New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-10
ACTIVE IN WASHINGTON
McNurray Urged Agent to Work
Among Indians.
..WILL WIN" SAID MESSAGE
Wanted Not Fewer than Fifty
Letters and Telegrams-Men-
+ion of Sherman and Curtis.

7scAIeste- Okla. Aug. e.-Whiie J. T. Nc
,fr--av was in Washington last May urging
=. srnrovsl Of his contracts by which he
cd his assistant would be able to collect
= Se- cent attorneys fees on the sale OF
.0asaoo worth OF land owned b. the In
fisrs tie Indians themselves were being
,--red 10 send kilograms to Washington
recommending the sale
few DAYS before May 6. on which date
senator sore charged a S25,Gno or $4,000
e-see WIS offered him 10 induce Congress
70 approve the contracts, McMurray tele-
c-srhed 10 Oklahoma: Send not less than
-fty letters and kilograms and keep up the
work fer week al different towns: looks
better here. We viii win, I know
This evidence was brought out in the in
.-estigat:on OF the land deal before the Con-
rressionaI committee to-day. Senator Gore
SAID he introduced It TO show the activity
~ Washington al the tine the bribe is al
legged 10 have been made.
Many Choctaw Indians went on the
stand TO show that shortly after McAiur-
rSy sent mis- telegram they were visited by
george ". Scott. McMurray's agent Scott
asked the Indians 10 sign kilograms ap-
7,rovinE the sale OF the $4,000 acres Of coal
and asphalt land on the 10 per cent ''attor-
rev fees basis. The Indians kilograms
we're addressed q Richard c. Adams. an at
rorney. Al Washington, who was supposed
hv The Indians 10 give the messages TO
President Taft The Indians readily sent
Ire kilograms, they testified. because they
were impatient at the delay Of the govern
rrert IN disposing Of the land according TO
treaty promises.
References 10 ce-President Sherman
I'D senator Charles Curtis. Of Kansas
were made n g letter introduced by Sena-
7or core. i had been explained by Con-
gresham c. L Creager that he and Rich
.-5 Adams hs6 called upon President Taft
sud that the President had announced his
5isapproval Of the plan TO reopen the tribal
rolls so that more claimants might enter
and his approval Of settling the Indian land
question.
President Taft. Il IS said. wrote a letter
-s that effect. and declared his willingness
= have II given wide publicity. After the
setter was made public. George Scott, Nc
Nurray's agent among the Indians. wrote
L NJ. Adams, At Washington, as follows;
Please say 20 the President that his
tcurse IS 10 be commended; he has placed
7 nself OF record in MS letter 10 you as
-zainst the reopening Of rolls and as set
rleulent Of our affairs. His Office Will give
Prestige TO our demands. With Nj Nc
Murray there TO state OUT claims with M
curtis and NJ Sherman. who understand
better than others what We want, and with
me assistance Of the President. il begins
= Iook Ike ne are coming into our OWL
Senator Gore stated he had not intro
.uce6 the letter because OF the mention of
zice-President Sherman and Senator Cur
lis The latter together with President
Taf- Il already had been shown in previ-
css testimony. had declared himself against
IRE 10 per cent fee clause IN the 1IcNurray
contracts.
BY Offering this evidence. ] do not wish
- reflect either or Mr.. Sherman or Mr..
curtis" said the Senator.
Do YOU mean that as al exoneration
5-or7 you Of AIr. Sherman asked Dennis
Flynn. attorney Tor McMurray-
1T IL merely TO state that If the names
ef these men were taken In vain at one
tine. they may have been a. another" re
piled Nj Gore
Much amusement was caused bE the tes-
r--1ouy Of +. P Logan
'-Ore 6a- last November said Logan.
- certain Tom Sanguin called on me to
have ne sign the McMurray contracts !
asked MIN how McMurray was going 70
% anything,
He said. We'll Mac has got powerful
s-fuence a. washington. Re can afford
10 spend lots o. money Tor instance, i
fe makes s3GpoeEj out of these contracts !
he can afford to spend 100000 10 get il: /
cut OF hrs 70 per cent he can give PEI
.s.rr- 20 one Senator. ! OF per cent TO an
other q couple OF per cent TO some Con
--essrren. and still he viii have a fortune
Isr-- That way re Viii get the land sold
= TELL YOU. somebody is going 70 Eet lot
C-t Of this. anyway. and sc might a. well
Jet AIcNurray have it
2 : believed here that the committee
vlu make positive recommendations 70
Congress as result OF the investigation.
The time has come for the government /
- take hold Of the Indian situation and
,-a-EIe i with an arbitrary hand. regard /
les Of attorneys. contracts or any private .
srte-ezts which stand between the Indians /.
and the authorities al Washington" said 4
~ Official to-day
When the government gave the Indians /.
:. -gt-nenrs Of LAID 10 live upon i agreed 20 /
Sc The surplus lands and give the proceeds /
T. the indians. that they might develop !
heir farms and build homes. II was not
senter1pIaJed that portions OF the money |
e-cr-d be turned over to third parties for
-e-to---nz merely perfunct0rT service. II .
s-or.fe be absurd for the government. even
= .r sold The land, &c turn over TO the
a-dlzrs 50 vast q sum as S9o.0o5,ooo without
s-str5ctious
The Indians r7roba BY will be wards Of
20 government for z long time 10 come,
sr5 while the land viii be sold Ia accord
Eroa with the treaty, provisions VIII be
,rsF. for elimination Of third party inter