Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-04

MCSkOGEE, Okla, August 4.-Vice
President Sherman was named by Sena-
tor T. P. Gore in connection with what
are known as the McMurray Indian land
contracts. an Investigation of which was
begun here today by a special commit
tee OF the House of Representatives.
Senator Gore. after declaring that he
had been approached by Jacob Harmon
with an offer of a bribe OF $4,000 to re-
move all congressional opposition to the
said q man higher up" in the govern
ment was Interested" in the contractA
Reluctant to Give Name.
Senator Gore at first said he was re-
luctant to name the man mentioned az
higher up" but later. on being pressed
by Representative Burke. chairman OF
the committee. declared Harmon had
used the name of Vice President 6her-
man.
Senator Gore declared that when he
frowned upon the bribery proffer Ham,
mon said the amount might be raised to
S5O,OO
Harmon also told me that Senator
Charles Curtis of Kansas and Repre-
sentative b. s. Mcclure Of Oklahoma
were interested in the McMurray con-
tracts testified Senator Gore. And
while l am about ii l might as well tell
that he said an official higher UP in the
government was also interested in the
deal.'
Names Vice President.
when he named the person higher up,
1 held up my hands in establishment and
said: is it possible that a person so high
in the United States government could
lay himself open to such an imputation?'
WELL replied Harmon, this is lots Of
money, you see"
The bribery offer, Senator Gore explain
ed followed his opposition to the ap-
proval by Congress of what are known as
the McMurray contracts, which affect the
ChOctaw and Chickasaw tribes OF In
dians.
Millions in the Deal.
BY these contracts. he said. J. F. Nc
Murray, an attorney, and associates were
to receive 10 per cent of the profits on the
sale of $4,000 acres of coal and asphalt
lands belonging to the Indians. AS New
York synicate stood ready to pay $4,000
600 for the lands. the 10 per cent to tho
McMurray interest for attorneys fees
would realize S3,OO0,OOO, said the senator
Senator Gore appeared before the spe-
cial investigating committee which con-
vened here today as direct result OF
charges made by him In the United states
Senate June "A.
When called upon by the chairman OF
the committee, Charles II. Burke OF
South Dakota, to testify, Senator Gore
told his story.
Roosevelt Refused Approval.
In 1905" said Senator Gore. President
Roosevelt refused to give his approval to
certain contracts which McMurray had
procured from the Indians tribes.
Under the law the contracts made with
tribes of Indians were not valid until ap-
proved by the President.
In the same year McMurray procured
contracts individually with about 10000
Of the Indians whereby the Indians were
10 give 10 per cent OF the gross receipts
from the sale of their lands.
McMurray came TO my office at WASH
ngton, and wanted me to support his
contracts. 1 told him / would not do so.
put on the other hand. l thought II would
be absurd to let the Indians pay that
vast sum of money for services which
he government was in duty bound to
perform. The McMurray interests then
went to President Roosevelt, and 1 sent
telegram to the President urging him
lot to approve of the contracts.
Cautioned to Talk Low.
''It was told how active were the Nc.
Murray interests. When / called on Sec.
'etary of the Interior Ballinger to pro-
est against the contracts 1 was told not
o talk SO loud, as ex-senator Long Of
Kansas was present, and he was inter-
,sted in the contracts.
II had introduced in the Senate a reso-
ution requiring that all contracts made
With Indians should be approved by Con-
.ress before they became valid. May
asst the committee having 1t under con-
liberation instructed Senator Hughes Of
Colorado to report it favorably.
'rhe very next day Jake Hammon OF
.awton. Okla, came to my office and
aid he had a telegram to visit me and
he was interested In the McMurray con-
racts.
"Then he mentioned the name Of an
,hicial very high up In the government.
md when / expressed astonishment Ham
non said: Well, you know there Is lot
4 money in this thinG. II you say the