The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-08-05
Vice President Denies Con-
nection With Indian
Contracts.
SENATOR CURTIS NAMED
Senator Gore Admits Ne Was Not
Approached by Men Mentioned
as Bribe Sponsors.

sational statement on the floor ~ the
Senate on June - last that an attemp.
had been masle 20 bribe him by man
from my own town. reiterated his state.
ment in detail to-day before the Senats
Select COMMITTEES
He named Jake Hamon Of TAwton.
Okla. former chairman Of the Republican
State central committee 81 Oklahoma, a.
he man
He also referred 10 Vice-Presiaient
sherman a. the official higher up
who. he (Gore) had been told. had an
interest in the MoMurray contracts with
the Indians
senator Curtis OF Kansas ex-Seuators
Long Of kansas and Thur-ton Of Nebraska
and Richard Adams. a Delaware Indian.
were also referred to as msn who had
an Interest in the contracts
Congressman Creager this afternoon
corroborated Cores testimony in that
Creager admitted that he had been APP
preached by Hsmon and offered an in
terest- in tho contracts IL he would still
the opposition.
The contracts re ferred 20 are individual
contracts with tho Indians Of the ChoctAw
and Chickasaw nations whereby MoMur-
ray ~ to get 10 per cent 81 the entire
proceeds 81 the sale Of the segregated
coal and asphalt lands and other prop
critics Of the tribes when sold.
Cores testimony relative To Hamou
was as follows:
Il had introduced in the Senate a reso-
luton requiring that all contracts made
with Indians should be approved by Con-
grcss before they became valid On May
last the committee having IL under con-
sideration instructed senator Hughes Of
Colorado TO report il favorably.
-Hamon came ter my Office in Washing
ton on May and said he was Interested
IN the McMuTray contracts and asked ms
II | would Use my influence to have an
amendment passed approving them.
He said there was a big fee in the con-
tracts for him told him I understood
~. Hamon then said: There is enough
for two Of US Il you will call OF senator
Hughes
eThen he mentioned the name Of an
official very high up in the Gov
eminent. And when I expresseI
Saul NRtl,
you know there u lot Of money
in this thing II you say the word will
arrange for 5000. There will he no
checks in this deal and no marked money.
II will be all new. clean money Ha-
mon said: There's lot IL money tied up
in this deal and big fee for somebody
He then explained he wanted mo 10
withdraw my bin or at least have IL
reported unfavorably IL seems hc did
know IL had already been reported
favorably.
We discussed the matter for some
time. let him talk IN order 10 draw
him out. He urged the approval Of tho
contracts on the ground that many OF
the Indians wanted II and said That thsrs
were a lot Of ignorant fellows to whom
IL would make no difference.
-Hamon then said: ! believe I can get
him To raise IL 10 t55.oOo"
When Gore spurned rhe offer he de-
clared. Hamon sand they would scals
down the per cent. on thu fee and lead
The people to believe they were lefriend-
ing the Indians and those Interested would
make as much ont Of IL any way
-Hamon told me there was a initad
States senator Interested and a Tor Kress-
man I was very much surprised Hs
also referred to an official high up"
Who were they?' asked Chairman
Burke.
Gore AZ first refused 10 tell. bu, Burks
insisted that the committee had a right
10 know
They are senator Curtis 1T Kansas
md Congressman Mcclure Of Oklahoma"
Il believe you made mention of some
,fficial high up said Burke.
-Hamon suggested that IL was yioe-
President Sherman replied Gore.
This statement caused a profound seu-
'ation.
A clipping from the Washington Star
was then offered in evideno. to show that
he vioe-Pesident at tho time McAiurray
was seeking the approval Of the contracts
" the President had with others held
! conference with the President relative
o the Indian contracts
0ors said that he Understood that Mr.
Sherman was favorable to the contracts
LAter in the day he said he did not care
% impeach high Official OF the senate
N tho word Of a man OF the character
u Hamon. He referred to Hamon az
man who befriended ms In time OF
seed- and told how Hamon hA gone
m his note for $500 before the primary
in Oklahoma. Gore procesd-
"a further about his conversation with
Hamon. He said: -Hamon was 90 trans
vet all tho business and have tho con-
ract made with him. He said thsrs
roSld be no checks. Il would he cIean
money. He Inferred that the money
vas to he paid after the deal was made.
i let Hamon talk on becau0e I wanted
o get all the information I could.
vent TO la Follstte and othsr senator's
md told them what had occurred
Gore then told OF tho activities %
r ickard Adams. a wealthy Delaware