The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-08-11

Muskogee, Okla.-What happened
in the private Office of United STATES
Senator Thomas p. Gore at Wash
ington at noon last May 6, formed the
basis of sensational charges involving
the names of Vice-President Sher,
man, Senator Curtiss of Kansas, Con,
gresham b. S. Mcclure, of Oklahoma,
and others, in a hearing before a spe.
ciaI congressional Investigating com,
mittee here.
In the 80 or 40 minutes of a confer,
ence held in that office, Senator Gore
testified he had been approached by
Jake l.. Hamon. former chairman of
the Oklahoma territorial Republican
committee and former chairman of
the Oklahoma state Republican com.
mittee, and had been offered a bride
of $4,000 or $4,000, to remove Ger.
tain legislation pending in congress
so that 100000 might be paid j.
F. McMurray, an attorney at McAies-
ter, Okla, and his associates. The
money vas to represent attorneys
fees" of ten per cent of $50, 900, 900 to
be secured from a New York syndi-
cate for 100000 acres of coal and as.
phalt lands now owned by the Chloe
taw and Chickasaw Indians in this
state.
Vice-President Sherman's name was
mentioned by Mr.. Hamon, Senator
Gore testified as being interested in
the land deal to the extent of favor
ing the approval by congress of what
with the Indians.
Creaser Offered Interest"
What happened in another private
room in Washington and also where,
1t was alleged, Harmon made more
"overtures' relative to the land deal,
was told by Congressman C.. L. C-ea.
ger of the Third Oklahoma district.
Congressman Creager supplemented
the testimony of Senator Gore. He
said IN June 16 last he had been in
vited by Hamon to meet him in a
private room at the Occidental hotel
in Washington.
Having gone there, Mr.. Creager tes-
tilted, he was informed he could have
a substantial interest" in the land
deal, If he would withdraw his oppo-
sition to the approval of the McMur-
ray contracts by congress.
Hard Cash Offered.
Senator Gore, in his testimony, as
that the offer of bribery went
far that Hamon said the $25, 900 or
$50, 900 would not be paid over In the
form of a check or marked money
but that "it would be all clean, hard
Congressman Creager's appearance
on the witness stand followed a Sc
ries of sensational statements. Among
Senator Cores assertions were the fol.
Sherman's Name Comes In.
That Hamon told him a mar high.
up in the government was inter.
in the approval of the contracts
and, therefore, there was no a
why Senator Gore should not be; that
when asked who was the man high
CT up" Hamon had replied Vice-Pres-
Ident Sherman.
That Hamon told him Senator Cur
It's of Kansas vas Interested" in the
deal.
That Hamon told him Congressman
Mcclure of Oklahoma also was Tin
terested."
That former Senator Long of Kan
sas, acting as counsel for McMurray,
had gone to President Taft on April
2S, to urge the approval of the con-
but that the president has said
1T would take a good deal of argu-
10 convince him that the amount
asked by McMurray was justified.
Senator Curtis sent a telegram to
the committee denying he was in any
way interested in the contracts and
to appear before the commit.
tee. Chairman Burke said Senator
would be ~subpoenaed.
Explaining what led up to his op-
the approval of the contracts
with the Indians. Senator Gore in his
testimony asserted that as far back
az 1905 he wrote a letter to Senator
Ry. Strikers Return to Work.