as being opposed to their approval. ap-proval. Well, when I was got to the hotel and sitting In a room with Llamon he began to urge me to withdraw my opposition. op-position. He suggested I might have an interest in tho contracts." Congressman Miller: "Were nny figures mentioned V Did ho say how much interest inter-est you might have?" Mr. Creagcr: "No. J did not lot It go as far ns that. 1 made my language pretty pret-ty emphatic that I was opposed to the contracts and would not be Inlluenccd." Congressman Stephens: "you mean to say that you regarded the offer of such a character as to arouse your Indignation?" Indigna-tion?" Mr. Crengcr: "Yea: that's it. T regarded regard-ed it as an offer to influence my attitude towards tho contracts. It was oven suggested sug-gested that I call together all the officials I could and defeat tho measure onnoslnir the approval of the bills," 1 Congressman Miller. "What kind of rooms did Mr. Uamon and Mr. McMurray have at tho hotel?" Tried to Silence Creagcr. Mr. Creagcr: "Oh. three or four front rooms. Representative McGuire of Oklahoma Okla-homa occupied part of the llnmun and McMurray suite. T met Hamon later at different times. When ho heard I was coming to testify before thin committee ho urged me not to. lie expressed tho hope that I would make no statement before be-fore this committee." Recalled to the stand. Senator Gore was asked to mention the name of the employe em-ploye or tho department of Justice who had told him that another employe, or an official In that department, was Interested Inter-ested in the contracts. "That I could not do," replied Senator Gore. "The matter was imparted to me in confidence and I regret that it was mentioned hero at nil," "Now, senator." interposed Congressman Congress-man Campbell, "don't you think it unfair un-fair to go so far befdro this commlttco and yet not tell all you know? You know wo are here to learn the truth, and we would like to have all of it made known." "No, I would rather not. It Jh well known that heretofore employes of that department have lost their positions for giving information, and I would rather that this feature of the Investigation bo dropped." Attitudo of President. A. P. Phfll. attorney for the Choctaw trlbo of Indians, then questioned Lho senator ns to what he know of President Tuft's attitude toward tho McMurray contracts. "I think some people Interested in tho contracts wont to-wee tho president on April 2S." said the1 witness. "The president stated thai former Senator Sen-ator Long had already submitted the matter to him and that Mr. Long's clients (moaning tho McMurray Interests), might have their day in court I think the president said everybody might bavo his day In court, but that it would tako a Continued on Pago Two. VICE-PRESIDENT SAID TO HAVE BEEN "INTERESTED" Continued from Pace One. good deal of argument to convince him that the amount of foes asked for in the contracts (?3, 000,000) was Just. In fact, I . think the presldont made it plain ho was opposed to tho contracts." Haraon and. Gore Friends. Senator Goro testified that ho and Ha-mon Ha-mon had been friends and had been Interested In-terested together in business transactions at Lawton, Okla., In which money loans-were loans-were invested. Mr. Hamon Is an attorney attor-ney of Lawton. which Is Senator Gores home town. Hamon is 37 years old and married. Aside from Republican chairmanships, chair-manships, ho has boen city attorney of Lawton, and has practiced law In Kansas. Kan-sas. Oklahoma and Texas. Explaining what led up to his opposing oppos-ing the approval of the contracts with tho Indians, Senator Goro, In his testimony, testi-mony, asserted that as far back as 1005 he wrote a letter to Senator La Follctto calling atiention to the great wealth of the coal and asphalt lands owned by tho Indians. He said tho United Slates geological geo-logical survey had estimated the mineral deposits to be worth $160,000,000. In 11)05, he said. McMurray had obtained ob-tained contracts with the tribes of Indians In-dians for the salo of tho lands on a 10 per cent basis. In 1908 President Roosevelt Roose-velt had registered his disapproval of tho contracts, in the same year Mr. McMurray McMur-ray obtained contracts Individually with 10,000 Indians, there being at that tlmo no law against the execution of contracts with individual Indians. It was this condition con-dition that aroused him to Introduce a resolution In congress declaring that all Indian contracts must be approved by congress before they became valid. Objected to High Fee. "McMurray then came to my office," said the senator. "I told him I had no objection to just attornoys' fees, but I thought 10 per cent on land valued by the government at $1GO,000.000 certainly was too high. Also I said 10 per cent on $30,000,000 wis too high, as I was informed in-formed a New York syndicate was ready to pay the latter amount for the lands. 