The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-22

LETS Them OUT.
The Committee. Investigating
the McMurray Land Deals
ExOnerates Vice President Sher-
man and Senator Curtis.
GORE is SATISFIED.
Says He Never Believed Either
of Them Guilty.
Feels That He Has Discharged
a Public Duty.

Sulphur, Okla, Aug. 22.-The select
committee of the house of representa-
tives to investigate Indian land affairs
and the so-called McMurray contracts.
!, and which also has been investigating
the Gore bribery charges has issued
the following statement:
THE committee has heard and care
fully considered all of the testimony
submitted and is unanimous in the
opinion that there is and was no war
rant for any person to use the names
of Vice President James S. Sherman
and Senator Charles Curtis in connec-
ton with any improper relation with
any Indian contract whatever"
This is the opinion of the committee
after hearing the witnesses who ap-
peared following the testimony of Sen
ator T. P. Gore Senator Gore declared
he had been approached by Jake L.
Hamon and that Hamon, acting in the
interest of ]. F. MeMurray, had offered
him Senator Gore) $4,000 or $4,000 as
bride to promote in congress the con-
tracts by which McMurray was to re-
ceive 10 per cent attorneys fee on the
sale of 100000 worth CT Indian lands.
The senator testified Hamon men
toned Senator Curtis and Vice Presi-
dent Sherman as being Interested i'll
the deal, Mr.. Sherman being named as
the man higher up Hamon. on the
stand, denied he had ever said any
thing about the contracts to Gore.
In giving it's decision the committee
announced it had received from Sena-
tor Gore a statement relative to Vice
President Sherman and Senator Curtis
and that the committee commended
Senator Cores statement The COM
mittee's report was signed by Repre-
sentatives Charles H. Burke, South Da-
kota; C. B. Miller, Minnesota; E. w.
Saunders, Virginia; j. H. stephens,
Texas, and Phillip H. Campbell, Kan
sas,
Goes Into the Record.
This statement from Senator Gore,
which was read and inserted in the Of
fetal record Of the investigation, fol-
lows:
ITO the Investigating Committee
feel in duty and in honor bound to make
the following statement. 1t is also die
tated by considerations of common JUS
tice toward the parties concerned.
Neither the name of Vice President
Sherman nor Senator Curtis was men
toned by me on the floor of the United
States senate. That the name of either
of these critics was alluded to by Mr..
Hafnon was steadfastly withheld from
sthe public until this investigation be-
gan. No public MERTON of their names
was ever made either directly or indi-
rectly by me until was required and
obliged to do so testifying as witness
under oath and detailing the CONVEX
sation which occurred between Mr.
Hannon and myself. I then made for
nal protest against introducing their
names, but the committee in the pro-
per pursuit of its duties required me
to make a full answer without reser-
walton.
Their names were disclosed not with
any view of inculpating them nor with
amy view of suggesting guilt, but mere
ly in order that the truth and the
whole truth might be related with ref
erence to the details of the conversation
in question. The public must realize
that the name of any man could be
used or nlisused in the same connec-
ton, either as an argument or other
wise and no public official ~an have
immunity and protection against such
an injury and injustice.
Never Believed 1t.
In my last remarks in the senate
said that the integrity of no man can
be impeached upon the testimony of
an interested or untrustworthy wit
ness" That was my conviction then.
That is my conviction now. I am sure
that in the court of public opinion no
judgment nor verdict has been return
ed either against the vice president or
Senator Curtis on account of the mis-
use of their names in the manner above
referred to. The investigation is now