Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1910-06-30
TO BR|BE
SENATOR GORE EXPOSED
Blind Member From Oklahoma
Says $4,000 Was Offered Him
10 HELP KILL AN INDIAN BILL
Favorable Legislation by Congress
Would Award Fees Aggregating
$4,000, 900 to Lawyer J. Frank
McMurry and His Associates.

Washington, D. G. 49, Thomas p.
Gore, the blind Senator from Oklaho-
ma, startled the Senate by declaring
that $4,000, with the suggestion Of
an increase to $50, 1000, had been Of
fered to him in an effort to procure
his assistance in killing a measure
pending before Congress affecting
contracts between certain attorneys in
Oklahoma andthe Choctaw and Chick
asaw Indians.
He charged that more than $1,000
900 in legal fees was involved in these
contracts, and that this amount would.
be lost to the attorneys if the legisla-
ton which he was fathering were en-
acted.
This charge by Senator Gore stirred
the Senate as nothing has stirred it in
a good many years, but Senator Gore
added to the sensation a few moments
later by declaring that the man who
attempted to bribe him had said that
a United States Senator and a mem
Der of the House Of Representatives
were interested in these contracts.
In the event of favorable legislation
by Congress a fee of So, 10000 is to
be paid to J. Frank McMurry and his
associates by the Choctaw and Chick
asaw Indians of Oklahoma for effect
ing the sale of their coal and oil lands
to a syndicate for $30.OOO,OOO
( Such was the charge made by SEN
ator Gore. He added that one ex-
Senator from Kansas and one ex-Sen-
ator from Nebraska had an interest
in the prospective fee.
Thomas p. Gore is the Senator to
whom a bribe was offered and by
whom it was refused.
Charles E. Creager, of the Third
Oklahoma District, is said by mem
bers of the Oklahoma delegation to
be the member of the House to whom
a bride was rendered and who also re-
fused it. But Mr.. Creager himself de-
MED that any one rendered him a
bribe.
Mr.. Gore did not give the name
of the Senator interested in the fee,
but plainly declared that Bird Nc
CURE, of the First Oklahoma District,
was the member of the House in
rolved.
The ex-Senators brought into the
matter are Chester I. Long, of Kan
sas, and John M. Thurston, Nebraska.
Mr.. Gore says the Senator involved
is a member Of the Committee on IT.
dian Affairs and the Congressman a
member of the corresponding cont
mittee in the House.
The final conference report on the
General Deficiency bill, as presented
by Senator Hale for adoption, con
tanned an amendment providing thai
all contracts made with the Chick,
asaw and Choctaw Indians must BIZ
approved by Congress before becom,
ing effective The report was adopt
ed. An hour later Senator Gore arose
in great excitement and said in part;
II have just been informed that the
conference report has not been con
ferred in by the House. I nov tt
recall that measure from the House.
Senator Hale said the matter
should be considered in conference.
The syndicate formed to purchase
the coal and OIL lands Of the Indians
Mr. Gore said, was composed Of j.
Frank McMurry, Cecil Lyon. ex-Sen
ator John M. Thurston, of Nebraska
ex-senator Chester J.. Long, of Kan
sas, and "Dick" Adams, of Washing
ton, D. c. The price to be paid wa.
$3O,000,0 600. The lands, he said, ar,
worth all the way from 100000
to $5O,000,00O.