1 said I saw no reason why tho Indians should pay attorneys fees In this Instance at all. since tho government by treaty already had agreed to dispose of the land and give the Indians the full profits. I wrote letters to tho presldont and to various other officials describing what I called an attempt to plunder and rob these Indians. "A great many interests were at work In promoting contracts. The llrst I knew that former Senator Long was acting, in behalf of McMurray was one day when I walked Into the office of Secretary Balllnger. I began to protest against the contracts, and was told not to talk so loud, as Mr. Long was present and he was Interested In them. "On last May 5 my bill holding up the Indian contracts was reported out of the committee favorably, the report bolng submitted by Senator Hughes of Colorado. Colo-rado. The very next day McMurray came to me and asked mo to have Mr. Hughes not to press the measure, t told him 1 would press 1L I have been pressing it ever since." McMurray' s Side. Mr. McMurray In an interview said: "I have never approached any one in this mutter except upon its merits. i took the contracts in good faith. 1 believe be-lieve thoy arc legitimate and the compensation compen-sation Is not too great. Practically all the Indians in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Chicka-saw nations want their land sold. "I do not know anything about tho Incident In-cident of which Senator Gore and Congressman Con-gressman Creager spoke. I have gone to them many limes, but I went to them In person and did not send an agent." References to Invitations to "frog-leg" banquets and to assertions by Hamon that, Senator Gore was "going back on his friends" were mado In the testimony of D. F. Gore, private secretary and brother to Senator Gore. D. F. Gore said that he was in his brother's private office at noon on May 6 when Hamon appeared. "I stepped Into an adjoining office and left the senator and Hamon alone, except that once in a while I went In and out. When they quit talking. In about thirty or forty minutes, Hamon camo out into my room. 'Well,' he said, 'Dick, tho senator sena-tor Is getting awfully hard on his friends. I want to make a lot of money, Dick, and I don't care how 1 make it.' Brother's Explanation. "I didn't know then what they had been talking about, but when Hamon left the senator said ho had been talking about the McMurray contracts, and Hamon Ha-mon had offered him '525,000. Tho senator said Hamon offered to . lncrcaso the amount. That's all that was said to me about the matter at that time. Later McMurray camo to me and said he was sure that Senator Goro did not understand under-stand those contracts and wished he knew of some way or making him understand. under-stand. He invited mo to the hotel to talk It over, so I could tell tho senator. Ho also wanted to know If I would attend at-tend a frog-leg banquet which he was arranging. I declined all of these Invitations." Invita-tions." J. Leroy Thompson, stenographer to Senator Gore, testified ho also was In and out of the senator's room when Hamon was present. He. too. was Invited to tho "frOg-lcg" banquet, ho said, but declined. Congressman Campbell: "How long were the senator and Hamon at conference con-ference together?" Thompson: "About thirty or forty minutes. min-utes. When Hamon came out I overheard over-heard him say he wanted to make a lot of money and ho did not care how he mado It." "Did you hear anything that wa3 said at tho conference?" "No, 1 did not. Usually when Hamon called I hoard everything that was said. There never before had been an effort to conceal it. But this lime it was different." dif-ferent." "In what wny was it different? Did Hamon act differently?" Attempt at Secrecy. "Yes; he nppcared not to want to say anything when I was In tho room, which was quite opposite from his usual manner." man-ner." That the Choctaw Indians, who had protested against giving 10 per cent attorney at-torney fees to McMurray. had been asked to rescind their action formed tho substance sub-stance of testimony by W. A. Durant. a Choctaw Indian and a member of the Oklahoma legislature. Durant said that at a Choctaw council meeting a rosolutlon had boon passed against tho McMurray contracts. Later, he said, a number of persons had gone out Into the Choctaw nation urging tho Indians In-dians to sign a document, declaring themselves them-selves In favor of the contracts, but most of his tribe, ho asserted, maintained their position. Mr. Hamon tonight declined to discuss Senator Gore's charges and said ho would not make any statement except In response re-sponse to categorical questions. Tho following fol-lowing questions In an interview wero then put to him; Hamon's Denial. "Did you offer a bribe to S'enator Gore?" "I did not." "Did you offer to give him an Interest In the McMurray contracts?" "I did not." "Did you offer to bribe Congressman Creager?" "I did not." "Did you offer him an interest in tho McMurray contracts?" "I did not." "Did you mention to Senator Goro, or to any one else, that Vice President Sherman Sher-man was Interested In the approval of tho McMurray contracts?" "I never mentioned such a thing to any one," "Did you say Senator Curtis was interested in-terested in tho McMurray contracts?" "I did not " "Are you yourself Interested In the approval ap-proval of tho McMurray contracts?" "I 'am not." Mr Hamon declined to answer other questions, saying he expected to appear before the committee, when he would tell all ho knew. While submitting to the questioning, Mr. Hamon laughed heartily, and while, as he said, he was not disposed to consider con-sider Senator Gore's charges as a Joke, yet ho declined to show nny anxiety over tho developments of the day, saying say-ing he believed his position In the Investigation Inves-tigation would be properly set forth when he went on tho stand, which he hoped to do tomorrow. At that time, he added, he would not hesitate cheerfully to answer all questions put to him. |