Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-06
SENATOR GORE, TEsTiFYlNG TO
BEING OFFERED BRIDE, SAYS
HE WAS TOLD VICE PRESIDENT
WAS INTERESTED PARTY.
FRAUD OF THREE
MILLION ALLEGED
SAID TO HAVE Sc
CURED CONTRACTS FROM IN
DAMS GIVING THEM FORTUNE
FOR FRAUDULENT SERVICE.

Muskogee, Okla, Aug. 4.-Vice Pres
ident Sherman was named by Senator
Gore in connection with the McMurray
Indian land contracts, investigation OF
which was begun here today. Gore,
after declaring he had been approached
by Jacob Harmon with an offer of a
bride of $4,000 to remove all con-
gressional opposition to the contracts,
asserted that Harmon said man
higher up" in the government was
interested" in the contracts. Gore
firstisaid he was reluctant to name the
man mentioned as higher up" but
later, on being pressed by Congress
man Burke, chairman of the commit
tee. declared Harmon had used the
name Of Vice President Sherman.
Matter Placed Before Roosevelt.
Telling the story Gore said that in
1908 President Roosevelt refused to
approve certain contracts which Nc
Murray had secured with the Indians
as tribes. Under the law the contracts
not valid until approved by the presi-
dent. In the same year McMurray
procured contracts individually with
about 10000 Indians whereby the In
dians were to give 10 per cent of the
gross receipts in the sale of their
lands.
"McMurray came to my Office at
Washington, he said. and wanted
me to support his contracts, told
him | would not do so, but on the
other hand I thought it would be
absurd for the Indians to pay that vast
sum of, money for services which the
government was in duty hound to per-
form. The McMurray interests then
went to Roosevelt and T sent tele-
gram to the president urging him not
to approve the contracts. E
BaIIinger's Name Mentioned.
1T was notable how active were the
McMurray interests. When called
on Secretary Ballinger to protest
against the contracts was told not to
talk 80 loud as ex-senator Long OF
Kansas was present and he was In
terested in the contracts.
"I had introduced in the senate a
resolution requiring that all contracts
made with the Indians should be APP
proved by congress before they be.
came valid May 5, last the committee
having it under consideration in
structed Senator Hughes to report 1t
favorably.
The Bride Offer Made.
1.-THE very next day, Jake Harmon,
of Lawton, Okla, came to my office.
He said he had telegram to visit me
and he was interested in the Nc
Murray contracts.
Then he mentioned the name of an
official very high up in the govern
ment and when I expressed astonish-
ment, Harmon said, well, you see
there is lot of money in this thing
If you say the word, I'll arrange for
$4,000. There will be no checks in
this deal and no marked money. 1t
will be all new, clean money Ham
mon added, There is lot of money
tied up in this deal, and big fee for
somebody
"Man Higher Up Brought In.
"He then explained that he wanted
me to withdraw by bill. CORES bill
was against the McMurray contracts),
or at least have 1t reported unfavor-
ably 1t seems he did not know it had
already been reported favorably.
when / scoffed at the offer of q
bribe even if it we're raised to $4,000
as was suggested it might be- testi-
fed Gore, my visitor (Hammon) in
my office at Washington Went on to
say that other members of congress
were interested in the contracts. He
said Senator Curtis was interested
and Congressman Mcclure of Okla
homa. and then he mentioned the
name of a man higher up in the gov
eminent.
Sherman's Name Comes Up.
81 was appalled, when l heard that
name"
What was the name OF that man
higher up?" asked Chairman Burke.
"well,' replied Gore, 81 don't like
to say. indeed I could not repeat 1t
without a great deal Of reluctance.
Now, Senator Gore explained
Burke, "this committee has come here
to get the facts and we. want you to
tell all you know
well, as that is true" responded
Gore II will tell all know. The man
mentioned by Hammer as being
higher up and interested in the. Nc
Murray contracts was Vice President
Sherman" /,
No further questions were asked